Michael Bisping v Luke Rockhold: UFC Fight Night set to explode
LUKE Rockhold is promising to beat up Michael Bisping so badly this Saturday, the UFC will have no option but to reward him with a world title fight.
LUKE Rockhold is promising to beat up Michael Bisping so badly this Saturday, the UFC will have no option but to reward him with a world title fight.
Despite being ranked No.5 in the middleweight division, Rockhold concedes not everyone is a “believer” when it comes to his ability.
“But this is the fight the changes that,’’ the former Strikeforce champion says. “This is the fight where I make people believe.
“Because I know that when it comes to me as a fighter, not everyone is on board yet. Some people still aren’t familiar enough with who I am. What I’m capable of.”
But what about the fact he’s coming off first round UFC wins against Tim Boetsch and Costas Philippou?
“Yes, I proved myself pretty well, but those fights were short,’’ he continues. “And sometimes when fights are short, it’s like people can still question you.
“It’s why I need to beat Bisping so badly, I make a statement.”
IF IT AIN’T BROKE ...
RISING UFC star Clint Hester is waking every day in Sydney at 2am — convinced the unique strategy will help him knock Aussie rival Robert Whittaker cold this Saturday.
Among the hottest young prospects of the middleweight division, Hester has told The Daily Telegraph how, in a unique preparation for his Allphones Arena bout, he has stuck to the same training timetable as if home in Atlanta.
Unbeaten in his four UFC fights, the 27-year-old American insists rising well before dawn each day will ensure he not only finishes Whittaker — but wins via first round KO.
“I want to finish this fight in the first round, knock him out in the first round,’’ Hester says. “From what I’ve seen of him, Whittaker has holes in his game. With his take-down defence, with his striking ... he has holes I can capitalise on.
“When I first heard he would be my opponent I was surprised. I didn’t know he was stepping up from welterweight.
“But then I thought ‘okay, we’re both guys who like to let our fists fly ... lets’ get out there and win the fight bonus.”
Asked about fighting in the afternoon, he continued: “Our fight will be on about the equivalent of 10pm back home — or right about the time I’ve been finishing up my sparring,’’ he says.
“So for me, nothing has changed. When I came down here to Sydney, I didn’t alter my sleep schedule at all.
“I’ve been waking up at 2 or three o’clock in the morning — enjoying the first few hours of my day in the dark. I get everything done then get to bed nice and early. it’s been great.”
HARRIS OUT TO PROVE HIMSELF
AMERICAN heavyweight Walt Harris has opened up on the heartache fuelling his UFC resurrection, revealing he suffered depression “for about a month” after being cut from the company.
Making a shock return to the Octagon in Sydney this weekend, the hulking Alabama product has vowed to “finally prove I belong” against Australian rival Soa Palelei.
Debuting with the company back in November, 2013, Harris lost twice in the space of just eight weeks — with his contract then terminated by UFC boss Dana White.
“And, man, I’m an emotional guy so I took it hard,’’ he says now. “I was depressed for a month. Didn’t want to come out of my room.
“I’d worked so hard to get here, so then to have it come and go so fast, man it was tough.
“But after that month, yeah, then, I picked myself up. Told myself ‘okay, you got into the UFC, you can get back’. Go back there and stay.
“That’s what I’ve been working towards ever since.”
Harris says he has also been inspired by the resurrection of Sydney heavyweight Mark Hunt — who is set to fight for the title on Saturday week after being once offered cash by White to leave the company after a run of losses.
“I definitely look at Mark Hunt for inspiration,’’ he says. “There are also other guys who have been cut and then come back and had success.
“Everything happens for a reason. And personally, I’ve got a better grasp on the situation now.
“First time around, it was a whirlwind. Both fights were so close together that I didn’t get a chance to process the first loss before it happened again. I’m more ready mentally now.”
ROCKHOLD: I’M INSIDE HIS HEAD
UFC fighter Luke Rockhold insists he has won the mental battle against arch rival Michael Bisping, revealing: “I’m inside his head and it’s p ... ing him off”.
“If you’ve watched and listened to our exchanges, you can see what’s happening,’’ Rockhold insists. “Bisping’s the one raising his voice and cussing. Getting pissed off and losing his s ...
“Given everything that’s happened between us there isn’t really much more to be said. But I’ve certainly enjoyed stumping him in our verbal spars, even if it’s nothing compared to what is going to happen this Saturday afternoon.”
ON THE HUNT FOR SOME CLEAN AIR
MARK Hunt has revealed how Mexico City’s pollution is hampering preparations for his world title bout. Speaking with Submission Radio this week, Hunt said: “We were training outdoors the other day and my throat was getting sore, my nose was getting sore.
“The harder I worked out, the sorer I got because of the pollution. So I had to go indoors, back into the airconditioning.”
As we revealed last month, Hunt is attempting to drop 20 kilos in three weeks for his interim title fight with Fabricio Werdum. The weight limit for UFC heavyweights is 120kg.
FIGHT NIGHT A-LIST HITS THE MARK
BOXER Daniel Geale heads a strong list of athletes and celebrities who will be at UFC Fight Night 55 crowd in Sydney this weekend. Joining Geale at Homebush will be the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wendell Sailor, Matt Cooper and breakfast radio star Jackie ‘O’.
MEET THE BIG NAMES IN UFC
UFC fans will get to mix with a host of big name fighters, including middleweight champ Chris Weidman, at the weigh-ins this Friday. Kicking off from 11.30am at Allphones Arena, the event is open to the public and will include a Q&A session with Weidman, Matt Brown, Uriah Hall and Alex Chambers.
Originally published as Michael Bisping v Luke Rockhold: UFC Fight Night set to explode
‘He ran scared!’: GWS Giants laugh off UFC superstar snub
The Giants are renowned for their social media stitch-ups, but GWS players must have felt they were on the receiving end for once after UFC superstar Alex Pereira bailed on an appearance.
‘P***y’: Why Dana unleashed on Aussie editor
UFC President Dana White has taken aim at the Australian media in an explosive press conference, even calling one Sydney newspaper editor a “p***y”.
UFC boss unleashes in wild press conference
UFC boss Dana White has ranted and raved over a range of issues following the sport’s latest event at Sydney Olympic Park.