“Cung Le isn’t taking me down and I won’t take him down. This fight has fireworks written all over it and that’s why I’m excited for the match up. It’ll be a great striking battle.

“I’m really looking forward to main eventing in China and I’m going to give people what they paid to see. I feel like I didn’t live up to my words last time. I get to make up for that last fight. That was a poor performance and very, very boring fight. I don’t work so hard to take part in boring fights.”

…

“I’ve got a point to prove: a point to prove to myself and the paying public, that you should still watch my fights, that I’m still a contender. But that all starts with Cung Le. Apologies for the last fight. I was trying my best, but only one of us wanted to fight and that was me. The other guy didn’t engage. I want to continue my march towards a title shot.”

“Listen, I’ve never lost two in a row in my life and I’m coming off of a loss. It’s as simple as that. I’m coming off of a loss and I don’t intend to make it two losses in a row. So yeah, my back’s up against the wall.

“I’m proclaiming to be one of the best out there and losing fights doesn’t really go hand-in-hand with being one of the best. I’ve got to go out there and got a point to prove: a point to prove to myself, to my supporters, to my haters, to the UFC, to my family, everything.

“Of course, yeah, my back’s against the wall.”

During Monday’s edition of ‘The MMA Hour’, Michael Bisping discussed his newly announced main event bout against Cung Le.

The two middleweights are set to square off on August 23 at The Venetian Macao’s CotaiArena, in Macao, China.

(Transcription props: Luke Thomas)