Almost 2,650 days later and Michael Bisping is still gunning for revenge.
‘The Count’ has the chance to avenge one of the most famous knockouts of all time, which came at the expense of his jaw in July of 2009, when he squares off with Dan Henderson for a second time.
This time, there is middleweight gold on the line and, if most fight fans were told six months ago that Bisping vs. Henderson II would be contested for the 185lbs title before the year was out, they’d have laughed at the mere notion.
That’s the beauty of this sport and it’s only right that as many eyes as possible will be transfixed on the grudge rematch.
Over seven years since Hendo robbed the Manchester middleweight of his consciousness and secured a certainty on every UFC KO highlight reel for years to come, Bisping has the chance to settle the score.
Under the tutelage of head coach Jason Parillo, Bisping has looked unbeatable in recent outings and beat the past and present of 185lbs greatness by overcoming Anderson Silva and overwhelming Luke Rockhold already this year.
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And Parillo has explained the changes that he has witnessed in the brash Brit since his initial meeting with heavy-handed Henderson.
“The temperament of Michael Bisping was a little bit different back then,” Parillo said on the MMA Hour. “He was a little younger and he’s had a lot more experience since that.
“In my opinion, Mike’s really peaking in his career. Not just in training and in his training camp but in his career, he’s really peaking. And everybody peaks at different times.
“Some guys are at their best when they’re in their twenties.
“Mike’s really come together mentally, physically and emotionally. And he brings it in and he’s champion now.
“I really do believe he’s peaking and he’s going to keep showing that for the next handful of fights.”
Henderson wasn’t the obvious pick for Bisping’s first defence, given the fact that he’s only won three of his last nine bouts, but the bad blood between the transatlantic nemeses was enough of a selling point to get the deal done.
And Parillo foresees a much different outcome from the pair’s first clash at UFC 100, which ended via second round knockout.
“I see him touching him with whatever he wants,” Parillo predicted.
“I see him reading Dan, reading his movements. Mike’s been in front of a lot of good fighters, a lot of good punchers, good everything.
“Luke Rockhold’s a beast and he was reading him like a book. Anderson Silva’s a beast and he was reading him like a book.
“Dan Henderson has a whole different arsenal as far as his leverage and his power but he always shows a lot more than these other guys do. They’re a little bit more coordinated, a little bit more athletic and a little quicker.
“And reading guys like that, he’s just going to bring it right over into the cage with Dan.
“He’s going to have to be cautious and he’s going to have to focus and that’s what’s most important because Mike knows how to react to whatever he needs to react to in there. It’s just keeping the head right and the focus and keep plugging away.
“He’s going to hit him with everything.”
The GAA Hour pays tribute to the unbeatable Dubs and ask where did it all go wrong for Mayo in the All-Ireland final replay. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
