And it certainly came through with the necessary fireworks, as Michael Bisping exacted the revenge he wanted so badly with a second round technical knockout win over Jorge Rivera.
Directly after, he walked up to a rocked "El Conquistador" and told him he needed to apologize for all the **** he talked in the lead-up to the fight. He even spit at Rivera's corner.
"The Count" admitted to his sensitivity in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan though and said he was sorry for overreacting when the fight was called.
All that said, it was an impressive performance for the British striker, who kept the pressure on the whole way.
It didn't come without a bit of controversy however, not including the post-fight shenanigans. In the opening frame, Bisping landed a clearly illegal knee on a downed Rivera that cost him a point.
The fight was nearly called when Rivera was essentially unresponsive for a short period of time.
As it turned out, the 37 year-old was able to continue and came out with a renewed vigor after the bout was restarted. The overhand right he was looking to land, a la Dan Henderson at UFC 100, just never found a home.
The constant pressure "The Count" was able to apply was too much for the old man to handle, as he gassed and it almost looked as if he let himself get punched out to bring the fight to a close.
An impressive performance from Bisping, who showcased his striking along with his wrestling en route to the technical knockout win. So what's next for the surging middleweight contender?
