Thursday 19 May 2016 17:44, UK
Luke Rockhold knows that Britain’s Michael Bisping will pour his heart and soul into achieving his UFC world championship dream – but it won’t be enough to avoid a three-minute knockout.
Lancashire's Bisping got the nod to challenge for Rockhold's middleweight title on less than three weeks' notice at UFC 199 after Chris Weidman's injury, handing him the opportunity to become the first Brit to wear major gold in the sport.
The American champion, who has already beaten Bisping in 2014, has warned that the Brit's desire to capitalise on a long-awaited opportunity won't be enough to survive the opening round.
He had six minutes last time, he'll have three minutes this time.
"I want to see him face-to-face, eye-to-eye, because I want to see how much he really wants this," Rockhold exclusively told Sky Sports.
"He'll come to fight to the best of his ability and he won't cower down.
"But guess what, Bisping? I'm not going to slip over or stub my toe. He won't get my title. I'll be sharp, and I'll put this guy away in half the time that it took me last time.
"He had six minutes last time, he'll have three minutes this time."
Two years ago, Rockhold beat Bisping by submission but the Brit has already told Sky Sports that their rivalry is deadlocked at 1-1 due to the result of a notorious sparring session.
Bisping's short-notice rematch has re-opened that old wound but Rockhold wouldn't reveal what really happened when they trained together before their first fight.
"The truth? The truth is what happened inside the cage, that's the truth," he said. "And that's all you need to know.
"In Bisping's mind, he still thinks he got the better of me in the first sparring session we had. So I don't know what's going through that man's head."
California's Rockhold captured the middleweight title from Weidman in December but, even when an immediate rematch was scheduled, questioned whether his beaten foe would pull out injured.
When Weidman confirmed a neck problem, the opportunity opened for Rockhold to finish his rivalry with Bisping for good.
We already shook hands, didn't you see? I picked him up off the canvas last time and shook his hand.
"It was a pleasant surprise," he said.
"I had my suspicions Weidman wouldn't make it to this fight, he's a brittle guy. But I'm happy to have Bisping, which is always nice. I enjoy few things more than shutting Bisping's mouth.
"He is the perfect opponent - he's the only one with a winning streak. He beat Anderson Silva and thinks he's the man. It's time to show Bisping that's the closest he'll get to beating a champion.
"I expect to knock Bisping out with a left kick. There will be no takedowns, I will knock him out."
Then will Rockhold bury the hatchet?
"We already shook hands, didn't you see? I picked him up off the canvas last time and shook his hand."
