• UFC 127

Bisping seething at 'pathetic child' Rivera

ESPN staff
February 22, 2011
Michael Bisping is fuming ahead of UFC 127 © Getty Images
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Michael Bisping has labelled Jorge Rivera 'pathetic' and likened his UFC 127 opponent to a 'child' ahead of their battle in Sydney.

Bisping is trying to contain his emotions ahead of Saturday's co-main event, but he is secretly seething at the pre-fight abuse aimed in his direction by Rivera.

The Briton has been the target of trash talk throughout his career, but rarely has the pre-event chatter become so personal. Rivera recently stated in one of his mocking videos that "80 per cent of koalas in Australia have chlyamydia", a comment Bisping believes is aimed directly at his Australian girlfriend.

For a huge family man like Bisping, Rivera's comments have been extremely tough to take, and he warned El Conquistador that he will pay the price in Sydney.

''It's pathetic really, he's trying to get a response out of me and anger me and throw me off my game plan,'' Bisping told the Sydney Morning Herald. ''All he is really doing is making me more focused and train harder.

''It's immature and childish. We're fighting in the premier mixed martial arts organisation in the world, there are a lot of eyes on us, we're fighting in the co-main event, and he needs to behave accordingly.

''He is acting like a child, it's the type of thing you see in the schoolyard. On top of that, he has insulted myself, he's insulted the country I come from, he has insulted my girlfriend's heritage … It's absolutely ridiculous, I think he's crossed the line on some occasions but I'm trying not to answer it.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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