Michael Bisping News

Drake Riggs - March 23, 2018

It isn’t easy being a fighter. And you don’t need to be told that. But sometimes things can go a little bit rougher and more unexpectedly than one would like. Thus was the case for former middleweight champion, Michael Bisping as he headed into his final attempted title defense at UFC 217 this past November. Bisping, never one to back down from a challenge, had finally earned a monster fight in the biggest position of his career, the main event in Madison Square Garden. His dance partner for the evening? None other than the legendary, one and only Georges St-Pierre.

Tom Taylor - March 15, 2018

One of the most talked about fights in MMA at present is a possible showdown between dominating UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, and reigning UFC bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw. While this fight is what both men want, it seems to be stuck in a mire of unsuccessful negotiations. In the opinion of former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping, that’s a damn shame. In Bisping’s eyes, Johnson needs an opponent of Dillashaw’s caliber to solidify his already sterling reputation in the sport.

Tom Taylor - March 14, 2018

Over the last few weeks, the MMA world has been abuzz about a potential trilogy fight between former UFC middleweight champions Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold. Yet while the beef between these two former champions is clearly still sizzling, Bisping isn’t sure it’s a fight he wants. In fact, he’s not even sure he’ll ever fight again. “Honestly, I don’t know if I’m going to fight again,” Bisping said on his Believe You Me podcast (via MMANytt). “I was going to fight in London, which is happening this weekend. I was supposed to fight but we couldn’t get the deal done and now it’s giving me more time to reflect. I don’t know, maybe I will, maybe I won’t [fight again].”

Tom Taylor - March 14, 2018

Former UFC middleweight champions Michael Bisping and Luke Rockhold – who have fought twice previously – have had plenty to say to each other on social media of late. Rockhold fired the first shot in this latest skirmish, and Bisping was quick to respond.

Drake Riggs - March 7, 2018

A trilogy fight between former UFC middleweight champions, Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping isn’t even official and the two are talking like it is. And who knows, it very well may be some time soon. Both guys obviously have interest in it and it’s obviously one that Rockhold, who lost in their last encounter, would love to get back. And Rockhold doesn’t happen to be lacking any confidence when it comes to another fight with “the Count”. When speaking with FloCombat recently, he went so far as to say he would even retire if he were to lose to Bisping again.

Tom Taylor - March 7, 2018

Former Strikeforce and UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold recently expressed interest in a trilogy fight with fellow former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping – perhaps even in the 205-pound light heavyweight division. Unfortunately for Rockhold, it sounds like it’s going to take a solid offer to convince Bisping to accept this fight. “I respect everybody, but he sounds mentally challenged while talking,” Bisping said on a recent edition of his podcast Believe You Me (h/t MMAJunkie). “He doesn’t scare me one little bit. He never has. He didn’t the first time [we fought], he didn’t the second time, and he absolutely wouldn’t a third time. So I’m definitely willing to take a fight with Luke Rockhold if the UFC gives me the right deal.”

Tom Taylor - March 6, 2018

With respect to potential opponents for the yet-unscheduled retirement fight of former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, a number of names have been mentioned, from Rashad Evans, to Vitor Belfort, to Lyoto Machida. Now, though, it’s looking like Bisping’s last – and probably final – challenge will come in the form of Luke Rockhold. Bisping has previously expressed interest in a tie-breaking trilogy fight with Rockhold, and on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour, Rockhold revealed his mutual interest in the bout.

Justin Golightly - February 28, 2018

Dana White has been teasing big things for 2018, which is the UFC’s 25th anniversary year. We’ve already got Stipe Miocic fighting Daniel Cormier in a superfight of all superfights, but now a Brock Lesnar return looms in the distance. Not only did White meet with the former UFC heavyweight champion, but Michael Bisping now is certain that he’ll fight in the UFC. He even knows the opponent and texted it to his host Luis Gomez, who proceeded to freak out. “Brock Lesnar is definitely, definitely, definitely, definitely gonna fight in the UFC. I’m telling you right now, Brock Lesnar will fight in the UFC and I’m hearing — in fact I’m not going to say it. I don’t want to do an Ariel Helwani. But yeah, I’m hearing that he’s fighting in the UFC. I don’t know who. I don’t know that he’s definitely signing, but I’m aware of a potential fight. Somebody wants to fight him, that’s what I’m aware of.” – Michael Bisping speaking on his Believe You Me podcast.

Justin Golightly - February 23, 2018

The next move for Luke Rockhold is light heavyweight. It’s something he’s been vocal about even before UFC 211, where he suffered a loss to Yoel Romero. He’s since doubled down on the move and had already been called out by Alexander Gustafsson, which is fight Rockhold is very interested in. Still, some fans doubt his commitment or decision to move up, but the former UFC middleweight champion states that there is only one thing to keep him at 185 and that’s only for one fight: Michael Bisping. “I’m not too excited about making that weight cut again. I just don’t feel nearly as strong, powerful, quick. It takes a lot out of me. Pretty much [Michael] Bisping is the only reason I would torture myself to get back there. That’s a loss that doesn’t sit well with me. I know the UFC is very interested in that fight and will pursue it on their end. If he doesn’t accept it, there’s no reason for me to stay at 185. Mr. [Alexander] Gustafsson has reached out, opened his mouth, and that’s a fight that interests me — very much so. I like that match-up. I like every match-up at 205. There’s a lot of interesting things there and I’m not coming to play around.”

