Rivalries are a big deal in sports. Much of the world of college sports is built specifically upon them. Mixed martial arts has seen its fair share of competitive rivalries as well. BJ Penn against Georges St. Pierre, Brock Lesnar against Frank Mir, and Frankie Edgar against Gray Maynard all stand as examples of the excitement that rivalries can create when mixed with a cage. This weekend will kick off a new rivalry between Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold. But while this may be their first time stepping into the cage, the two men have made it very clear that they are looking forward to harming one another.
Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold are a pair that were made for each other. They are two men who can put opponents away, look good while doing it, and talk up a fair amount of attention at the same time. Their booking to face each other at UFC Fight Night 55 has a lot of value to the middleweight division. The backstory behind the fight is the type of interesting story that makes this a fight worth watching; regardless of the time zone.
Every time Rockhold and Bisping are shown on camera together, all dialogue eventually breaks down into an argument. What supposedly started during a sparring session years ago has escalated in a crazy fashion, so much so that Rockhold has bet his payday that he will finish Bisping before the end of the first round. Rockhold recently expressed to USA Today/MMA Junkie just how real this rivalry has become.:
This isn’t [BS’ing.] This is real. I don’t like the guy. I’m looking to put a beating on him, and I want to make this one fun for myself. And if it’s fun for myself, it’s going to be fun for fans.
Bisping, as he has become well-known for doing, has thrown his own jabs at the former Strikeforce champion, often referencing the fabled sparring session. This type of pre-fight arguing seems to have Bisping more excited about this fight.
“I absolutely do enjoy it,” Bisping says. “I get a real kick out of it, actually. It makes my job more enjoyable, because otherwise it’s the same [stuff.]
Fun and games aside, this is the type of fight that fans should enjoy watching. Both men provide interesting dynamics that should clash wonderfully in the Octagon.
On one side is the diverse Rockhold that can finish with a flashy knockout or lock in a submission hold that leaves Jiu Jitsu fans salivating. On the other is Bisping, whose technical boxing and highly underrated defensive wrestling can cause fits for fighters looking to control the position of the contest. The question remains of whether Bisping will be able to stand up to Rockhold’s varied skill set that throws attacks from many different angles. While Bisping is a very effective boxer, he has not shown the ability to attack in a myriad of ways, which was one of the real threats that Vitor Belfort brought against Rockhold.
Pacing will be another important factor to watch for on Friday night. According to Fight Metric, Bisping is the more active of the two fighters, as he lands 4.39 strikes per minute compared to Rockhold’s 3.62. At the same time, Bisping is less accurate than Rockhold and takes more damage in the same duration (2.40 strikes absorbed per minute as compared to 1.79 for Rockhold). Expect Rockhold to get off to a fast start in this fight, and whether or not Bisping can weather that early storm will be telling for the fight.
There is a lot on the line, as both men look to stay relevant within the 185-pound weight class. The UFC currently has Rockhold slotted in the sixth position of its internal rankings, while Bisping is close behind at ninth. A big win for either fighter can pave the way towards the title shot that they have both been chasing.
Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping could have headlined a major UFC event on Fox, but even though Zuffa has chosen UFC Fight Pass as the platform for this clash, fight fans should still make it a point to see it. Bisping and Rockhold are rarely involved in boring fights, and the lead-up to this fight has suggested anything but. This pairing has the potential to be one of the biggest fights in a very busy November, and perhaps one of the best of 2014.
• Luke Rockhold vs. Michael Bisping
Click the stars to rate your anticipation for this fight.
**********
UFC Fight Night 55: Rockhold vs. Bisping is due to take place on November 8, 2014 at the Allphones Arena in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. (Due to the time differences, the event will air on November 7, 2014 in the United States.)
Click the stars to rate how good you think UFC Fight Night 55 will be.
