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Tag: Michael Bisping

  • Michael Bisping Sees UFC 302 Headliner Islam Makhachev As ‘New & Improved’ Version Of Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Michael Bisping Sees UFC 302 Headliner Islam Makhachev As ‘New & Improved’ Version Of Khabib Nurmagomedov

    Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes Islam Makhachev boasts traits that the great Khabib Nurmagomedov did not.

    Having long been touted as a successor to Khabib following his retirement as an undefeated lightweight champion back in 2020, Makhachev completed his ascension to the 155-pound mountaintop in 2022.

    And since submitting Charles Oliveira to be crowned champ in Abu Dhabi, the Dagestani has enhanced his legacy and cemented his reign with a pair of successful defenses against now-former featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski. 

    With a victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 this weekend, Makhachev will make it three defenses, tying him for the division’s all-time lead with Khabib and Benson Henderson. 

    Such a feat would no doubt only increase the comparisons between “The Eagle” and his title-holding protégé. But not everyone is waiting for Makhachev to surpass his mentor before branding him superior…

    Bisping Compares Makhachev & Khabib: ‘Look At The KO Of Volkanovski…’

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbCZ2P30wK0

    During the Preview Show for UFC 302 on TNT Sports’ YouTube channel, Bisping assessed Makhachev’s divisional rule to date and the champ’s ever-developing skillset.

    Pointing to the Dagestani’s renowned grappling game and always-improving striking, which he used to finish Volkanovski in one round last October, “The Count” suggested that Makhachev’s overall ability has already cleared that of Khabib.

    “Khabib came first and he’ll always be remembered for that, for what he did to the sport, how he represented Dagestan, and implemented that style. It took over the sport, let’s be honest,” Bisping said. “But his time has gone. It has passed… Islam is a new, improved version.

    “Look at the head kick knockout of Alexander Volkanovski. He’s much, much smoother on the feet. His grappling’s just as good as Khabib’s, or it’s certainly up there,” Bisping continued. “He’s really moulding into this champion. He feels it. He walks and talks with a certain bravado and assurance that comes not from confidence or ego, it comes from knowing what he’s capable of.”

    Makhachev will have the chance to further prove his talent in the main event of Saturday’s numbered event in Newark, where he’s tasked with defeating Poirier — a feat achieved by Khabib via submission back in 2019.

  • Bisping Questions Dan Hooker’s FW Move: Looking For Smaller Guys?

    Michael Bisping isn’t sure what Dan Hooker’s motivations are for making the move to featherweight ahead of the UFC London card.

    Hooker will make his return to 145 pounds against the red-hot Arnold Allen at UFC London this weekend. He opted to make the move out of the lightweight division following losses in three of his last four fights.

    This will be Hooker’s first fight at featherweight since falling via a unanimous decision to Jason Knight in Nov. 2016. He went on to move to 155 pounds and win seven of his next eight fights.

    During the BT Sport UFC London live preview show, Bisping questioned why Hooker would opt to move back down to featherweight at this point in his career.

    “Well, I don’t know. I think he’s trying to find himself,” Bisping said of Hooker. “I mean, obviously he’s lost three out of his last four against very, very good opposition, so no shame in that. But he went up to 155, now he’s come back down to 145. He says that that’s his natural weight class. I don’t know if it is. I think maybe he’s looking for, not easier competition because it’s not easier, but maybe smaller guys? Maybe less wrestlers? I don’t know.”

    Hooker has also had to adapt to the wild past couple of years that his gym, City Kickboxing, has had to go through during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ahead of his fight against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 266, Hooker had issues getting to the U.S. from New Zealand and showed up to fight week just days before the scheduled bout.

    Another interesting angle to Hooker’s move is a potential title fight down the line with his teammate and featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. While he is getting ready to face ‘The Korean Zombie’ at UFC 273, Volkanovski hasn’t ruled out a future matchup with Hooker if he moves into title contention.

    First thing’s first for Hooker, who faces a tough challenge in Allen who has won 10 bouts in a row. If he’s able to get past Allen at UFC London, Hooker could be well on his way to making his second stint at featherweight into a potential career-changer.

    How do you think Dan Hooker will perform in his featherweight return?

  • Paddy Pimblett Blasts Cormier, Bisping For Commentary Of Debut

    UFC lightweight Paddy Pimblett heard some criticisms of his performance early on in his UFC debut, and he used it to eventually earn a finish.

    Pimblett made his long-awaited UFC debut against Luigi Vendramini last September. After suffering some heavy blows early on in the fight, he would go on to blitz Vendramini and earn a first-round knockout.

    Pimblett was arguably the biggest signing by the UFC last year after a successful run in Cage Warriors, which included a featherweight title win over Julian Erosa. Some questioned if Pimblett was ready for the big stage in the UFC despite his recent successes.

    During a recent interview with ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Pimblett explained how he used Cormier and Bisping’s commentary during his debut to his advantage.

    “Yeah, they were just going against me to be honest,” Pimblett opined. “That’s why at one point I heard DC go like, ‘He’s losing this round’, and then I was like, ‘Am I yeah? I’m losing this round?’ and that’s when I bit down on me gummy and started going on him. I think it’s hard to take him down and then when we got straight back up, I went at him and started throwing punches. I knew I broke him, he hit me with his biggest shot and I stood there. And then I heard DC and Bisping and went forward and put it on him.”

    UFC fans excited by 'next big thing' Paddy Pimblett | The Independent

    Pimblett isn’t the only one to criticize Cormier for his commentary. Rising UFC bantamweight contender Sean O’Malley blasted Cormier for perceived biased commentary during his UFC 264 victory over Kris Moutinho.

    The only time Pimblett has been finished in MMA came against Cameron Else via anaconda choke submission at Cage Warriors 60. After that, he would go on to win nine in a row including the featherweight title.

    Pimblett will face a tough task in the form of Kazula Vargas at UFC London this weekend. While Vargas has had his fair share of ups and downs in the UFC, he’s an experienced fighter who could test Pimblett in a plethora of ways.

    Pimblett is expected to receive quite the reception when he makes his walk to the Octagon on Saturday night. He’ll look to continue to silence his critics and continue his climb in the UFC.

    What is your prediction for Paddy Pimblett’s UFC return?

  • Bisping & RDA Say Moicano’s Corner Should Have Thrown In The Towel

    UFC lightweight Rafael dos Anjos and Hall of Famer Michael Bisping have shared the same sentiment surrounding the decision to allow Renato Moicano to keep fighting at UFC 272.

    After the late withdrawal of Rafael Fiziev, Moicano stepped up on just five days’ notice to meet compatriot dos Anjos in the co-main event of the March 5 pay-per-view.

    While he left the Octagon after 25 minutes with the respect and admiration of the masses, he also exited having suffered a loss and an immense amount of damage in the process; an unnecessary level of damage, according to many.

    While Moicano showed gratitude to the doctor for not stopping the fight, claiming he wouldn’t have known what he was made of had the clash been ended early, the victorious dos Anjos shared a different view.

    During a post-fight appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, the former UFC lightweight champion revealed his frustration at the hesitancy for MMA corners to throw in the towel.

    “It drives me nuts because I see guys in boxing, all the time people throw the towel, stop the fight, and we don’t see that in MMA,” dos Anjos said. 

    “I think because of the small gloves, coaches think, ‘He’s gonna get a lucky punch and finish the fight,’ but I think we should see that more. I think coaches should be more aware, to know their fighters,” he added. “They’re not reacting, they’re not connecting anything that really hurts the other guy, so let’s stop it because you’re killing your fighter. I think that’s something that the coaches in MMA should be more aware of.” (h/t MMA Fighting)

    Unsurprisingly, RDA is not alone with that opinion.

