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Like many of Michael Bispings opponents, former Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is unimpressed by the brash Brit.Bisping, hes a piece of work, Rockhold said with an exasperated laugh. The guy likes to run his mouth. I look forward to shutting it.Rockhold (12-2) will get that chance Friday in Sydney, Australia, in the main event of a televised UFC card. A win can propel the American, currently ranked fifth among 185-pound contenders, nearer the front of the championship queue. Bisping (26-6) is ranked ninth.The bad blood between them apparently dates back to an innocent sparring session.Bisping, who was gearing up for a fight at the time, got under Rockholds skin during a subsequent interview when, asked about the training session, said: Lets just say Im the unofficial Strikeforce champion.Rockhold called the remark completely tasteless. Bisping says it was an off-the cuff, humorous remark. Get over it, he said.Rockhold said he was coming off an injury at the time and looking to help Bisping rather than show off his skills, even switching stances as required.Hes a prick everywhere in life, Rockhold said on a recent media conference call. Luke, I dont know you. I dont care for you, Bisping responded. We havent shared a single proper conversation so youre basing your facts or what you presume is facts on absolutely nothing, on fresh air.The two fighters did exchange pleasantries in a coffee shop following Bispings August win over Cung Le in Macau. It was there that Rockhold offered to switch purses if he finished Bisping in the first round and give up his purse if he didnt, no matter who won.Rockhold said he was offering to put $50,000 (his basic purse) or $100,000 (basic purse plus win bonus) on the line.He wouldnt commit to the bet, unfortunately, said Rockhold.Im a betting man. I like to gamble everywhere, everything I do, he added.Bisping explained he made more than Rockhold so the bet wasnt fair. He did offer to buy the American a suit when I kick your ass.Bisping is known for his trash-talking outside the ring. The California-based English veteran can talk up a fight like few others. Combine that with a well-rounded game and a good gas tank and the 35-year-old former DJ and furniture maker has made a good living in the UFC.But the six-foot-two Bisping has lost three of his last six, admittedly against good opposition in Tim Kennedy, Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen.Hes technical, hes good, said Rockhold, who holds a win over Kennedy and lost to Belfort. But I just know that Im a lot better. Im faster, Im more technical and I have the intangibles that he doesnt have.At six foot three, Rockhold is a big middleweight with a deep tool box. The black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu also trains with elite fighters at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.Rockhold has won two straight in the UFC since losing his debut to Belfort by head kick and has won 11 of his last 12.He stopped Costas Philippou in 81 seconds, lashing him with a kick to the body, before submitting Tim (The Barbarian) Boetsch last time out via inverted triangle kimura in two minutes eight seconds. Still, unlike the talkative Bisping, he has flown under the radar somewhat.It doesnt really matter to me. I know who I am and I know what my future holds, said the 30-year-old Rockhold. I dont think I really have the respect that I think I deserve.I see guys like Jacare (Souza) ranked ahead of me (at No. 2), guys I beat. I believe Im the best fighter in the world and Im going to go out there and prove it again and again. This is another opportunity to showcase my skills. He says he wants to finish Bisping off with a bang.I dont believe I really get much out of this fight by squeaking by and getting a win. I need to go out there and make a statement and put fear in the eyes of every middleweight out there.He believes the key is to relax and not force things.I see so many good endings to this fight, he added.In order to have the fight air on prime time in North America, the main event is taking place early afternoon Saturday Australia-time. NOTES: Belforts older brother is a pro surfer ... Canadian welterweight Chris (The Menace) Clements is also on the Sydney card. He takes on Australian Vik (The Spartan) Grujic.Follow @NeilMDavidson on Twitter Walter Payton Bears Jersey . Today, their baseball playing sons were reportedly traded for each other. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Cubs dealt minor league outfield Trevor Gretzky to the Angels for catcher Matt Scioscia. William Perry Womens Jersey . The Twins announced Thursday the 28-year-old Albers cleared waivers. He will join the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization. https://www.bearssportsgoods.com/Womens-Riley-Ridley-Inverted-Jersey/ . