You’ve got to hand it to Chris Weidman, he called it.
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new UFC middleweight champion in town.
After 10 years in the UFC, Michael Bisping was finally granted a title shot and on less than two weeks notice, he dethroned Luke Rockhold in sensational fashion. A big left hook from the clinch caught the now former champion cold and sent him crashing down to the canvas.
WATCH: Michael Bisping brutally knocks out Luke Rockhold to become new UFC champion #UFC199 https://t.co/j9x6to7XfT
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 5, 2016
Bisping’s fortune only occurred because of the misfortunes of another man – former middleweight king Chris Weidman, who was Rockhold’s original opponent for the event, but was forced to pull out with a serious back injury.
Weidman lost his belt and his pristine professional record when Rockhold ground and pounded him to a bloody pulp in the co-main event of UFC 194. However, Weidman was arguably winning the bout until the course of the fight changed when he threw a horribly-executed spinning back kick that allowed Rockhold to get a takedown and take his back.
The All-American blames his mistake for the loss and allowing Rockhold’s ego to grow to epic proportions. Prior to UFC 199’s main event, he predicted that Rockhold’s demise would stem from this overconfidence.
I created this cocky bastard. All my fault. Sorry to everyone who has to see this. It will be short lived.
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) June 5, 2016
However, Weidman seemingly thought that Rockhold would lose his belt somewhere down the line, presumably in a rematch against him. His follow-up tweets suggested he was surprised at Bisping’s sensational knockout win over the former champ.
Wow cockiness gets kicked in the ass
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) June 5, 2016
Don't know how to feel right now.
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) June 5, 2016