    Bisping Backs RDA’s Take

    Former UFC middleweight champion Bisping, who was on commentary duty at UFC 272 and had a front-row seat for dos Anjos vs. Moicano, admitted his concern at the damage that the younger Brazilian was taking inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena during a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel.

    “That fight should have been stopped. It’s as simple as that,” Bisping asserted. “It was, not one-way traffic, but it was three layers of traffic going (towards Moicano), and one lane of traffic (coming back)… After three rounds, his eye was absolutely messed up. It actually gave me cause for concern… When I was looking at the state of Moicano’s eye, I was like, ‘Well, this is done. It’s over.’ And to be honest, the offense he was giving back, dos Anjos was never in any danger.”

    Like RDA, “The Count” believes the ATT coaches in Moicano’s corner should have undoubtedly put a stop to the beating themselves by throwing in the towel. He suggested they should have been “man enough” to prevent their man from sustaining any more damage.

    “The corner should have threw in the towel. Because right there at the end of the third round, well he can’t possibly win on points, that’s for sure,” said Bisping. “He hasn’t got the power, and the pop and snap in his punches, to finish him right now, and he’s not gonna submit Rafael dos Anjos… Cornermen need to throw the towel in. The referee let it go, the doctor let it go; the corner should have (stopped it)… They’ve gotta be man enough to say. ‘You know what? I’m gonna save you from any further damage.’

    “This is somebody’s life we’re talking about. This is somebody’s long-term health, and their fight career,” the Englishman added. “When you go through that kind of fight, never mind the physical damage, never mind your eyes and the cuts and the nose and the bones and everything that might be broken, the psychological trauma—you might never be the same again.”

    UFC 272 results: Rafael dos Anjos turns Renato Moicano into a bloody zombie, wins wide decision - MMAmania.com
    Renato Moicano, Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

    But despite believing the fight shouldn’t have seen a fourth or fifth frame, Bisping praised the way veteran referee Marc Goddard handled the contest. He also admitted that in his fighting days, he’d have loved the lenient attitude of the cage-side doctor.

    “Marc Goddard, the referee, I thought did a great job. He brought in the doctor on two occasions. That doctor’s a savage. I love it. If I’m fighting, I always said to the referee when they would come into my room beforehand, I would always say, ‘Hey, listen ref, do not stop this fight…’ But that fight should have been stopped in round three. It was done.”

    Bisping went on to suggest that athletic commissions need to send a mass memo to teams and coaches, advising them to have more “compassion” for their fighters and more of a “practical” outlook when it comes to stopping fights.

    https://twitter.com/moicanoufc/status/1500412999298732037

    Given his positive post-fight attitude, it appears Moicano has taken the defeat well and remains in good spirits despite the brutal beating. When he returns to the Octagon, we’ll be able to see whether the damage has had an effect on his future performances inside the cage.

    Do you agree with Michael Bisping and RDA? Should Renato Moicano’s corner have thrown in the towel during the UFC 272 co-main event?

  • Archives: Bisping Feels He Would’ve Beaten Adesanya In His Prime (2020)

    The following story was published on this day two years ago. It is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Two Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 6, 2020, 4:36 PM]

    Headline: Michael Bisping Feels He Would’ve Beaten Israel Adesanya In His Prime

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Michael Bisping has praise for Israel Adesanya but he believes he would’ve dethroned “The Last Stylebender” in his prime.

    Adesanya is set to put his UFC middleweight championship on the line for the first time. Tomorrow night (March 7), Adesanya will collide with Yoel Romero. The 185-pound title bout will serve as the main event of UFC 248 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

    Bisping Says He’d Beat Adesanya If He Were Still Fighting

    One person who knows a thing or two about holding UFC gold is Bisping. The now-retired UFC Hall of Famer is a former middleweight champion himself. Appearing on SiriusXM’s MMA Tonight show, Bisping said he’d beat Adesanya if he were still fighting (h/t BJPenn.com).

    “Listen, and here’s the real thing, if I was still fighting, I’d take that belt off him [Israel Adesanya] pretty easily, but I’m not,” Bisping said. “So, listen, I like Adesanya — I’m a massive fan of the guy — he’s a great personality, he’s a great fighter and I’m a fan of Yoel as well, it’s going to be a good one.”

    Adesanya is undefeated in his pro MMA career. He has a record of 18-0. “The Last Stylebender” captured the interim UFC middleweight gold against Kelvin Gastelum back in April 2019. He took things one step further with his Oct. 2019 TKO victory over Robert Whittaker to become the undisputed 185-pound king.

    Bisping retired after being stopped by Kelvin Gastelum back in Nov. 2017. Earlier that month, Bisping was submitted by Georges St-Pierre, losing the middleweight title in the process. While “The Count” mulled his options such as a trilogy bout with Luke Rockhold, he ultimately decided it was time to move on with his life.

    Of course, Bisping isn’t away from the sport of MMA entirely. He serves as a color commentator and analyst for the UFC. He also discusses several hot topics in the world of MMA on his Believe You Me podcast.

  • Bisping & Schaub Tout Bobby Green As Live Underdog Against Makhachev

    Former UFC fighters Michael Bisping and Brendan Schaub think fans shouldn’t count out Bobby Green against Islam Makhachev.

    Green will step up for his second fight in the same amount of weeks against Makhachev in the UFC Vegas 49 main event. He most recently defeated Nasrat Haqparast with his impressive boxing and movement at UFC 271.

    Green got the call from the UFC to help save the UFC Vegas 49 card after Beneil Dariush suffered a significant injury in camp. While many have praised Green for being game for the short-notice challenge, few fans believe he has a legitimate shot at the elite grappler Makhachev.

    But Bisping and Schaub are proud to be part of that minority. They not only believe that Green can surprise a lot of people against the -900 favorited Makhachev but could also leave Las Vegas with the upset win.

    Michael Bisping Explains Why Bobby Green Has A Reasonable Chance To Pull Off An Upset

    Michael Bisping
    (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping alluded to Green’s underrated ground game as a reason to not rule out an upset at UFC Vegas 49.

    “For Bobby Green to step up, I mean, what an opportunity,” Bisping said. “And by the way, let’s be honest, Bobby can win this fight. On the feet, Bobby is way better, simple as that. Islam can strike, of course. He’s not a one-trick pony. He’s not just a wrestler, right? But he’s nowhere near as fast as Bobby Green. He’s nowhere near as slick. He hasn’t got the footwork, either, that Bobby has. Now, when it comes to wrestling and jiu-jitsu, I’ll give Islam the edge there. He’s better. He’s better in that regard, but you’ve got to get (Green) down.

    “One thing we know about Bobby Green is the sprawl. He has a beautiful sprawl. He also has really, really good takedowns. I doubt he’s going to use these. In this fight, it wouldn’t be smart to take down Islam. That’s just going into his world, giving him what he wants. So Bobby needs to stay on the feet, try and put Islam on the back foot, but be careful that when he goes forward, Islam doesn’t shoot underneath. Obviously he’s going to get taken down. Look at what Islam did against Dan Hooker.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Makhachev is arguably one of the top grapplers in the UFC, as evidenced by his most recent first-round submission of Dan Hooker at UFC 267. He has won nine in a row and could be on the verge of a lightweight title shot.

