Michael Bisping

By FCF Staff

After Michael Bisping turned down Luke Rockhold’s proposal to put their salaries on the line for their November 8th scrap, the outspoken fighter has outlined why.

Bisping and Rockhold have been firing verbal shots at each other for months now, and since their UFC Fight Night 55 headliner was booked, that trend has continued.

Rockhold has reportedly approached Bisping with the following bet. If he stops the perennial middleweight contender in the round one, then Rockhold would also collect Bisping’s pay. If he doesn’t, then “The Count” would take home Rockhold’s earnings.

Well, at a recent press conference in Sydney, Australia, where UFC FN 55 will be held, Bisping explained why he turned down Rockhold’s bet (quotes via MMA Fighting.com):

“Here’s the thing, I’ve never been finished in one round in my life,” Bisping said. “And when I beat you, I don’t want you to have the excuse that, ‘oh, I was going all out in the first round so I could finish you because I wanted to win this bet.’ Obviously, if you look at me and you look at Luke you can clearly see that Luke needs the money. I dress in the fanciest clothes, Luke…Luke you’re supposed to wear a suit here, it’s a press conference.

“Incidentally, I get paid four or five times more than you. There’s a reason why that is. Perhaps I will donate you some money to got out and buy yourself a suit when I kick your ass on Nov. 8.”

Bisping (25-6) is coming off a dominant, fourth round stoppage win over Cung Le last month, and Rockhold (12-2) hasn’t fought since April when he submitted Tim Boetsch.