Breaking: Michael Bisping To Face Luke Rockhold For Title At UFC 199
After suffering an unfortunate injury during training camp, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman was forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated rematch between Luke Rockhold at UFC 199.
According to Dana White via Sports Center, Weidman will be replaced by the No.4-Ranked Michael Bisping:
THIS JUST IN: Dana White announces #LIVEonSC that Michael Bisping will replace Chris Weidman at UFC 199. pic.twitter.com/cISyY2RCM9
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 18, 2016
Bisping (28-7) is coming off of the biggest win of his career that saw him taking home a unanimous decision victory over Anderson Silva in his hometown of London, England.
”The Count’ and Rockhold have met once before back in November in 2014 at UFC Fight Night 55, that saw Rockhold taking home a second round submission victory via guillotine choke.
Bisping immediately campaigned for the title shot on Twitter shortly after Weidman’s injury was announced:
Training camps separate the boys from the men. This sport isn't for everyone. 2 weeks notice? I'm down!!! @ufc #realfighter #fightersfighter
— michael (@bisping) May 17, 2016
Rockhold also took to social media himself moments after Bisping was named his new opponent:
I'm not fucken leavin, the show goes on. #ufc199 pic.twitter.com/pYEorupmng
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) May 18, 2016
This will be Bisping’s first title shot in his twelve year career, since winning The Ultimate Fighter 3 (TUF 3) nearly a decade ago.
Before Bisping was named the late replacement many predicted that Rockhold’s opponent would be the No. 2-Ranked Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, who is coming off of a first round thrashing of Brazilian legend Vitor Belfort at UFC 198 this past Saturday.
‘Jacare’, however, was unable to take the fight due to a torn meniscus that he suffered during this past weekend’s bout, and will require surgery.
Another possibility for Rockhold was No. 10-Ranked Uriah Hall, who was pulled from UFC 198 after his opponent Anderson Silva suffered an unfortunate gall bladder injury and was unable to compete.
Hall took to Twitter to voice his opinion on being passed up:
He knew I had a full camp so bisping would be easy coming off 2 weeks .. Smart move .
— U R I A H H A L L (@UriahHallMMA) May 18, 2016
UFC 199 is set to go down on Saturday June 4th at The Forum Arena in Inglewood, California. The card is to be co-headlined by a bantamweight title bout between longtime rivals Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber.