    Brendan Schaub Also Likes The Idea Of Picking An Upset At UFC Vegas 49

    Brendan Schaub
    Image Credit: Desiree Navarro/WireImage via Getty Images

    Schaub, like Bisping, also believes that picking Green may not be an unwise choice. He explained why in a recent episode of The Schaub Show.

    “It’s not a bad idea taking a chance on Bobby Green if you have some extra cash to f*ck around with. It’s not a terrible bet. It’s hard to plan for, short notice, huge underdog, main event. He’s an experienced fighter, very explosive, hard, hard to train for. So we’ll see.

    “I would assume Makhachev tries to take him down early on to take away and nullify that XFactor that is Bobby Green. He gets him down early on, tries to break him, wears him out, nullify that kind of XFactor. Makhachev is an absolute monster when it comes to that.” (h/t BJPenn)

    If Green can shock the world and stop the Makhachev hype train, he’ll no doubt emerge as a top contender in the lightweight division. As for Makhachev, he’s looking to keep his winning streak intact and potentially earn the winner of Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje for the belt.

    Do you think Bobby Green has a chance against Islam Makhachev on short notice?

  • Michael Bisping On Joe Rogan Fill: “Not Looking To Take Anyone’s Job”

    UFC analyst and former middleweight champion Michael Bisping has heard the critics of his fill-in for Joe Rogan at the desk at UFC 271.

    Bisping was on the call with play-by-play broadcaster Jon Anik and color commentator Daniel Cormier for the recent UFC 271 pay-per-view in Houston, TX. One notable absence from the event was Rogan, who has been marred by controversy in recent weeks.

    Fans were divided on Bisping’s performance at the commentary desk, with some accusing him of showing bias and not replacing Rogan adequately. Bisping has commentated UFC Fight Night events but has been rarely seen for pay-per-view broadcasts.

    During a recent Q+A session on his YouTube channel, Bisping addressed his critics and whether or not he would return to work pay-per-views in the future should he be needed.

    “Well, considering all the backlash from all the motherfuckers out there, probably not. They’re probably like, ‘Whoa, we gave him a try. He was fuking awful. He was biased.’ Nah. I don’t know. We’ll see. We’ll see because I was only filling in for Joe Rogan; so, probably not. Joe will more than likely be back on the next one. So, therefore, I will not. I don’t wanna take anyone’s job. And you know what? I like enjoying the pay-per-views as a fan. Now, don’t get me wrong. The best seat in the house is literally right there, working the shows.

    “If nobody can make it and they need somebody to fill in, I would be absolutely over the moon to do so. But I don’t want to take anyone’s job.” (h/t SportsKeeda)

    It was initially reported that Rogan would miss UFC 271 due to a “scheduling conflict”, which was later shut down by UFC president Dana White. After Rogan stepped away from his usual post just days before the event, Bisping filled in on short notice to help boost the commentary team.

    While Rogan wasn’t present at the event, some fans chanted “We Want Rogan” throughout the fights. Bisping appears to be unbothered by the unwavering support for Rogan by his fans.

    It’s not 100% clear whether or not Rogan’s absence will be long-term or short-term ahead of the UFC 272 pay-per-view next month. If Rogan opts to once again step aside, Bisping could get the call to fill once again.

    What were your thoughts on Michael Bisping’s commentary at UFC 271?

  • (Archives) Bisping: Johnny Walker Is The Biggest Threat To Jones (2019)

    Three years ago, Johnny Walker was viewed as the biggest threat to Jon Jones’ rule over the UFC’s light heavyweight division. Since the following article was written, he has gone 1-3 in his last four fights. Tonight at UFC Vegas 48, Walker will be headlining against Jamahal Hill with an opportunity to remind the world of his potential.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JULY 19, 2019, 1:41 PM]

    Headlines: Michael Bisping: I Think Biggest Threat To Jon Jones Is Johnny Walker

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping feels Johnny Walker may have the best shot at dethroning Jon Jones.

    Walker has been making a name for himself in a short amount of time. Walker has only had three fights in the UFC, but there’s already buzz surrounding the 27-year-old Brazilian bruiser. All three of Walker’s UFC wins have come via KO or TKO. None of those bouts made it to the two-minute mark. He’s also riding a nine-fight winning streak and hasn’t lost since June 2016.

    Bisping Says Walker Is Credible Threat To Jones

    Bisping has responded to Jones saying that Walker isn’t quite ready for a title opportunity. “The Count” agrees, but he still believes that Walker may pose the toughest challenge for “Bones.” Here’s what he had to say on his Believe You Me podcast.

    “I think the biggest threat right now to Jon Jones is Johnny Walker. I think Johnny Walker gives him a lot of problems, but I understand it from Jones’ perspective. He’s still not well-known enough to the average MMA fan. He’s had a big splash, he’s had a few big wins in very, very quick time. And in fact, he’s injured right now because he injured himself with his post-fight celebration. That’s the most damage he takes in his fights, in his own f*cking celebrations.”

    Bisping went on to talk about the benefits of not hot-shotting Walker to a title opportunity.

    “But he’s not there yet. He needs another win or two. For one I think it would be rushing Johnny Walker and potentially bringing him on a little too far, too soon. And Jones is right. Another couple more wins, put him in a co-main event, even a Fight Night main event against a big name and then all of a sudden you’ve got a real star on your hands. And then that makes the pay-per-view bigger for everybody involved. So, I agree with Jones.”

  • Michael Bisping Responds To Complaints About His UFC 271 Commentary

    Michael Bisping made his pay-per-view commentary debut at UFC 271, but many fans thought he was biased towards Israel Adesanya.

    Throughout the fight, Bisping was praising Adesanya and believed he won nearly every round and the scrap was not that close. However, to many fans watching, it felt very close, and some media members even score the bout for Whittaker. But for Bisping, he doesn’t think he was biased and says the judges’ scorecards prove he was calling the fight correctly.

    “It was a really close fight and to all you haters out there that are talking s***, the judges agree with everything that I f***ing said,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.

    “So, I’m not taking validation from that nor am I using this as an excuse to sit here and say I know it all. I watched a fight very closely, very intently, but I will go away and watch it and see if I made any mistakes. If you hear bad reviews of your work, you want to take it on board with an open mind. I want to get better; I want to learn and grow as a human being.”

    Michael Bisping
    PHOTO: KEVIN IOLE

    Israel Adesanya was awarded the unanimous decision with the scorecards being 48-47 x2 and 49-46. It marked the fourth title defense of his middleweight and second win over Robert Whittaker. He has started to clean out the middleweight division, but this fight was much closer, despite Bisping believing it was a clear victory for the middleweight champ.

    We should find out soon who Israel Adesanya will fight next.

    Michael Bisping was added to the UFC 271 commentating team as a late replacement for Joe Rogan. Despite the criticisms of Bisping’s commentary, the former middleweight champion no doubt adds a lot to the booth with his experience fighting and knowing what the fighters are going through.

    Do you think Michael Bisping was biased towards Israel Adesanya?

  • Archives: Bisping Wants GSP & Romero Fights Before Retirement (2017)

    After the following article was published, Michael Bisping had two more matches in his MMA career: Georges St-Pierre and Kelvin Gastelum. It wasn’t the “perfect scenario” he had mapped out, especially considering that he lost both bouts, but you can relive how Bisping envisioned his career winding down in the following article published on this day five years ago, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Five Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 30, 2017, 12:26 PM]

    Headline: Bisping: Fighting GSP & Romero Would Be ‘Perfect Scenario’ Before Retirement

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr

    Michael Bisping isn’t getting any younger.

    The current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight titleholder will be 38 years of age before his next title defense. “The Count” is currently out with a knee injury and won’t be back until at least May.

