IT’S clear that sportsmanship won’t win after UFC 199 came to an end.

Michael Bisping knocked out Luke Rockhold in the first round over the weekend to become the new middleweight champion, and the fighters jawed at each other throughout the post-fight press conference.

Rockhold called Bisping “a maggot” at one point before the new champion wagged his belt and said more than a few unkind words about him in return.

WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

The war of words continued as Bisping celebrated the biggest win of his career, and when the final question was finished, that wasn’t the end for the two middleweight rivals.

As Rockhold passed Bisping, more words were exchanged and things got really heated with the fighters just inches away from each other while UFC officials tried to intervene as quickly as possible.

“Go f*** yourself,” Bisping shouted at Rockhold.

“You’ll get knocked out again. I f***ing knocked you out twice now.”

Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold during their middleweight championship bout at UFC 199. Source: AFP

Rockhold finally was dragged away while Bisping turned the other direction before things got out of hand.

After two fights and one very infamous sparring session, it’s clear the rivalry between Bisping and Rockhold will continue and chances are these two will meet again in the very near future.

Earlier at the press conference, Rockhold voiced his objection to Bisping’s reaction following his upset victory for the championship belt.

“I mean you show your true colours after a fight and that f***ing guy comes up to me and goes ‘Do you know where you are?’ Like, I f***ing picked you up off the canvas [last time] and gave you respect,” Rockhold said.

“That guy is a piece of s*** and I want to f***ing come kill him next time ‘round. He’s just a maggot.”

Bisping entered with a beer in hand and his belt over his shoulder, sat down and responded to Rockhold’s comments.

“Luke, c’mon buddy. When the shoe was on the other foot I leaned over and thanked you at this moment in time. I said ‘well done’,” Bisping said.

“I shook your hand and you said ‘I shook your hand already’ and told me to f*** off basically.

“You got knocked out buddy, sit down and shut up. What an a**hole.”

Rockhold vowed to regain his title, saying he was prepared to do whatever it takes to get another shot against Bisping.

“I will be back,” the American said.

“Look, Bisping’s a d***, but he’s a warrior and he’s tough and he’s going to hang in there. I gave him an opportunity and he made the most of it.

“It will be a short-lived destiny.”

Story originally published on Fox Sports US