BRITAIN’S Michael Bisping has demanded a rematch with Matt Hamill following his controversial win over the American at UFC 75 in London.
Bisping won the light-heavyweight fight on a judges’ decision but hit back at critics who claimed Hamill should have won the grudge match.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Bisping said: "A lot of people say Matt should’ve won the fight but I disagree with that completely.
"I’m getting so much s***. I got the decision, I went through the fight and I got the win – it’s not like I went out there and got knocked out in 30 seconds. I think people need to realise that.
"It was a good, exciting fight and I think people are focusing on the negatives and not looking at the positives."
The Brit admitted Hamill’s improved stand up had taken him by surprise but revealed he wants to fight the wrestler again as soon as possible.
Bisping said: "I thought it was a close fight, closer than I would have liked it to have been. But I’ve called the UFC and asked for a rematch because I feel I could do a lot better.
"Obviously I don’t like the controversy surrounding the fight so I want to fight him again and this time knock him out or stop him.
"I want a rematch as soon as possible – I don’t want to waste too much of my career on Matt Hamill."
Kickboxing expert Bisping conceded the American wrestler had won the first round of their encounter, but stressed: "I definitely won rounds two and three – they were close but he didn’t really do much.
"I feel quite happy that I beat him in rounds two and three but if people aren’t convinced then I’ll give the fans what they want."
Hamill – known for his superb strength and grappling ability surprised everyone with new-found stand up skills. But although he threw a lot of punches at the Brit, Bisping claimed: "He wasn’t connecting with anything – he never did any damage to me while he had me down.
"He got me down a couple of times but he didn’t really do anything on the floor.
"In rounds two and three, I definitely landed more shots."
Following the judges’ decision to award Bisping the fight, messageboards and fan sites were flooded with complaints from angry UFC fans. But fight referee Mario Yamasaki has backed the result and said he felt the Englishman won the second and third rounds.
Bisping attributed over-training as one reason for his below-par show.
He said: "A lot of people around me said I over-trained for the fight. I was training for 12 weeks and the camp was too long to be honest, but I didn’t feel over-trained in the fight.
"My fitness was certainly better than his and I never felt tired once, but I never let my hands or my kickboxing go because I was worried about the takedowns."
HAM-FISTED .. Bisping (right) during his fight with Hamill
Bisping revealed there is still no love lost between the two, telling us, "The fact is, we don’t like each other but I’m not going to hang my head in shame.
"I think people expected me to go through a lot easier than I did and are looking at it [the decision} as a loss and that I didn’t do myself justice.
"He’s obviously drastically improved. I think he did really well and I should have mentioned that on the night.
"But I’m absolutely up for a rematch."
Bisping won the light-heavyweight fight on a judges’ decision but hit back at critics who claimed Hamill should have won the grudge match.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Bisping said: "A lot of people say Matt should’ve won the fight but I disagree with that completely.
"I’m getting so much s***. I got the decision, I went through the fight and I got the win – it’s not like I went out there and got knocked out in 30 seconds. I think people need to realise that.
"It was a good, exciting fight and I think people are focusing on the negatives and not looking at the positives."
The Brit admitted Hamill’s improved stand up had taken him by surprise but revealed he wants to fight the wrestler again as soon as possible.
Bisping said: "I thought it was a close fight, closer than I would have liked it to have been. But I’ve called the UFC and asked for a rematch because I feel I could do a lot better.
"Obviously I don’t like the controversy surrounding the fight so I want to fight him again and this time knock him out or stop him.
"I want a rematch as soon as possible – I don’t want to waste too much of my career on Matt Hamill."
Kickboxing expert Bisping conceded the American wrestler had won the first round of their encounter, but stressed: "I definitely won rounds two and three – they were close but he didn’t really do much.
"I feel quite happy that I beat him in rounds two and three but if people aren’t convinced then I’ll give the fans what they want."
Hamill – known for his superb strength and grappling ability surprised everyone with new-found stand up skills. But although he threw a lot of punches at the Brit, Bisping claimed: "He wasn’t connecting with anything – he never did any damage to me while he had me down.
"He got me down a couple of times but he didn’t really do anything on the floor.
"In rounds two and three, I definitely landed more shots."
Following the judges’ decision to award Bisping the fight, messageboards and fan sites were flooded with complaints from angry UFC fans. But fight referee Mario Yamasaki has backed the result and said he felt the Englishman won the second and third rounds.
Bisping attributed over-training as one reason for his below-par show.
He said: "A lot of people around me said I over-trained for the fight. I was training for 12 weeks and the camp was too long to be honest, but I didn’t feel over-trained in the fight.
"My fitness was certainly better than his and I never felt tired once, but I never let my hands or my kickboxing go because I was worried about the takedowns."
HAM-FISTED .. Bisping (right) during his fight with Hamill
Bisping revealed there is still no love lost between the two, telling us, "The fact is, we don’t like each other but I’m not going to hang my head in shame.
"I think people expected me to go through a lot easier than I did and are looking at it [the decision} as a loss and that I didn’t do myself justice.
"He’s obviously drastically improved. I think he did really well and I should have mentioned that on the night.
"But I’m absolutely up for a rematch."
