The main event at (UFC Shanghai) UFC Fight Night 122 saw former middleweight champ Michael Bisping takes on Kelvin Gastelum in front of a pack Mercedes Benz Arena in Shanghai, China.
Earlier this month former middleweight champ Bisping lost to GOAT contender Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217, but when he got the opportunity to replace Anderson Silva (who violated the anti-doping violation) as the main event, didn’t hesitate to accept the opportunity.
This fight marked Bisping’s 29th appearance with the UFC – the most in UFC history – and with the 38-year-old’s career in its dusk, he was hoping to secure a win here over a highly regarded foe in order to achieve one last run at the middleweight title.
Kelvin Gastelum bounced back into the winning row with a first-round knockout KO in China, landing a vicious left hand that dropped Michael Bisping unconscious. Gastelum followed up with more ground and pound, but referee Marc Goddard stopped the fight in the first round of 2:30.
OHHHHHH MYYYYYYY!!!!!!@KelvinGastelum FLATTENS Bisping in round 1!!! #UFCShanghai📱 💻 🖥 https://t.co/v7Pyjv0z20 pic.twitter.com/nlk4Nafu1c
— UFC (@ufc) November 25, 2017
Kelvin after the victory Via MMA fighting:
“Man, this is the biggest win in my career,” Gastelum said after the win. “I’m gonna try not to get emotional. I have a huge amount of respect for Bisping.”
“That’s something we trained a lot,” he said of the punch that finished “The Count”. “He throws a mean left hook and an awesome straight right, so that’s something we worked on a lot.”
Gastelum went on to call interim champion Robert Whittaker for UFC 221, scheduled to take place in Perth, Australia on Feb 10.
“Well, I heard a rumor that Robert Whittaker needs a main event in February in Australia,” Gastelum said. “I’m up for the challenge.”
Bisping, who lost back-to-back fights for the first time in his MMA career, made it clear that he will fight one more time before retiring.
“Kelvin is a great guy,” Bisping said, “but unfortunately it’s going to take a bigger pile of shit to get rid of me.”
“I was enjoying myself. I was enjoying myself. He caught me with a good shot. God bless Kelvin, he’s young. I’ve done this for a long time. I’m getting old, I’m getting old, but God bless you all for being here.”
Even twitter reacts to Kelvin Gastelum’s KO of ex-champ Michael Bisping.
Vicious KO. 1-2 to the jaw by Gastelum floors Bisping in one. Damn.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) November 25, 2017
Michael Bisping out to "Song 2" by Blur. Pound-for-pound one of the best walkouts in the history of the sport#UFCShanghai
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) November 25, 2017
Watch the finish below:
#TeamGastelum w/ another big win!!@KelvinGastelum #UFCShanghai pic.twitter.com/SihnrdfCrd
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) November 25, 2017