    With all that he has accomplished, it’s easy to see Bisping as a future UFC Hall of Famer. Before the champion goes, he wants mega fights that are the most lucrative. On his SiriusXM show, “The Countdown” (via Flo Combat), Bisping reiterated his desire for a “big money fight” or two:

    “I said I want to be a part of the biggest fights possible. Whether that’s Yoel Romero, Georges St-Pierre or whether that’s Jacare [Souza] or Anderson Silva, I just want to be a part of the biggest fights ever earning as much money as possible.”

    One would think the potential match-up that would make the most money is one with Georges St. Pierre. “Rush” left the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) with nine straight successful title defenses. He was also the UFC’s most consistent pay-per-view (PPV) draw during his run.

    “The Count” insists that he doesn’t care who his next opponent is, as long as he brings in the cash.

    “We will get the surgery out the way and when it’s done, it’s done and then I’ll fight Yoel Romero if I have to and I’ll whip his ass and if it’s GSP I’ll whip his ass. I just want the biggest fight possible on the biggest fight card possible.”

    It isn’t crazy to think Bisping may get his wish. He has been a mainstay with the promotion since 2006 and his body has been put through the wringer. The ideal set of circumstances would be for the champion to face “GSP,” then Romero to close his career.

    “Yes, that would be the perfect scenario.”

  • Bisping: Michael Chandler Has A Right To Call Nate Diaz Out

    Michael Bisping is coming to the defense of Michael Chandler.

    Michael Chandler is in a strange place inside his division. He is a big name that many fans like to see compete. However, now he is on a two-fight losing streak and his next step is uncertain. Chandler has been asking for some big names to fight next, such as Tony Ferguson, Conor McGregor, and Nate Diaz. While some people might not think these are suitable options, Michael Bisping thinks Chandler should shoot his shot.

    “You know whаt I meаn when I sаy Michаel Chаndler deserves credit? Lаst yeаr, he hаd а fаntаstic yeаr; he didn’t win the belt, but he wаs involved in three incredible fight,” Bisping said on his Believe You Me podcast. “Agаinst Dаn Hooker, he got Debut of the Yeаr. He won Fight of the Yeаr аgаinst Justin Gаethje аnd then fought for the belt аgаinst Chаrles Oliveirа. In 2021, he pumped up the UFC with а lot of energy. When you mаke thаt kind of noise, live up to the hype, аnd put on those kinds of shows, f*k it. He hаs the right to cаll Nаte Diаz out.”

    Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor are two of the most called-out fighters on the UFC roster. A fight with either one of them means big money with a lot of eyes watching. Chandler is now sitting in the #5 spot of the lightweight rankings and just outside being able to get another title shot.

    Chandler has the idea of searching for a big-money fight while working his way back to a title shot. Bisping can’t blame him. It is not as if he is outside the top ten looking for Diaz or another money fight, which is a thing some fighters will try to make happen. He is top five.

    Now, Diaz has been fighting at welterweight recently. Chandler is willing to make the jump for a shot at Diaz. If this is his plan, it might not help his chances of getting closer to a lightweight title, but it will be a great opportunity.

    Bisping feels that just because Chandler has lost two now doesn’t mean he should be written off. He is still elite and has only lost to elite fighters. His last outing against Justin Gaethje shows that he can go through an all-out war and still come back for more. That is the type of fighter Nate Diaz looks to compete against, so maybe Chandler vs. Diaz could happen after all.

    Would you be interested in seeing Michael Chandler fight Nate Diaz?

  • Bisping Thinks DC’s Assessment Of Jones’ HW Potential May Be Biased

    Daniel Cormier recently suggested Jon Jones can’t defeat Francis Ngannou or Ciryl Gane, an opinion former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes is wrong.

    Jones has been on the sidelines since he successfully defended the light heavyweight gold against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020. Despite an impressive performance from Reyes, “Bones” was awarded the nod on the scorecards. The win marked his third defense since winning the title for the second time with a win against Alexander Gustafsson in 2018.

    Believing he’d accomplished everything he could at 205 pounds and cleared out the top contenders in the division, Jones sought a fresh challenge: championship glory in a second division. But after a public despite with the UFC over pay, a potential clash with heavyweight champion Ngannou fell through and the GOAT contender was away from the Octagon for the entirety of 2021.

    Nevertheless, Jones’ bulk to heavyweight has been ongoing, and he now looks primed to make his divisional debut this year. In the minds of most, Jones will likely challenge the winner of next weekend’s unification fight between Ngannou and interim titleholder Gane.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXhOaYSvHgQ/

    Jones’ former rival Cormier fully expects him to make his first appearance at heavyweight this year and believes he deserves to dictate the weight classes’ title picture. However, “DC” doesn’t expect the former two-time undisputed champ to defeat the elite in the division.

    During a recent episode of his ESPN show DC & RC, the former heavyweight and light heavyweight king, who knows a thing or two about achieving two-division glory, claimed Jones’ layoff would play a major factor in fights against Ngannou and Gane, two names he doesn’t think Jones can beat.

    “I believe that Jon Jones will fight at heavyweight and he’ll fight for the belt, but he’ll lose to Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou,” Cormier said. “I just think that the time away, with the weight difference, and those guys being who they are, that’s the problem. It’s not that Jones has gotten worse; it’s just that these guys are a different level of heavyweight.” (h/t MMA Junkie)

    Bisping’s Opinion Differs From His Broadcast Colleague’s

    One man who clearly disagrees with Daniel Cormier’s take is his fellow UFC color commentator Michael Bisping. Responding to the remarks in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, “The Count” suggested Cormier’s comments may have been “skewed” due to his bitter rivalry with Jones.

    “He (Cormier) came out today and made a statement that said, ‘Jon Jones will never become the heavyweight champion…’ I think I gotta disagree with Daniel Cormier here,” said Bisping. “Because he does know him, and because they have that history, and because they don’t like one another, I believe that maybe that’s skewing the judgment of DC just a little bit here.”

    For Bisping, given that Jones is one of the greatest of all time and still under the age of 35, the recent layoff won’t play a massive part in his performances when he returns. Despite admitting the two titleholders at heavyweight are phenomenal fighters, the Englishman doesn’t believe Jones can be counted out given what he’s accomplished in his career to date.

    “We’re talking, regardless of his behaviour outside the Octagon, and regardless of the steroid test… the reality is, if you look at the performances, he’s potentially the greatest of all time,” added Bisping. “He’s beat everybody at their own style. He would make a point of doing that, he would beat them at their very own style. He’s not even 35 yet, so there’s no way he’s going to show up ‘old.’

    “Ciryl Gane is unbelievable, Francis Ngannou is unbelievable, they’re gonna fight next weekend, I don’t know who’s gonna win that fight… But still, Jon Jones is out there. Jon Jones has a resume. Jon Jones is one of the best to ever do it. So to say that he can’t come back after all this time and beat those guys, I don’t think I agree… To say he has no chance, I don’t think that’s right,” concluded Bisping.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CXxpEd7j3PX/

    With any luck, Jones’ return will remain on track and either Bisping or Cormier will be proved right in the coming months. No doubt the victor of that debate will be eager to rub it in when they share the commentary desk after Jones’ return.

    Who do you agree with, Michael Bisping or Daniel Cormier?

  • Bisping To Lightweights: Blame Yourselves If McGregor Gets Title Shot

    Michael Bisping believes there is a good chance Conor McGregor gets a lightweight title shot upon his return.

