‘Get in the Cage’: Michael Bisping explains Rockhold’s disdain for him

Michael Bisping might not be keeping up the busiest fight schedule these days, but the 35-year-old UFC middleweight hasn’t lost his knack for getting under his opponents’ skin.

The man known as “The Count” will make his return to the cage on Nov. 8 in Sydney, Australia, to face Luke Rockhold, a man who has made no bones after his dislike for perhaps UFC’s greatest British fighter.

Bisping told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Bob Stelton on “Get in the Cage” that Rockhold’s disdain for him stems from a joke he made on TV and has since apologized for to no avail.

“I made a comment and he took offense to it, and he’s never been able to get over that,” Bisping said. “To be honest, I don’t really have a dislike for Luke Rockhold. I think it’s the other way around. He really, really doesn’t care for me, and then of course based upon that we’ve had some rather unpleasant conversations.”

The 30-year-old Rockhold is in danger of letting his emotions get the best of him, according to Bisping, who is also an analyst for UFC.

“This is a big grudge match. If you go down there too highly-charged on testosterone and aggression, that can throw you off your game. I think Luke Rockhold is in danger of doing that,” he said.

As for Bisping, he’s planning on doing the exact opposite.

“I’m going down there to take care of business,” he said. “I’m going out there with a very level head, a very clear mind and going down there with a clear (objective) … to fight the man to the best of my ability and get the win over Luke Rockhold.”

For the full interview with Bisping, including his analysis on Rockhold as a fighter, visit the “Get in the Cage” podcast page on 710Sports.com.