Michael Bisping plans ‘to stick it to everybody that doubted’ him

The talk of when or even if long-time UFC middleweight contender Michael Bisping would receive a title shot came to an end on Wednesday when he was selected to fill in for Chris Weidman opposite Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 on June 4. The opportunity is everything Bisping has fought for, but comes on short notice at a time when he’s in Canada filming a movie. In addition, it’s against an opponent he’s fought and lost to, a second-round stoppage loss in 2014.

Yet, ‘The Count’ accepted the opportunity when the UFC’s first choice for Weidman’s fill in, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, was unable to obtain a medical clearance.

In this interview with Bisping conducted on Wednesday on SiriusXM’s The Luke Thomas Show, the U.K. representative reflected on his time spent trying to secure a title shot, the challenges of working on short notice, why Weidman continues to be injured and so much more.

Congratulations on getting the fight. How are you feeling?

I’m feeling very, very excited. Very positive. There is some mixed emotions in there as well. Obviously, I’ve wanted a world title fight my entire life and then, here we are. It would’ve been nice to have it with a full training camp, but screw it. You get these opportunities thrown your way, you gotta make the most out of it. That’s what I intend to do.

i’ve got just under three weeks of intense training. I know I can get ready. I know I can be almost there. I’m confident.

Listen, I’ve fought this guy before. It didn’t go my way. I’ve sparred him in training. It definitely went my way that time. I was doing good in the first fight. He caught me with a head kick. God bless him. That’s the way this thing goes. Like, it only takes one shot.

I know he’ll be ready to compete. He’s very, very good, but my coach actually believes that given the shorter training camp, he actually thinks that’ll be beneficial. He thinks I won’t over analyze it. I won’t overtrain. I’m just going to go out there and do my best.

Any concerns making weight might be an issue?

Yeah, for sure, there is some concerns there. I know I can make weight, but it’s going to be tough. Definitely. It’s a short-notice fight. I’ve got two and a half weeks, but I’m not a million miles away. I think I’m around 208 [pounds], 209. So, I can do it. I’m going to diet like a madman. I’ve gotta train. I’ve gotta do some things, but it is doable.

If I didn’t lose any weight right now, I would have to do a 24-pound weight cut, which I’m not going to do, but you’ve heard people do that before. So, if I lose two pounds this week or three pounds this week, I’ll train all the way up to Saturday. I’ll rest Sunday. If I lose three pounds, then I can lose four pounds next week, that’s seven pounds. I’ll be just over the 200-pound limit. It’s doable, but it’s going to be miserable.

You won The Ultimate Fighter 3 in June of 2006. Here we are June in 2016 and you’re getting your UFC title shot, a decade in the making. Is there something magical about that timeline?

To be honest, I’m not a deep, spiritual person. Things have been happening in my life recently where I’ve started to think, ‘Maybe things do happen for a reason.’ I ways given this opportunity and I’m going to take it. I plan on going out there and winning, believe you me.

I believe it’s my destiny. I believe this is all going to add to the story. It’s going to make it a much bigger storyline. I’m going to go out there, I’m going to make history. I’m going to become the first world champion to come from the U.K. I’m going to do after almost the 10-year anniversary of getting into the UFC. I believe it’s my time.

Listen, I’ll put it like this. If people can walk around – and I don’t mean this in a disrespectful way to religious people – and you believe the son of God came down to earth 2,000 years ago, and he killed himself for our sins, and he can walk on water, and there’s a God up there looking after ourselves, and if you get on your knees …

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