INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - Michael Bisping won the UFC middleweight championship with a stunning first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold on Saturday night, earning his first title after 26 fights in the promotion at UFC 199 on Saturday night.
Bisping (30-7) spectacularly won the UFC 185-pound title two weeks after accepting the bout as an injury replacement for former champion Chris Weidman.
Bisping abruptly knocked down Rockhold midway through the round with a left hand to the jaw of the backpedaling champion. Rockhold bounced back up and engaged Bisping, who knocked him down for good with another left hand.
Bisping, an Englishman fighting out of Orange County, had never fought for a title in 10 years with the UFC.
Dominick Cruz also defended his UFC bantamweight title with a clear unanimous decision over Urijah Faber.