    McGregor is currently rehabbing the broken leg he sustained in his trilogy match against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. During his time off, however, he has taken shots at Charles Oliveira, and the Irishman has said he would fight the Brazilian next. The champ has also expressed interest in that fight. And if McGregor does get the next title shot, Bisping believes lightweights can’t blame anyone but themselves.

    “A lot of people inside the top 15, top 5, top 10 they’re gonna say, ‘What the f**k is happening? Why is Conor McGregor getting to skip the line?’ Well, guess what? As I said, this is prizefighting, this is pay-per-views, this is the UFC, and they put on the fights, historically that we want to see, okay?” Bisping said on his YouTube channel.

    Charles Oliveira Conor McGregor
    Charles Oliveira Conor McGregor

    “The fights that we want to see, they are the fights the UFC put up. So, if you’re not happy that Conor McGregor might get to skip the line and fight the champion when he’s not even ranked, don’t blame Conor McGregor, don’t blame Dana White, don’t blame the UFC, blame your-f**king-self because you are ultimately responsible.”

    Although Bisping says McGregor is unranked, that is not true. He is ranked ninth but he still is well outside the top-five, which is generally where you need to be to get a title shot. However, even when Bisping fought Dan Henderson for the belt, Henderson was ranked 10th, so we have seen this before. Additionally, Georges St-Pierre was also unranked at middleweight when he defeated Bisping for the title at UFC 217.

    McGregor is the biggest star in MMA history and draws a ton of pay-per-views, so financially it does make sense for the UFC to put the Irishman in the title fight, even if he is on a two-fight losing skid.

    Do you think Conor McGregor should get the next lightweight title shot?

  • Bisping Encourages Ngannou To Focus On Gane Rather Than Distractions

    Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has encouraged reigning heavyweight titleholder Francis Ngannou to keep his sights set on what matters right now, upcoming opponent Ciryl Gane.

    It’s probably safe to say no other heavyweight fight in UFC history has had so many different narratives at play leading into it as the UFC 270 main event. On January 22, Ngannou and interim champion Gane will collide in a blockbuster unification title fight to open the promotion’s pay-per-view account for 2022.

    On the face of it, the clash pitches two former teammates, one who left his long-time coach Fernand Lopez to pursue fresh pastures and achieve success elsewhere, and one who has grown into the new face of Paris’ MMA Factory gym. With their awkward backstage encounter at UFC 268 and the words aired in interviews since, that story is providing a nice build ahead of the fight.

    Next, we’ve got the stylistic story. A heavyweight behemoth with the hardest punching power on the globe comes up against the new breed of heavyweight: a fast, technical, and evasive Frenchman who has become an expert in hitting and not being hit.

    But below those intriguing layers lies the real story: the heavyweight champion’s ongoing feud and contractual dispute with the promotion. The cherry on top is Ngannou’s clear intention to eventually lace the boxing gloves, something he says must be possible in any new UFC deal.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWo0AecBPon/

    Bisping Suggests Boxing Ambitions & Contract Dispute Will Distract Ngannou

    In recent weeks, the feud between Ngannou and Lopez and the actual clash between “The Predator” and “Bon Gamin” has been somewhat lost amidst a unique situation between the UFC and one of its titleholders.

    Ngannou’s manager recently spoke out about his client’s treatment and revealed two things the promotion must offer the Cameroonian in order for him to re-sign. Currently, a defeat for Ngannou could see him depart the UFC for another organization, which is a truly remarkable prospect considering his position as champion.

    Alongside that, Ngannou has continued to shout his boxing ambitions to the world. He recently revealed his hopes to test his skills in the ring against top heavyweight boxers Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

    One man who knows a lot about holding UFC gold and pre-fight prep is former 185-pound king Michael Bisping. During a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, “The Count” warned Ngannou about becoming too invested in scenarios and situations away from his primary goal: a victory over Gane at UFC 270.

    “It’s already a tough enough fight. But now, I think Francis is kind of muddying the waters a little bit because there’s all his contract talk. If you google Francis Ngannou’s name, there’s a lot of talk about contract disputes, and he wants more money and things… There’s also a lot of talk about him going to the boxing world.

    “I just think that all this could be a distraction. Ciryl Gane is a very, very tough opponent for any man… I hope for Francis and everybody involved that (a crossover to boxing) does happen. But you’ve just gotta be careful because he’s got Ciryl Gane, and it’s kind of a distraction to be thinking about these things… Ciryl Gane is probably in the gym, in training camp, right now, just thinking about Francis Ngannou, formulating a game plan. Then when you google Francis Ngannou, it’s talk about contracts, it’s talk about money, and it’s talk about boxing. You’ve gotta be careful in this day and age.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CYKBG-HhHQ-/

    What Ngannou’s status in the UFC will be come fight night is anyone’s guess. While Dana White recently claimed he’d had a “positive talk” with the champ while out for dinner, we’ve yet to hear any similar updates out of the Cameroonian’s camp.

    One thing we know is that if Ngannou wins, he’ll be sticking around for at least another defense, meaning the contract debacle could be far from being sorted.

    Do you agree with Michael Bisping? Will Francis Ngannou’s contractual dispute and boxing ambitions distract him ahead of UFC 270?

  • Bisping Names The UFC Veteran Nick Diaz Should Fight This Year

    UFC Hall-of-Famer Michael Bisping has suggested a potential opponent for veteran fan favourite Nick Diaz if he returns to the Octagon this year.

    Diaz’s highly-anticipated 2021 comeback wasn’t the return many had envisioned. After nearly seven years away from the sport, a hiatus that began following his 2015 clash with Anderson Silva, the older Diaz brother ran it back with former foe Robbie Lawler at UFC 266 in September.

    The pair first collided way back in 2004 at the UFC 47 event. While Diaz recorded a memorable knockout win in that clash, their rematch was to end significantly different.

    After showing glimpses of his form of old early on, albeit sluggish ones, Diaz simply couldn’t keep up the relentless pace. After eating a hard shot in the third round, the Stockton native was sent to the canvas and chose not to return to his feet.

    Bisping Wants To See Diaz Challenge “Cowboy”

    The next step is unclear for Diaz. From his pre-fight comments at UFC 266, in which he suggested he doesn’t enjoy fighting, to his late request for the fight with Lawler to be changed from welterweight to middleweight, it was obvious the 38-year-old wasn’t in the best shape or condition for a five-round clash with “Ruthless.”

    In the eyes of many, including UFC President Dana White, Diaz’s 2021 defeat should mark the end of the veteran’s memorable career. But while that seems to be the general consensus, not everyone leans the same way.

    One prominent member of the MMA community hoping to see Diaz fight this year is former middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping. During a recent YouTube Q&A, “The Count” expressed that feeling, and even named a fellow UFC veteran Diaz could face if he returns to the Octagon in the coming months.

    “I would like to see him fight and I would like to see Cowboy [Donald Cerrone]. That’s a really good suggestion but it looks like Cowboy’s fighting Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Like Diaz, Cerrone is another long-serving UFC star who appears well-past his prime and on his way out of the sport in the near future. Although there has been no official confirmation, recent rumors have hinted towards a March clash between “Cowboy” and rising star Pimblett.

    Should that prove to be just conjecture, perhaps the UFC will pair Cerrone up with a fighter on the opposite end of their career to “The Baddy.” Not many fill that criteria better than Diaz.

    Do you agree with Michael Bisping? Would you like to see Nick Diaz fight Donald Cerrone in 2022?

  • Bisping Says He’d “Smash” St-Pierre In Hypothetical Rematch

    Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping thinks he would get the last laugh against Georges St-Pierre if they were to fight again.

