Michael Bisping’s remote chance of ever getting the title fight that has been just out of his grasp his entire year almost certainly came to an end tonight at the hands of Luke Rockhold in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Rockhold.
Bisping and Rockhold had been chirping for months leading up to the fight but it was clear from the opening bell that it was Rockhold’s fight to lose. Bisping had trouble finding his range and didn’t appear that he had any offense that could bother Rockhold, while Rockhold was at least able to consistently work a body kick that was making Bisping hesitate.
In the second round Rockhold began to use the body kick to set up some head kicks and one of them landed hard enough to hurt Bisping and send him to the floor. The initial volley of follow-up shots on the floor didn’t stop Bisping. But, as he attempted to scramble to his feet, Rockhold locked in a guillotine, turned it into a mounted guillotine and finished with only a single arm.
It was an impressive finish for Rockhold, who is one of the top contenders at middleweight even with the headkick KO loss to Vitor Belfort.
If he can pick up another win, he may well be in line for the winner of Chris Weidman and Belfort for the middleweight crown.