Thales Leites: If time comes for rematch with UFC champ Michael Bisping, I'll be ready

Two fights before he knocked out Luke Rockhold to capture the UFC middleweight title, Michael Bisping had to survive a back-and-forth battle with Thales Leites.

Leites, who dropped the UFC Fight Night 72 fight by split decision, said he’d like one more crack at the now-champion.

Before he can put himself in a position to challenge for the belt, though, Leites (26-6 MMA, 11-5 UFC) has a date with Krzysztof Jotko (18-1 MMA, 5-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 100. The event takes place Nov. 19 at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo. It airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, though the bout order hasn’t been finalized.

The Brazilian told MMAjunkie he knows the streaking Jotko is anything but an easy out. But, of course, Leites expects to have his hand raised after the bout.

“He’s stronger, and he likes ground and pound, but I’m ready for everything, any situation that can happen inside the cage,” Leites said. “I will be ready. He’s top 15, if I’m not wrong. He’s coming off four straight wins. Of course he’s a tough opponent, and I’m ready more than ever.”

Leites picked up a win in his most recent outing, a third-round rear-naked choke submission of Chris Camozzi at UFC Fight Night 92. The win snapped a two-fight losing skid that began with the July 2015 loss to Bisping. Leites currently holds the No. 12 spot in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings.

He had an eight-fight winning streak snapped when Bisping edged him to take the decision, but Leites feels things could go much differently in a rematch.

“There would be a lot of different things because I’m much more confident,” Leites said. “In my mind, I should put much more pressure against the cage and try taking him down more than I did in that fight. But, you know, it happens. Time machines don’t exist. You just keep working to the future, and maybe one day we can face each other again.”

A rematch would make for the second time Leites fought for the 185-pound championship. In April 2009 at UFC 97, Leites faced off with longtime division kingpin Anderson Silva, who took the decision in an ugly affair, resulting in significant criticism of the then-champ for playing with, rather than destroying, what looked to be an overmatched opponent.

Silva’s win over him puts him on a list with Bisping of fighters Leites would like one more chance to face.

But he’s keeping a level head, he said, and approaching his career one moment at a time.

“I would like a chance for a rematch with all the opponents who beat me, of course,” Leites said. “Maybe one day, you know? All I can do is stay working hard and winning my fights. If the time comes one day, I will be ready.”

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And for more on UFC Fight Night 100, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.