UFC headliner Michael Bisping downplays fresh cut over left eye

SYDNEY – Michael Bisping doesn’t seem all that concerned about a fresh cut above his left eye that he’ll take into Friday’s UFC Fight Night 55 headliner.

During a pre-event press conference in Sydney, the Australian city that hosts his UFC Fight Pass-streamed headliner with Luke Rockhold at Allphones Arena, Bisping addressed the cut but suggested it’ll play no part in the middleweight grudge match.

According to Bisping (25-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC), he bumped heads with a training partner earlier this week and needed three stitches. However, he suggested it won’t matter since former Rockhold (12-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) is unlikely to stand and trade with him anyway.

“(It’s) nothing at all to be worried about,” said Bisping, who runs the risk of having the cut reopen during the five-round fight. “He’s not going to land a glove on me. I could have had stitches all over my face. I had a tiny little cut. It was a clash of heads.

“For all of Luke’s talk, I’m pretty sure he’s going to shoot a takedown in the first round, so I was working on my takedown defense and (had) a minor clash of heads. But as I said, no problem on (fight) night.”

Rockhold, who had a lively session with Bisping during the media event (check out their heated face-off below), shrugged off the comments.

“I haven’t practiced takedowns at all this whole training camp,” he said. “I’m focused on the standup game, and that’s where it’s going to start and where it’s going to end.

“I don’t care who Michael’s sparring with. If he’s getting beat up like that, he’s in big trouble. Look at me. I’m sparring with Cain Velasquez, Daniel Cormier and the best guys in the world and the heaviest hitters (at American Kickboxing Academy).”

Rockhold then smirked and rubbed his face.

“I’m looking pretty clean, huh?” he said with a chuckle. “He better put some grease on that eye.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 55, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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