UFC 199 the day after: Highlights and two very lowlights

INGLEWOOD — UFC 199 delivered on many levels. It was a night of firsts, along with some great and not-so-great moments.

Here are our thoughts on Saturday night’s event at The Forum in Inglewood:

King Bisping

What a moment for Michael Bisping. After 10 years and 25 fights in the UFC, he accepts a title shot against middleweight champion Luke Rockhold on 17 days’ notice.

Rockhold, who defeated Bisping two years ago with a second-round guillotine choke, promised this one would end sooner and in spectacular fashion. He wasn’t kidding.

Bisping caught Rockhold overcommitting on a jab and lowering his right hand, dropping the champ with a big left hook. Rockhold popped back up and was promptly put on his backside again with another left. Bisping delivered a few more shots and the fight was called after just 3 minutes and 36 seconds.

• PHOTOS: Bisping dethrones Rockhold

Bisping, who now lives in Orange County, became the first Englishman to win a UFC title.

Ding Bisping

As expected, especially with two fighters who dislike one another, Bisping and Rockhold continued to talk trash at the post-fight news conference.

It got ugly when the presser ended and Bisping went to shake Rockhold’s hand. Words were exchanged, profanities hurled and they had to be separated.

Bisping was caught on tape yelling a homophobic slur at Rockhold. Not a good look for the new champ and the organization.

The UFC caot tolerate that and should discipline Bisping.

199 numbers

The Forum, which got rave reviews hosting its first UFC event, was sold out with an attendance of 15,587 and a gate of $2,168,675.

Fight of the Night honors went to Polo Reyes and Dong Hyun Kim, who kicked off the card at 3:15 p.m. with a mind-boggling, rock-’em, sock-’em slugfest that had the few fans who arrived early aghast at the pace and sheer will of each fighter to withstand such a beating.

• PHOTOS: UFC 199 footage, including the Reyes-Kim war

Reyes eventually got the TKO stoppage at 1:56 of the third round. Each fighters eaed a $50,000 bonus.

Performance of the Night honors and a $50,000 bonus went to each Bisping and Dan Henderson.

Ridiculous

MMA joualist Ariel Helwani was escorted from the arena by UFC officials for reportedly breaking two major stories well before the UFC revealed them during UFC 199.

Helwani, who was recently let go by Fox Sports from his on-screen insider role, not only reported that Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz would have a rematch Aug. 20 at UFC 202 in Las Vegas, but that WWE superstar and former UFC heavyweight champion former Brock Lesnar would be fighting next month against an undetermined opponent at UFC 200.

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Hours later, both stories were unveiled on the big screens at The Forum and during the pay-per-view telecast.

Helwani, who was joined in his ouster from The Forum by two MMAFighting.com colleagues — photographer Esther Lin and videographer E. Casey Leydon — tweeted he was told he was baed for life.

He added he hopes cooler heads prevail and professed his love for the sport and its fighters.

This type of punishment and pettiness does not bode well for the UFC. Helwani, as a reporter, is merely doing his job.

Instead of bullying joualists, perhaps the UFC should take a closer look at leaks inside its organization or the respective fighters’ camps.

Sad news on what was otherwise a baer night for the UFC.

Retirement buzz

Henderson went into his middleweight bout against Hector Lombard knowing it was the last fight on his UFC contract. The 45-year-old MMA icon had little left to prove after an incredible championship career in Pride and Strikeforce.

Henderson survived two knockdowns Saturday and came dangerously close to having the fight halted.

Then in the second round, the Temecula resident clipped Lombard with a head kick and, after Lombard grabbed the leg, followed up by cracking him with a back elbow to the temple. Lombard went down and Henderson followed up with another brutal elbow to put out Lombard’s lights.

With all his kids in attendance, Henderson called it a special moment but stopped short of calling it quits. He said he wants to assess his options before committing either way. He does, however, want a paycheck, so whether it’s as a fighter or ambassador of some sort, Henderson could remain in the UFC — for a price.

Retirement buzz part deux

Urijah Faber had a rough go of it in his trilogy match against bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.

The Team Alpha Male founder, at 37, said he was in the best shape of his life. That didn’t keep him from getting outclassed — Faber’s word — by Cruz, who cruised to a 50-45, 50-45, 49-46 decision.

• PHOTOS: Cruz dominates Faber

Afterward, the disappointed Faber said he might have to assess where he’s at in his career. Much is made of Faber’s savvy business skills, as he has done well for himself outside of MMA.

Faber, however, said he would love to be involved when Sacramento’s new arena gets built and possibly hosts a UFC card.

Biggest pops

1. Bisping starching Rockhold

2. Henderson flattening Lombard

3. Diaz, in attendance at The Forum, shown on the big screens flexing next to UFC President Dana White after his rematch against McGregor was aounced.

4. The toe-to-toe free-for-all in the final 10 seconds of the Max Holloway-Ricardo Lamas fight, won by Holloway via unanimous decision.

5. Faber, aka “The Califoia Kid,” and his “Califoia Love” walkout song by 2Pac and Dr. Dre.