By Damon Martin

Michael Bisping has no doubt in his mind about the real main event at UFC 217.

On Thursday, the reigning UFC middleweight champion responded to Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw both proclaiming that their title fight was the real headline attraction on Nov. 4 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Of course it's hard to deny the organic nature of the rivalry between Garbrandt and Dillashaw as former teammates, who are now ranked as the two best fighters in the world at 135 pounds.

"This isn't a gimme fight. Bisping and GSP fight is a gimme fight — they're just trying to sell tickets," Garbrandt said about the UFC 217 main event. "Our fight sells on all avenues, on all angles, everywhere. Everyone wants to see this fight. It's a grudge match. Two fighters going out there the former interim champion fighting the champion. That in itself is the main event.

"No disrespect to Rose (Namajunas) and Joanna (Jedrzejczyk). I think they're great fighters, but we're the real main event on Nov. 4."

Well, Bisping obviously disagrees.

"I've never paid to watch somebody that's the size of my leg in my life," Bisping said about the 135-pound champion. "Cody needs to spend less time plucking his eyebrows and more time living in the real world cause it ain't the main event! Simple as that. So he can f*cking dress it up however he wants.

"I love Cody. Cody's awesome. He's an amazing fighter, but don't talk sh*t about me, pal."

Considering Bisping and Garbrandt will be in the same room numerous times next week as UFC 217 draws closer, it will be interesting to see if they bother to interact with each other after this verbal sparring session over the course of two media conference calls.