UFC Fight Night 55 in Sydney gets Michael Bisping vs Luke Rockhold main event

A long anticipated grudge match between UFC middleweight contenders, Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold, will serve as the main event at UFC Fight Night 55 on November 8 in Sydney.

Bisping announced the five-round matchup Saturday on the FOX Sports 1 pre-fight show for UFC Fight Night 50. For the first time since March 2012, the promotion returns to the Allphones Arena in Sydney.

Following a deflating loss to Tim Kennedy in April, 35 year-old Bisping (25-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) made a dominant return to form last month in China, where he battered local fighter Cung Le en route to a brutal fourth-round TKO.

Rockhold (12-6 MMA, 2-1 UFC) will now get the opportunity to follow up his recent sledging of Bisping, claiming he would finish the Brit within the first round. After a first-round KO loss to Vitor Belfort, the AKA based fighter has gone 2-0 with first round stoppage wins over Costas Philippou and Tim Boetsch.

UFC president Dana White was previously looking at matching Hector Lombard for the main event slot. The adopted Aussie is still expected to find a home in the lineup.

Updated Fight Card:

• Michael Bisping vs Luke Rockhold
• Hector Lombard vs TBA
• Soa Palelei vs Daniel Omielanczuk
• Anthony Perosh vs Guto Inocente

* Image via UFC on Twitter

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