MMA Fan
25-04-2008, 18:17
Leuk stukje van Bisping op ufc.com
UFC (http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=11546)
The Post-Fight ‘CountDown’
By Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping
I’ve just got back home for the first time in five weeks and I’m totally knackered, having not slept on the plane at all. You should see my house right now - dirty clothes everywhere! I put the kids’ presents at the bottom of my case and - of course - they couldn’t wait so I emptied all my bags on the floor until they found their presents.
Anyway, now I’ve had a few days to think about it and watch the tape back a few times, I’m happy with my first performance in my new division of middleweight. Initially I was a little bit disappointed that I got taken down by Charles McCarthy and allowed myself to get put into an armbar attempt situation, but I’m actually very happy with my aggression, Octagon control, and most importantly, the style I fought with. That’s the style that got me noticed in the UK in the first place and that’s what you’ll be seeing from now on in the UFC.
I’ve always said I am learning with every fight and I learned some more last Saturday night.
As you know, McCarthy and me got into a bit of mudslinging and smacktalk leading up to the fight and we got in each other’s faces at the weigh-in. I’ve got to admit, he did get me pretty PO’d with all his smack and stopping him in one round was very satisfying.
But, fair play to him, McCarthy’s BJJ was very good. He scored a big takedown and did very well to go for that armbar from that position; but I knew he was going for it and had drilled the escape so many times in training I didn’t panic. I think his strategy was to get me to over commit myself to my strikes, turn me, push me against the cage and then take me down.
Well, he got me down, and even though I was calm, I remember thinking “Well, this wasn’t exactly the plan, was it, Michael?” but then I escaped, got back to my feet and started to let him have it.
Someone told me I threw 20 knees in 10 seconds and my knees were very sore afterwards, so I don’t know how sore his arms and head were Sunday morning.
I’m very happy to have shown my striking skills off in this fight, especially the knees which I’ve neglected so far in my UFC career.
When I had him against the fence and was unloading those knees, I think he was expecting me to gas out or try something else because he was half-blocking the knees. But I could have kept throwing those knees up and down all night long.
Hey, at least I know if this MMA thing doesn’t work out, I’ve
got a great career as part of the Rockettes troupe to fall back on!
I think the ref should have stopped it when McCarthy went down, because he went down like a sack of spuds and I was smashing him on the floor. Again, fair play, he is a tough SOB but I knew as soon as he went down the fight was won. I was a bit annoyed the ref didn’t stop it before the end of the round, as I could see Charles was done, but in the end the ref made the right call.
After the fight, I did ask Charles “Who’s average, then?” but after that we had a good talk in the dressing room. He seems to be a very decent guy and we were both just getting ourselves into “the zone” and talking the fight up beforehand.
Anyway, that’s my debut in the new division in the bank and I can’t wait to fight again.
Finally, big thanks to the fans in Montreal. You were outstanding all week and I can’t thank you enough for getting behind me like you did. I felt like I was back home fighting in England and I hope I gave you an exciting fight. I am sure the UFC will be back in Montreal soon and I’d be delighted to fight in front of you guys again, you lot were insane!
Check out my website at http://www.bisping.tv and, if you have a few notes burning a hole in your pocket, buy an Encounter t-shirt!
Later, The Count
UFC (http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=11546)
The Post-Fight ‘CountDown’
By Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping
I’ve just got back home for the first time in five weeks and I’m totally knackered, having not slept on the plane at all. You should see my house right now - dirty clothes everywhere! I put the kids’ presents at the bottom of my case and - of course - they couldn’t wait so I emptied all my bags on the floor until they found their presents.
Anyway, now I’ve had a few days to think about it and watch the tape back a few times, I’m happy with my first performance in my new division of middleweight. Initially I was a little bit disappointed that I got taken down by Charles McCarthy and allowed myself to get put into an armbar attempt situation, but I’m actually very happy with my aggression, Octagon control, and most importantly, the style I fought with. That’s the style that got me noticed in the UK in the first place and that’s what you’ll be seeing from now on in the UFC.
I’ve always said I am learning with every fight and I learned some more last Saturday night.
As you know, McCarthy and me got into a bit of mudslinging and smacktalk leading up to the fight and we got in each other’s faces at the weigh-in. I’ve got to admit, he did get me pretty PO’d with all his smack and stopping him in one round was very satisfying.
But, fair play to him, McCarthy’s BJJ was very good. He scored a big takedown and did very well to go for that armbar from that position; but I knew he was going for it and had drilled the escape so many times in training I didn’t panic. I think his strategy was to get me to over commit myself to my strikes, turn me, push me against the cage and then take me down.
Well, he got me down, and even though I was calm, I remember thinking “Well, this wasn’t exactly the plan, was it, Michael?” but then I escaped, got back to my feet and started to let him have it.
Someone told me I threw 20 knees in 10 seconds and my knees were very sore afterwards, so I don’t know how sore his arms and head were Sunday morning.
I’m very happy to have shown my striking skills off in this fight, especially the knees which I’ve neglected so far in my UFC career.
When I had him against the fence and was unloading those knees, I think he was expecting me to gas out or try something else because he was half-blocking the knees. But I could have kept throwing those knees up and down all night long.
Hey, at least I know if this MMA thing doesn’t work out, I’ve
got a great career as part of the Rockettes troupe to fall back on!
I think the ref should have stopped it when McCarthy went down, because he went down like a sack of spuds and I was smashing him on the floor. Again, fair play, he is a tough SOB but I knew as soon as he went down the fight was won. I was a bit annoyed the ref didn’t stop it before the end of the round, as I could see Charles was done, but in the end the ref made the right call.
After the fight, I did ask Charles “Who’s average, then?” but after that we had a good talk in the dressing room. He seems to be a very decent guy and we were both just getting ourselves into “the zone” and talking the fight up beforehand.
Anyway, that’s my debut in the new division in the bank and I can’t wait to fight again.
Finally, big thanks to the fans in Montreal. You were outstanding all week and I can’t thank you enough for getting behind me like you did. I felt like I was back home fighting in England and I hope I gave you an exciting fight. I am sure the UFC will be back in Montreal soon and I’d be delighted to fight in front of you guys again, you lot were insane!
Check out my website at http://www.bisping.tv and, if you have a few notes burning a hole in your pocket, buy an Encounter t-shirt!
Later, The Count