Tom Taylor - February 22, 2018

Over the last few days, Derek Brunson has made multiple Twitter callouts of former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. He even shared what looked like a signed bout agreement to fight the former champion. I gotta go to the Fox studio to find @bisping I see. You’re ranked 6, I’m ranked 7. Let’s exchange @AliAbdelaziz00 @Mickmaynard2 @ufc @danawhite

Tom Taylor - February 18, 2018

Though former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has recently been linked to bouts with fellow legends such as Vitor Belfort, Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida, he’s still without an opponent for the highly anticipated final bout of his career. Bisping’s fellow top-10 middleweight Derek Brunson is hoping to change that. Brunson made a callout of the former middleweight champion on Twitter on Sunday morning, suggesting he might just head to the Fox Sports studio, where Bisping moonlights as an analyst, and pick a fight.

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2018

For a few months, it looked as though former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping would partake in the final fight of his illustrious career in the main event of the UFC’s March 17 stop in London, England. At the time, it looked as though his opponent would be a fellow veteran and long-time friend in former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. Eventually, however, this plan fell through. Bisping’s retirement plans were moved to the back burner, and Evans was left without an opponent.

Tom Taylor - February 14, 2018

Last weekend, in the main event of the stacked UFC 221, Yoel Romero knocked out Luke Rockhold with a brutal bombardment of third-round punches. In the subsequent moments, Romero pinned a bewildered Rockhold against the cage, and planted a kiss on his cheek. Though Romero’s intention was clearly an act of sportsmanship, the gesture didn’t go over well with former middleweight champion Michael Bisping. Yoel Romero comforts Luke Rockhold with a kiss after #UFC221 pic.twitter.com/mv6IXxqQP7

Justin Golightly - February 6, 2018

With Michael Bisping’s career coming to a close, it’s been difficult to say the least to find an opponent for his swan song. With tons of big names at middleweight locked up or ineligible, it looked like the UFC finally had it all put together with Rashad Evans at UFC London. To our surprise — as well as Evans — it didn’t work out. The former UFC light heavyweight champion recently opened up about how he’s not sure why the fight isn’t happening, but doesn’t blame Bisping one bit. “I thought [the fight with Michael Bisping was going to happen] too, man. I got the call and I thought it was going to happen, but then things didn’t work out on the negotiation side between the UFC and Bisping. I don’t exactly know what it was about, but I guess the talks just broke down after the agreement happened. I think it was contract stuff. I think Bisping is getting to the end of his contract and that he’s been talking about retirement. I’m not too exactly 100-percent sure about what they were talking about.”

Tom Taylor - February 6, 2018

Shortly after his recent split decision win over Eryk Anders, former UFC light heavyweight champion and middleweight title challenger Lyoto Machida called out former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. “That’s a fight that should’ve happened a couple times and it didn’t,” Machida said at the UFC Belem post-fight presser. “I think we both matured together in this sport, so I think fight between Michael Bisping and myself would mean a lot.

Justin Golightly - January 31, 2018

You’re not an MMA fan if you’re not in a constant state of confusion most of the time. Michael Bisping seemed all but confirmed for UFC London in a perfect locale for a retirement bout, but an opponent was never official. There were some reports going around that Rashad Evans, the man who dealt Bisping his first loss, was finally that opponent. After the former middleweight champion himself announced he wasn’t fighting in London after all, it looked like those talks were negated. Still, Bisping took to his podcast to make sure everyone knew he is not fighting Evans. “I’m going to have one last fight, maybe. If some two-bit journalists out there on the Internet f-cking have picked up some information, that’s great, but I’m not going to publicly go out and say things when I can’t say them. Because you know what, [co-host] Luis [Gomez]? I’m a professional. Yes, people are reporting it [that I’m fighting Rashad Evans], but I am not. So, apparently there is a rumor going around about me and Rashad. I will say this. I will say this: I don’t know what to say. Let’s start with the obvious. Rashad fights at 205. I fight at 185. So, that doesn’t even make sense.”

Justin Golightly - January 27, 2018

Michael Bisping is gearing up to leave the combat sports world in a couple of months, but everyone had their hands up in the air regarding a potential opponent for a myriad of reasons. However, it looks like the UFC is finally settling on a potential match-up for Bisping’s UFC London swan song. As just reported by Ariel Helwani, Bisping could potentially meet Rashad Evans in the last fight of his storied career. A main event fight between Michael Bisping & Rashad Evans is on the table for the London card on March 17. It’s currently being discussed/considered but not finalized yet. A decision will be made soon. Would be a rematch of UFC 78’s headliner, which Evans won via split decision.

Tom Taylor - January 24, 2018

Having lost the UFC middleweight title to Georges St-Pierre, and come up short in an abrupt and ill-advised comeback fight against Kelvin Gastelum, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has been planning to retire when the UFC touches down in London this March 17. Apparently, Bisping has now received a bout offer for this card, and while he’s tempted to accept it, his family and friends would prefer he just calls it a career now, and forgets about partaking in one last fight.