One day after the passing of Muhammad Ali, Michael Bisping ‘shook up the world.’
Bisping, 37, knocked out Luke Rockhold, 31, the Santa Cruz native who fights out of American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose at 3:36 of the first round to capture the UFC middleweight championship in their rematch in the main event of UFC 199 in Inglewood, Calif.
“Congrats to Michael. He caught me,” Rockhold (15-3) said in the octagon following his defeat. “I didn’t see it happen. I took him for granted.”
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Bisping (29-7), who was submitted by Rockhold in the first round of their first fight in 2014, knocked down Rockhold with a counter left hand. The champion got up, only to get floored again almost immediately by another Bisping left. The challenger from England followed up with punches on the ground forcing the referee to stop the fight.
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“I’m an average guy, more than average, really,” a joyous Bisping said after the fight. The 10-year UFC veteran was getting his first UFC title shot in his 26th bout with the organization. “This is my dream. No one was taking this away from me.”
Rockhold was originally scheduled to rematch Chris Weidman, who he defeated for the 185-lb title in December, but Weidman pulled out with an injury. The match was Rockhold’s first title defense.
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One of MMA’s fiercest rivalries ended in a one-sided rout.
Dominick Cruz defeated Sacramento’s Urijah Faber via unanimous decision to retain the UFC bantamweight championship. The judges scored the bout 50-45, 50-45, and 49-46. CSNBayArea.com also scored the fight 49-46 for Cruz.
This was the third fight between the two, with Faber taking a first-round submission back in WEC in 2007, while Cruz took the rematch by unanimous decision in the UFC back in 2011.
The first round was closely contested. The California Kid scored a big takedown while The Dominator landed combinations towards the end of the round.
The fight turned in the second round when Cruz, 30, knocked down Faber, 37, with a left hand. Faber never seemed to recover.
“He stayed tough but I’m not surprised,” Cruz (22-1) said after the fight. “He’s been a champion before.”
Faber never seemed to figure out Cruz’s movement. Urijah had very little offense throughout the fight.
“He caught me with some good punches early on. Kind of shook me up,” said Faber (33-99). “He had a perfect fight. I can’t say anything. He bested me tonight.”
Faber also teased a possible retirement. He called his 13-year career an incredible journey when thanking his fans and family.
“I can’t really say that right now,” Faber said when pressed about calling it a career. “I’m going to have to give it some thought. It’s been a passion for me being at the top. Tonight I was not on the top. So I have to think about that.”