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Mike Ditka Womens Jersey .com) - The San Francisco Giants delivered plenty of big hits to tie the World Series. Tom Waddle Youth Jersey . It led to his downfall on Tuesday. The Major League Soccer club fired Rennie after a second straight up-and-down season that saw the Whitecaps start strong before limping across the finish line. BOSTON -- David Ortiz went from gesturing up at an official scorer one at-bat earlier to pumping his fist toward his teammates after his game-tying homer. Three pitches later, he was hugging Mike Napoli at home plate after his teammates winning home run. Napoli and Ortiz hit consecutive homers with one out in the 10th inning and the Boston Red Sox rallied past Minnesota 2-1 Wednesday, sending the Twins to their fifth straight loss. "We havent been able to produce. Our pitching has been outstanding lately, but we havent been able to hit," Ortiz said. "To come back and win the game, that was big." Boston was held to one hit -- a fifth-inning double by Daniel Nava -- before the homers. The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 10th on Chris Parmelees two-out home run off Red Sox closer Koji Uehara (2-1). But after Dustin Pedroia flied out to begin the Boston 10th, the Red Sox connected against Casey Fien (3-4) to complete a three-game sweep. Twins closer Glen Perkins was unavailable with a sore back. Ortiz hit his drive down the right-field line and pumped his right fist toward the dugout as he headed toward first base. Napoli hit his shot into the centre-field bleachers. Three innings earlier, Ortiz felt like he had a hit taken away when he reached on what was ruled an error by official scorer Bob Ellis after the ball deflected off first baseman Joe Mauers glove in the seventh inning. When he walked off the field following Napolis double-play grounder, Ortiz was glaring and waving his arm up at the press box. "You hope they have your back at home and it never happens," Ortiz said. "Ive been here more than a decade and the scoring, its home, man. What do you want Mauer to do? He dove for the ball. He knocked it down." "I always look like Im the bad guy, but they always end up changing it. Its not that we need to check on Papi. Check on the scorer to see what hes doing wrong," he said. Earlier this year, Major League Baseball changed a scorers ruling and later gave Ortiz a single in a game in which Yu Darvish had a no-hit bid for Texas. Parmelee also had two singles as Minnesota finished a 3-6 road trip. "Were glad were going home," Parmelee said. "Its kind of tough end to the long road trip, but were headed home and were excited tto get back home.dddddddddddd." Uehara had a scoreless streak snapped at 21 2/3 innings when Parmelee homered into the Red Sox bullpen over the leap of right fielder Brock Holt. "Unfortunately, one extra split to Parmelee gives them the upper hand, but a dramatic finish on our part," Boston manager John Farrell said. "David comes up big once again." Like the previous two games of the series, both one-run wins by Boston, neither team had much offence going. The Twins entered the day with seven combined hits and one run in the first two games and Boston scored just three total runs. The Red Sox were on the verge of being shut out until the improbable ending. "Its the worst feeling in the world," Fien said. "When youve got a pitching staff that threw like that and then they ask me to come up big and do my part. You come out with the L. Its not a good feeling." Bostons John Lackey and Minnesotas Kyle Gibson kept up the trend with strong pitching performances. Lackey gave up three singles over nine innings, striking out nine and walking one. Hes allowed three or fewer runs in six straight starts, and 12th of 15 this season. Gibson pitched seven shutout innings for the third consecutive start, allowing only Navas double, while striking out eight without walking anyone. Gibson retired the first 14 batters before Nava lined a double near the base of the right-field wall that bounced in Bostons bullpen for a ground-rule double. Pedroia had his streak of reaching in every career start against the Twins snapped at 30 after he went 0 for 4. NOTES: Red Sox starters held an opponent to three runs or fewer for the 12th consecutive home game. ... A day after designating him for assignment, the Red Sox released struggling OF Grady Sizemore from the roster. ... Red Sox pitcher Brandon Workman lost an appeal of his six-game suspension for throwing near the head of Tampa Bays Evan Longoria on May 30, and the right-hander began serving it Wednesday. ... RHP Yohan Pino makes his major league debut, facing Chicagos Jose Quintana (3-7, 3.98 ERA) Thursday as the Twins open a four- game series at home against the White Sox. ... Jake Peavy (1-4, 4.53 ERA) goes for Boston Thursday against Oaklands Scott Kazmir (8-2, 2.05) as the Red Sox begin a 10-game road trip. ' ' '