Morning Report: Michael Bisping and Anderson Silva take shots at each other over social media
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva posted on social media, taking aim at current champion Michael Bisping and Bisping responded in kind, calling the legend "fake."
Anderson Silva dug up some ancient history Sunday, posting to his Instagram a collage of photographs of his fight with UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping from earlier this year. The four photographs each showed Bisping at points of various discomfort in the fight and Silva captioned each image with mocking statements as told by Bisping, culminating in suggesting that Bisping ran from him and relied on the judging in his home country of England to gift him a win.
"1 - Where did this punch come from?
2 - Kick in the mouth! Where did it come from?
3 - I will run from this guy! I hope they'll help me in this fight!
4 - I think I'm going to go to sleep and I'll come back later, because I'm at home! It is always good to fight at home. God Save the Queen!
"The day I knocked someone out and ended up losing by points. In the Queen's land it is no different from Brazil, fighting at home has its advantages! God save the Queen!"
Silva and Bisping fought in the main event of UFC Fight Night: London in February of this year. The bout was one of the more controversial ones of the year, with Silva knocking down Bisping at the end of the third round and celebrating on top of the cage as if he has scored a knockout. However, the bout was not stopped and Silva was forced down off the cage to continue fighting. Bisping went on to win a unanimous decision despite the near KO; Silva disputed the decision and has since tried occasionally to goad Bisping into a rematch.
Well, the bait doesn't seemed to have worked on the current champion, but he did respond to Silva, likewise on Instagram, chiding the former champion for his "whining" and calling him a "fake."
"This is only in response to [Anderson Silva]. Your [sic] still whining on Instagram about the decision. Saying I ran the whole time and you knocked me out lol. First off, I backed you up the entire fight and dropped you twice, also I clearly out struck you the entire fight. You landed a cheap shot in the third which dropped me at the end of the round, not KO'd me lol. Man, your [sic] so used to everyone bowing down to you, your head is messed up. You lost! Deal with it. A true martial artist should have honour and respect in defeat as well as victory. Also they don't take steroids, you sir are a fake!!!!!"
Silva was suspended for one year following a failed drug test for Drostanolone. Silva claimed he was the victim of a tainted sexual enhancement drug he acquired in Thailand. His fight against Bisping was his return bout and since then he stepped in on short notice to fight Daniel Cormier at UFC 200, losing a unanimous decision. In the mean time, Bisping went on to upset Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 to become the middleweight champion before successfully defending his title against Dan Henderson at UFC 204.
Bisping is now ostensibly set to face Yoel Romero early next year after Romero's impressive knockout of former champion and Silva-dethroner, Chris Weidman. But if something happens to Romero, perhaps Silva will get the chance to step in on short notice once again and settle his beef with Bisping.
MUST-READ STORIES
Results. Get all the results from this weekend's UFC event right here.
Double champ. Conor McGregor says the UFC never contacted him about letting go of his belt.
Friends. Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz buried the hatchet after Faber's retirement.
10-7 Cruz. Dominick Cruz and Cody Garbrandt got into a verbal altercation at UFC on Fox: Sacramento.
22. Paige VanZant says she will return after her loss and expects to win a title some day.
EXTRA CREDIT
Piracy. Tim Bissell told the story of a guy being sued for screening a UFC event.
MEDIA STEW
Free fight.
Burying hatchets.
BJJ Scout's breakdown of Nunes vs. Rousey.
Tito calling Mayweather-McGregor
Chael on Faber's career.
LISTEN UP
6th Round.
Parting Shot.
MMA Mad.
TWEETS
The picture of the weekend.
Cuz they're the 3 best friends that anyone could have! pic.twitter.com/N4Dln8D3eo
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) December 18, 2016
USADA being the worst.
nothin like USADA deciding to join me on my date night with @mightywife pic.twitter.com/d5qzLrlszX
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) December 19, 2016
And Max responding to Conor.
Well looks like someone is finally speaking up. Forget pass tense ask yourself how we match up now.
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) December 18, 2016
Tonight wasn't my night. God has other plans for me. I will be back.
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) December 18, 2016
@sagenorthcutt Your next fight, I will come train your MMA grappling. Just pay for my flight and expenses. DM me and keep your head up bro.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) December 18, 2016
I find it extremely bizarre that all these @UFC 207 promos only focus on Ronda and very little about the champion@Amanda_Leoa
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) December 18, 2016
Ronda deserved every bit of hype she got, but Holly KO'ed her, Miesha choked out Holly, and Amanda smashed Miesha. That should be respected. https://t.co/45ijDmyPA3
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) December 18, 2016
Was he old enough to watch the @UFC when I was still fighting?
— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) December 18, 2016
Glad to be landed in Georgia. Can't wait to hold my kid. Happy holidays to all and have a Merry Christmas.
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) December 19, 2016
Sorry I didn't win... I'll be going back down to my real weight class 155lbs! Thanks for the support and to all that came out to watch pic.twitter.com/EUIikE8XBT
— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) December 19, 2016
.@joerogan I fought same amount as mcgregor last year my body needed to recover before starting the next season the last cut was rough
— Cris Cyborg (@criscyborg) December 18, 2016
California Love.
Mending fences.
Only time I've ever seen Rockhold look small.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jim Miller (28-8, 1 NC) vs. Dustin Poirier (20-5); UFC 208, February 11.
Joseph Duffy (16-2) vs. Reza Madadi (14-4); UFC Fight Night: London, March 18.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2009: Gilbert Melendez won a unanimous decision over Josh Thomson to become the Strikeforce lightweight champion at Strikeforce: Evolution.
2015: Rafael dos Anjos knocked out Donald Cerrone in the first round to retain his UFC lightweight championship at UFC on Fox 17. This event was also notable for Nate Diaz calling out Conor McGregor after winning a unanimous decision over Michael Johnson, setting up their eventual rivalry.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Can't wait to see how many people USADA tests on Christmas day. What a wonderful thing to have in our sport...
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