Michael Bisping snags UFC middleweight belt after KO of Luke Rockhold

— -- LOS ANGELES -- Michael Bisping didn't care that it took him 10 years to get a UFC title shot. Nor did he care when it finally came -- on two weeks' notice against a man who had already beaten him.

He went into the Octagon on Saturday as a massive betting underdog against Luke Rockhold and left with a middleweight championship belt around his waist.

Bisping (28-7) knocked out Rockhold with a left hook and right hand at 3:36 of the first round of their 185-pound championship fight at UFC 199 inside The Forum. Referee John McCarthy stepped in after Bisping knocked Rockhold to the floor and then put him to sleep with a clubbing right hand.

It was the culmination of one of the longest, most successful careers of the past decade, which somehow always lacked a title shot. It came against Rockhold (15-3), who submitted Bisping in the second round of a bout in November 2014.

Bisping was deserving of a shot, thanks to a three-fight win streak, but he only got it this weekend, after an injury to Rockhold's original opponent, Chris Weidman.

"Listen, I've got to be humble, even though I want to be an a--h---," Bisping said. "I am so happy right now. I started fighting when I came out of my mother's womb. I really have always been a fighter. It's gotten me in trouble, but there's nothing I did better in life than fighting.

"I am an average guy. This is my dream. Nobody was taking this away from me. Two weeks' notice. Two days' notice. Two hours' notice. Two minutes' notice. I'll fight anyone."

Originally from the United Kingdom, Bisping lives and trains in Southern California with boxing coach Jason Parillo. He brought his family into the Octagon after the win and thanked them and his home country for its support. Coming into the fight, Bisping was second in UFC history with 18 wins. Now he moves into a tie for first with former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

Rockhold, who came in as ESPN.com's No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world, struggled to find words after the loss. It was his first since his UFC debut in May 2013, when he suffered a first-round knockout to Vitor Belfort. Prior to that loss, Rockhold had finished five consecutive fights, the longest active streak of any UFC division.

"Congrats to Michael," Rockhold said. "He taught me. I didn't see it happening. I took it for granted. I could have capitalized and fought my fight, rather than play around with him. He's a tough guy, a warrior. I have to give him respect."

Rockhold looked relatively conservative to open the fight, similar to how he fought Bisping in their first meeting in 2014. He looked to calmly walk Bisping down and make use of his size advantage. He landed a handful of leg kicks and elevated one toward the head, which Bisping blocked and smiled at.

According to immediate stats by Fightmetric, the two landed a nearly identical number of strikes. Rockhold connected on 17, while Bisping landed 21. Bisping was slightly more active, as he looked to move in and out on the dangerous Rockhold. He landed a big left hook after Rockhold went to the body and followed moments later with another left that hurt him.

"This guy finishes everybody in the first round," Bisping said. "Well, check this out."