Luke Rockhold (13-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) defeated Michael Bisping (25-7 MMA, 15-7 UFC) via second round submission in tonight’s UFC Fight Night 55 main event bout in Sydney, Australia.
Bisping began round 1 by utilizing a pawing jab to land a few right hands on Rockhold. The middleweights would exchange strikes but neither man was able to land anything significant in the early going. The pair would collide heads causing a cut to open on the left eye of Bisping. After a quick check from the doctor, the fight was allowed to continue. Rockhold would catch Bisping with a hook which was followed by one of his trademark left body kicks forcing the Brit to back petal. Rockhold and Bisping would exchange leg kicks to end the first round.
Round 2 opened with Bisping throwing a body kick. Rockhold answered that strike with a straight left hand. Rockhold would land a head kick that dropped Bisping who then rolled onto his back and was caught clean by a right hand for his efforts. Rockhold used the position to grab a guillotine choke on Bisping, which eventually forced the Brit to tap out.
The win marked Rockhold’s third straight victory and now puts the former Strikeforce champion right back into title contention.