British fighter Michael Bisping celebrates after his fight with Anderson Silva of Brazil (not pictured) in their middleweight bout at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night event in London on February 27, 2016. AFP File photo
UFC has named Michael Bisping as the new opponent for Luke Rockhold in the UFC 199 middleweight championship bout.
Bisping replaced Chris Weidman after the former champ withdrew from the fight this week because of an injury. Weidman wrote on his Facebook page that he has a “large extrusion herniation” in his neck and required surgery.
Weidman was scheduled to fight Luke Rockhold in a rematch from their December 2015 bout at UFC 194. Rockhold (15-2) defeated Weidman (13-1) by TKO to win the UFC middleweight title.
Bisping and Rockhold will headline the June 4 card at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Bisping has won four straight fights. He lost to Rockhold in November 2014 via submission at UFC Fight Night.