    Bisping made his second title defense against the returning St-Pierre at UFC 217. After going back-and-forth on the feet, St-Pierre would eventually get the fight to the ground and put Bisping to sleep with a rear-naked choke.

    Despite being the larger man in the matchup, Bisping appeared to have issues with St-Pierre’s athleticism and grappling throughout the fight. Bisping would go on to lose to Kelvin Gastelum following the title loss, before retiring shortly afterward.

    Bisping has transitioned to a career in broadcasting as a part of the UFC on ESPN crew. But he feels if he were to get a rematch against St-Pierre, things would’ve gone differently.

    Michael Bisping Believes He Would ‘Smash’ Georges St-Pierre

    “I would smash him,” Bisping said during a recent Q+A. “I would have smashed him that night (UFC 217) but I was injured. I was very injured and–I had one eye, and I had my ribs torn.

    “You know what, and to be honest, I’m not diminishing Georges–I was impaired in that fight, I was injured and whatever. Yeah, there was nothing that really troubled me–until the shot that dropped me. I mean, we knew going into it he’d be a tremendous wrestler and that was a big part of the training camp. I couldn’t move well because of my ribs. Georges was aggressive in that fight, but he never really hurt me till the third round, when obviously he caught me with that left hook. It was a great shot and he choked me out, so God bless him for that one.” (h/t LowKickMMA)

    St-Pierre vacated the middleweight belt following UFC 217. He later alluded to a possible matchup with Khabib Nurmagomedov, but negotiations never materialized.

    Both athletes are in their 40s now and haven’t expressed significant interest in returning to MMA anytime soon. For now, it remains speculative as to how a Bisping vs. St-Pierre rematch would’ve played out.

    What are your thoughts on Michael Bisping’s comments?

  • Ricky Simon Reacts To Michael Bisping Interview Criticism

    UFC bantamweight Ricky Simon has responded to Michael Bisping calling him a ‘little s**t’ after their uncomfortable UFC Vegas 45 interview.

    Simon most recently earned a big win over bantamweight veteran Raphael Assuncao at UFC Vegas 45, knocking him out in the second round. After the bout, Bisping falsely stated that this was Simon’s first win over a ranked opponent, which seemed to irk Simon.

    Bisping appeared to set up Simon for another callout of Sean O’Malley after the two had exchanged words and expressed interest in a fight in the past. While Simon ended up calling out O’Malley, the setup didn’t go as planned.

    In a recent YouTube Q+A, Bisping explained his interview with Simon.

    “He goes, ‘I’ve beaten ranked guys before,’” Bisping said. “I said, ‘Well, you definitely weren’t ranked,’ because he wasn’t ranked. He was trying to make me look silly. I’m literally relaying the information that I was told to say [by the producer].

    “So how about you direct your venom at him and tell him not to be such a little sh*t.”

    Bisping’s response raised eyebrows on social media, with many feeling that he didn’t take responsibility for the minor blunder. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Simon reacted to Bisping’s latest comments regarding their awkward post-fight encounter.

    Ricky Simon Responds To Michael Bisping’s ‘Little S**t’ Comment

    “Maybe he didn’t want to be corrected,” Simon said. “I mean, is there a rule that I’m not allowed to correct him on-air or something? I don’t know if there is, maybe I should’ve said something after, but this is my life. This is what I put everything into. Everything that I do is to wake up in the morning and get better at this specific sport.

    “And I have the receipts: I’ve fought a ranked guy before. I beat a ranked guy. I was ranked before. I just thought that I would clear that up.”

    Simon has now won four-straight fights and is quickly rising in the stacked bantamweight division. Following back-to-back losses to Rob Font and Urijah Faber, he has rebounded nicely and appears set to possibly earn a big-name opponent for his next fight.

    There were plenty of off-kilter post-fight interviews in the UFC in 2021, but Simon and Bisping’s odd moment is probably near the top of the list. Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see if Simon and Bisping bury the hatchet at some point.

    What was your reaction to the awkward Ricky Simon/Michael Bisping interview?

  • Archives: Bisping Says Jon Jones Wasn’t Pleased With Interview (2019)

    Three years ago, Jon Jones defeated Alexander Gustafsson to once again become the UFC light heavyweight champion. As you’ll find out in the following article, it wasn’t all laughter and celebration for him after his victory, however. Jones did not take kindly to post-fight questions regarding past drug test issues.

    The following story is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of the MMA News Archives.

    On This Day Three Years Ago…

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 2, 2019, 10:59 AM]

    Headline: Michael Bisping Says Jon Jones Wasn’t Pleased With FOX Sports Interview

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    Michael Bisping says Jon Jones wasn’t too happy with him and FOX Sports higher-ups following UFC 232.

    Jones emerged victorious at UFC 232. He took on Alexander Gustafsson for the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship. “Bones” won the bout via third-round knockout. When Jones was interviewed by the FOX Sports panel, there was some tension, and “Bones” even apologized on air for being a bit fired up.

    Bisping Reveals Jones’ Off-Air Rant

    Bisping recently took to his “Believe You Me” podcast and claimed that Jones was none too pleased during the commercial break:

    “On the weigh-in show, we had to interview Jon Jones. And of course every time we do this, we at FOX Studios obviously is a well-polished machine. It’s not like Believe You Me, everything is planned with a fine-tooth comb. It’s proper TV, so they have to know, the producers, what questions are gonna be asked. So they tell us what questions to ask, they give us on little printed out cards.

    “The only thing is, I don’t care asking difficult questions. And I asked Jon Jones some questions, which apparently he didn’t like. After the fight, we interviewed him again and when we were on commercial break he was talking f*cking sh*t to whoever the powers that be were at FOX. ‘That motherf*cker Michael Bisping gonna be asking questions again with that dumb sh*t.’”

    The questions Bisping asked were related to Jones’ past drug testing issues. Jones hasn’t taken too kindly to PED-related questions and even apologized to a journalist after he blasted her for one of those questions.

    Do you think Jon Jones is mishandling PED-related questions, or is he right to be upset?

  • Archives: Michael Bisping & Tyron Woodley Want Catchweight Bout (2017)

    Five years ago today, we ran a story about then-champions Michael Bisping and Tyron Woodley agreeing to fight one another. Unfortunately, that day never came.

    Today, Bisping is happily retired and competed for the last time in November 2017 in a loss to Kelvin Gastelum. Woodley is no longer in the UFC and has lost back-to-back boxing matchups to Jake Paul, including a devastating knockout that occurred last month.

    The following article is presented to you in its original, unaltered form, courtesy of The MMA News Archives.

    [ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED JANUARY 1, 2017, 10:37 PM]

    Headline: Michael Bisping & Tyron Woodley Want Catchweight Bout

    Author: Fernando Quiles Jr.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BOvGaFWhRNL/

    Fight fans may soon have a mega bout to look forward to, though it may not be what they were expecting. Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) title holders Michael Bisping and Tyron Woodley may be going toe-to-toe down the road.

    Bisping holds the middleweight strap, while Woodley is the welterweight ruler. The two happen to be colleagues for the UFC panel on FOX Sports. The next likely challenger for “The Count” is Yoel Romero, while “The Chosen One” will probably have another date with Stephen Thompson.

    Neither bout has been signed and Woodley has made it a point to try to get fights that will draw big money. He’s called out Nick Diaz, Georges St. Pierre, and has ruffled feathers with lightweight king Conor McGregor.

    “The Count” is no stranger to big fights himself. Bisping has traded leather with the likes of Anderson Silva, Rashad Evans, Dan Henderson, and of course Luke Rockhold. Could “T-Wood” be next?

