Defeat in his last bout to Dan Henderson at UFC 100 had aroused questions in certain quarters.

But the Clitheroe-born fighter stepped up to the plate in some style at Manchester's MEN Arena, achieving a second round TKO to overcome the challenge of Canadiann Denis Kang.

And afterwards, Bisping spoke of his delight. "I am absolutely over the moon, you have no idea how I felt after the last fight," he said.
"This is my life and I dedicate everything to it - it really hurts me that people don't give me the respect I think I deserve."

Bisping soaked up the pressure from Kang in the first round, and despite never being in trouble, he lost the opener after being dropped by a right hand and on his back.

But in the second, he pounded his way to two separate assaults with three takedowns, as the fight was stopped to raucous applause from the home crowd.

Bisping added: "I knew I had lost the (opening) round, and thought I would save it for the second round. I was confident I had taken his best shot.

"I apologise to all my fans for the last fight, it was just a setback - I can't put into words the pressure that was lifted from me."

Dan Black