UFC Shanghai: Bisping suffers devastating knockout defeat to Gastelum

But the British fighter has hinted his UFC career isn't over

Rising UFC middleweight contender Kelvin Gastelum showed the world that he’s ready to move into championship contention after stunning former world champion Michael Bisping in the opening round of their main event bout in Shanghai, China.

Gastelum was originally scheduled to face former world champion Anderson Silva but, when the Brazilian failed a USADA drug test, the UFC needed a short-notice replacement.

Remarkably, just one week after losing his middleweight world title to Georges St-Pierre in New York at UFC 217, Bisping offered to step in at just two weeks’ notice.

And the Brit looked to have started the better of the two, timing Gastelum’s advances and scoring with some slick counters in the early exchanges.

But the fight turned spectacularly in Gastelum’s favour in the blink of an eye as he threw a vicious two-punch combination, grazing the Brit’s chin with a right, then landing clean with a huge left hook that sent the former world champion crashing to the mat.

And as Gastelum swarmed the downed Brit looking to finish the contest, referee Marc Goddard decided he’d seen enough and stopped the contest after two and a half minutes of the opening round.

After the bout, an emotional Gastelum admitted his stoppage victory was the most significant win of his career to date.

“This is the biggest win of my life. I have a huge amount of respect for Bisping for stepping up,” he said.

And the American said he’s ready to challenge Australian Robert Whittaker for the interim middleweight world championship when the UFC makes its first visit to Perth, Australia at UFC 221 on 11 February next year.

“I heard a rumour Robert Whittaker needs an opponent for the main event in Australia. I’m up for the challenge.”

A crestfallen Bisping hinted that he wasn’t finished in the octagon just yet, having previously stated his intention to finish his career in London next March. Instead, he chose to pay tribute to his young rival.

“I just want to say congratulations to Kelvin Gastelum, job well done tonight,” he said.

“I was enjoying myself. He caught me with a good shot.”

On the UFC’s first event held in mainland China, the Chinese fighters delivered for their home fans, with no less than five local athletes scoring big wins inside the octagon.

In the night’s co-main event Chinese welterweight star Li Jingliang finished American Zak Ottow via ground and pound in the opening round, but he wasn’t the only Chinese fighter to produce an eye-catching stoppage victory.

Fellow welterweight Song Kenan delivered the fastest finish of the night, stunning American Bobby Nash in just 15 seconds with a huge overhand right, while 19-year-old featherweight prospect Song Yadong had the crowd on its feet with a hugely impressive performance.

The teenage star dropped Indian opponent Bharat Kandare with a huge right before locking up a front choke to secure a memorable submission win on his UFC debut.

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