    On his Instagram account, Bisping shared a conversation he and Woodley had backstage at UFC 207. The two were talking about a potential fight at 180 pounds. Bisping said he currently weighs more than “little guy” Woodley.

    While one may assume the video was all in good fun or a troll post, Woodley said, “I’m a hundred percent serious, dead ass.” The two shook hands at the end of the video and agreed to a May date. They also agreed to not put their titles on the line.

    Woodley’s last bout was a majority draw against “Wonderboy” at UFC 205 in New York City. “The Chosen One” retained his title and while the fight was a draw, it was clear he did the most damage. Bisping’s last fight was a war with Dan Henderson. The middleweight champ survived two knockdowns to keep his gold and remain unbeaten on UK soil.

  • Flashback To Bisping Telling Silva To ‘Leave The Viagra Out’ Of Fight

    Six years ago today, we ran a story about Michael Bisping’s newsworthy request for Anderson “The Spider” Silva ahead of their 2016 classic.

    In 2015, Anderson Silva was hit with a one-year suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for the banned substances Drostanolone and Androstane. Silva maintained his innocence and claimed that a “sexual performance medication” he took tainted his drug test result for his fight against Nick Diaz in January of that year.

    Silva’s victory over Diaz at UFC 183 was overturned to a no-contest when Silva’s defense failed. In his first fight back, the former middleweight ruler was set to face Michael Bisping, who was coming into the fight on a two-fight winning streak.

    After the UFC officially announced that Bisping would face Silva in London, “The Count” took a jab at Silva on Twitter.

    “@SpiderAnderson see you in London my friend! Just leave the viagra out of it! #randomtesting”

    Michael Bisping has always been one of the more vocal fighters regarding the subject of performance-enhancing drugs in the sport. Another Brazilian who Bisping has taken to task on the matter is Vitor Belfort, someone the Brit continues to throw shots at to this day regarding PED usage.

    Michael Bisping & Anderson Silva Meet In London—Sans Viagra

    UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping took place on February 27, 2016, at The O2 Arena in London, England. What transpired in the main event was a battle for the ages and one of the best fights of the year. And just as Bisping requested, there was no mention of viagra after the post-fight drug test results came in.

    Below, you can watch the classic between Bisping and Silva in its entirety.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swcgEARqmmU

  • Darren Till Loves Covington’s ‘Act’ Because It ‘Upsets So Many People’

    While many do not like the schtick of Colby Covington, Darren Till does not feel the same.

    Till is known for having an off-kilter sense of humor, which has gotten him into trouble on more than one occasion. Covington is not too dissimilar to that, with his outlandish behavior dividing MMA fans around the world, leaving some to criticize his comments and others embracing the schtick.

    Speaking on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Till explained that he fell into the latter category, enjoying the way Covington acts. Although, it is not just because he finds it funny. He also enjoys the way that the top welterweight contender is able to get under people’s skins and offend them in ways that he aspires to himself.

    “I mean, I love Colby, I love his act, I love his fighting style. Striker-wise, I don’t think he’s the best striker, but I think he’s a phenomenal fighter. I’m a fan… I see past all the act and everything and you know what, mate? I f*cking think it’s absolutely hilarious. You know why? Because it’s upsets so many people and I just think, ‘Wow,’” Till said (h/t LowKickMMA).

    It goes without saying that a lot of people do not share the same ideology as Darren Till when it comes to the schtick of Colby Covington. To be fair to those concerns, he has said some things that are, at best, a little risqué; and at worst, crossing lines that some feel should not be crossed in a competitive format.

    Love him like Till or hate him like Jorge Masvidal and many others, there is simply no denying the skills that Covington possesses. Considering the fact that he is the only person to come anywhere near beating welterweight champion Kamaru Usman in the UFC, on two different occasions no less, makes him one of the best 170lb fighters in the world, regardless of the things he says.

    Check out the full video with Darren Till below:

    https://youtu.be/-JxiXQsHk-E

  • Marvin Vettori Promises Bisping He’ll Dethrone “PED User” Adesanya

    UFC middleweight Marvin Vettori has responded to compliments from Michael Bisping about his championship credentials, promising that he’ll be the one to dethrone “PED user” Israel Adesanya.

    Vettori has already failed to strip Adesanya of his gold on one occasion and failed to have his hand raised at two attempts against “The Last Stylebender.” After falling to a split decision to the Nigerian-New Zealander in 2018 when both were relatively new to the UFC, “The Italian Dream” fought his way to the top, earning a title shot following victories over Karl Roberson, Jack Hermansson, and Kevin Holland.

    In the UFC 263 main event in June this year, Vettori re-visited his rivalry with Adesanya. While he was able to take the champ the 25-minute distance, which was more than both Robert Whittaker and Paulo Costa had managed, the 28-year-old was comfortably beaten on the scorecards.

    But the Trento native’s hopes of returning to contention couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. After showing his toughness by accepting a light heavyweight clash against an overweight Costa, Vettori put his power and chin on full display across five rounds with “The Eraser” at UFC Vegas 41. Thanks to a pressing volume and some clean lands, Vettori jumped to #2 in the rankings with a unanimous decision victory over the Brazilian.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CViXkVCrsEi/

    Discussing that performance during a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, Bisping, a former 185-pound titleholder and current color commentator, suggested Vettori would be the current middleweight king if it wasn’t for the presence of Adesanya.

    “If it wasn’t for Israel Adesanya right now, he’d (Vettori) be the champ, definitely… He’s the next best guy at 185 in my opinion, he’s doing tremendous things. I’m a friend of Marvin’s, I think he’s tremendous. That fight he had against Paulo Costa was sensational. I called that fight, I was right there, he won that fight fair and square but Paulo Costa had a lot of success and some of the shots that Marvin ate, some of those kicks and punches and the power that Costa has, Marvin took every single fucking one of them.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Vettori Responds With A Promise

    Upon seeing Bisping’s take, Vettori took to Twitter to respond. After showing his appreciation for “The Count,” the top contender made a promise. He assured Bisping that he’ll still be the one to end Adesanya’s reign, despite failing to do so six months ago.

    He also slammed the reigning titleholder, accusing him of using performance-enhancing drugs, a sentiment that began to be shared after Adesanya’s right pectoral muscle became noticeably swollen.

    “Appreciate it @Bisping Im still gonna show you I will dethrone this PED user very soon.”

    While he undoubtedly impressed in his last outing and established himself as one of the top contenders, it’ll likely be a while until Vettori has another chance at having middleweight gold wrapped around his waist.

    Adesanya is next set to run it back with former champ Whittaker at UFC 271 in February. On the same card, Derek Brunson and Jared Cannonier are expected to collide to determine the next number one contender.

    With his reluctance to serve as backup for Adesanya vs. Whittaker 2, it seems “The Italian Dream” will be spending 2022 looking to secure another championship opportunity for the following year.

    Do you think Marvin Vettori has what it takes to beat Israel Adesanya if the pair run it back down the line?

  • Bisping Urges Usman & Adesanya To Fight Despite Nigerian Connection

    UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has called for UFC Welterweight Champion Kamaru Usman and middleweight king Israel Adesanya to fight, despite being compatriots.

    Usman and Adesanya are two of three African champions reigning over divisions in the UFC right now, the other being Francis Ngannou. The pair have been dominant since reaching their respective mountaintops, accumulating a combined eight title defenses.

    “The Nigerian Nightmare,” who boasts a perfect 14-0 promotional record, has seen off the challenge of Gilbert Burns and two each from Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington since his title-winning performance against Tyron Woodley in 2019.

    “The Last Stylebender,” meanwhile, has defended his gold against Yoel Romero, Paulo Costa, and Marvin Vettori since dethroning Robert Whittaker at UFC 243 two-and-a-half years ago. He’s also had a failed pursuit of two-division glory, with Jan Blachowicz adding the first blemish on his professional MMA record earlier this year.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CT_4mMXvfhN/

    Bisping Says Adesanya Needs “Fresh Meat”

    With both men dominating, the pool of contenders is certainly thinning, especially for the Nigerian-New Zealander. While Usman has the likes of Leon Edwards, Vicente Luque, and Khamzat Chimaev likely to challenge for the belt in the near future, Adesanya has beaten most top contenders at 185 pounds.

    The middleweight titleholder is set to run it back with Robert Whittaker early next year, but beyond that, aside from the winner of Derek Brunson vs. Jared Cannonier, it’s looking like slim pickings for Adesanya. With that in mind, Michael Bisping believes “The Last Stylebender” needs some “fresh meat” from below.

    During a recent episode of his Believe You Me podcast, “The Count” called on Usman and Adesanya to push past their reluctance to meet in the Octagon and battle it out in a superfight.

    “I think Usman Just needs to step up and fight fucking Israel Adesanya. I know they’re both from fucking Nigeria, right? So fucking what? So what? I don’t care. I don’t know how many people live in Nigeria, I’m going to guess 75 million. If Adesanya continues to lap everybody and certainly if he beats Robert Whitaker, he needs fresh meat. If Kamaru continues to win, c’mon! C’mon!” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    While Usman has already firmly shut down the idea of fighting his fellow Nigerian, both men are seemingly going to be pre-occupied for the first two quarters of 2022 anyway. While Adesanya looks to record a second victory over “The Reaper,” Usman will likely be making his next defense in the first half of the year, potentially opposite former opponent Edwards.

    But if both men continue their dominance, perhaps the idea of a dream Usman vs. Adesanya clash will be re-visited.

    How do you think a fight between Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya would play out?

  • Michael Bisping Thinks Amanda Nunes Wins Julianna Peña Rematch

    Michael Bisping likes former UFC bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes’ chances in an immediate rematch against Julianna Peña.

    Nunes’ loss to Peña was arguably one of the most shocking upsets in UFC history. After some brief success early on in the fight, Nunes looked gassed in Round 2 and let Peña dictate the pace on the feet. Peña would then secure a big takedown and eventually lock in the submission for the win.

    Nunes’ loss to Peña snapped an incredible run in the UFC in which she won titles at both bantamweight and featherweight. The defeat snapped a 12-fight winning streak and was her first loss since UFC 178 against Cat Zingano.

    During a recent segment on his YouTube channel, Bisping broke down his thoughts on a Nunes/Peña rematch and what went wrong for Nunes at UFC 269.

    “I think she’ll come back and I think she’ll fight Julianna Peña and I think she beats Julianna in a rematch,” Bisping said. “In that first round, she outclassed Julianna. She was the better person, she put her down twice, she controlled her in the clinch, she controlled her on the ground. It was a good round for Nunes but she got tired. She got tired, you could clearly see it. And also she showed a little naivety, she showed a little lack of experience, she showed a little – she didn’t show the best fight I.Q.

    “When you’re in a fight – and I’ve been there many times – when you’re in a fight, you’re in the UFC, you go in there and it’s a big fight, a main event or whatever, there’s thousands of people and you’re the f*cking star and things don’t go your way and BANG you get caught with a shot and you’re rocked, what we saw Nunes do – and it’s commendable and the crowd loved it and they’re all screaming and cheering – she just stood there swinging back and forth,” Bisping continued. “What Nunes should have done was be a little bit more crafty. She should have got on her bike, use her footwork to be a little bit more elusive, dance around the octagon a little bit, get your equilibrium back…

    “Nunes probably beats her in the rematch. I’m not taking away from what she did. I honestly believe Nunes will beat her in the rematch.”

    Amanda Nunes Seems Focused On Julianna Peña Rematch

    Just days after her loss to Peña at UFC 269, Nunes took to Instagram to formally accept Dana White’s offer of an immediate rematch.

    While Peña stated that she’s certainly interested in a Nunes rematch, she’s also voiced his desire to avenge previous losses to Valentina Shevchenko and Germaine de Randamie.

    White has all but confirmed an immediate rematch between Nunes and Peña, and it’s expected to be what’s next in the bantamweight title picture. It’s unclear when it’ll happen, but it seems like a Nunes/Peñarematch is inevitable.

    How do you think Julianna Peña vs. Amanda Nunes 2 would play out?

  • Bisping Names 2 Options For McGregor’s Return Other Than Poirier

    Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping believes there are two leading options for Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon, neither of which is a fourth fight with Dustin Poirier.

    McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion, has been on a significant downfall since his second title crowning in 2016. In the four years that have followed, the Irishman has gone 1-3. His sole victory came at welterweight against veteran Donald Cerrone last January. That success marked a rebound from his crushing loss to arch-rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.

    After re-entering the win column, McGregor would have hoped to return to lightweight title contention in 2021. Instead, the 33-year-old was knocked out for the first time, saw his 1-0 record against Dustin Poirier collapse to 1-2, and suffered a gruesome broken leg. Since sustaining the injury at UFC 264, McGregor has been on the sidelines, tangling with celebrities in public and fellow fighters on social media.

    Bisping Advises McGregor Against 4th Poirier Fight

    In recent weeks, talk of a McGregor return has certainly picked up. Having consistently provided updates on his recovery through training footage, it’s clear the former double champ is deep into the healing process. With that in mind, McGregor recently revealed his hope to begin full MMA sparring again in April 2022, with his return to the cage imminent after that.

    The options for McGregor’s comeback seem plentiful. As well as potential clashes with Michael Chandler and Max Holloway, both of whom have expressed interest in welcoming MMA’s biggest superstar back to the Octagon, a potential fourth collision with Poirier remains a possibility. If “The Diamond” dethrones Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 this weekend, that could see McGregor fighting for gold upon his return, something he guaranteed would be the case in a recent Twitter post.

    Despite those choices, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has given McGregor some different advice. Suggesting against the Poirier tetralogy during a recent Q&A on his YouTube channel, “The Count” said McGregor should either complete his trilogy with Nate Diaz or face former interim champ Tony Ferguson.

    “For McGregor, when he comes back, he needs to think carefully about who he fights next. If Dustin Poirier beats Charles Oliveira next week and Dustin becomes the champion, of course Justin Gaethje’s going to step in and he gets the next shot. But then there’s Islam Makhachev and the whole list of people at lightweight that want to fight for the belt. But McGregor, being who he is, McGregor being the biggest star the sport has ever seen, he may get that privilege to where he can fight Dustin Poirier for the belt because they have unfinished business. They are two and one in Dustin’s favor, but the way the last fight ended with McGregor breaking his leg does give a reason, does give explanation to the subject that perhaps they should do a fourth fight.

    “McGregor brings in eyeballs like nobody else so there is a possibility. My advice would be don’t do that. I think he should try and get his mojo back, get comfortable with the octagon again, because it’s a long layoff. Nate Diaz may be the perfect person or even Tony Ferguson.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

    Conor McGregor Nate Diaz
    Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz

    With Nate Diaz having just one fight remaining on his contract, and with heavy talk of a departure from the promotion, it appears that if the UFC wishes to book a third fight between the Stockton native and McGregor, it’ll have to be the highest priority for when the Irishman is ready to return.

    On the other hand, McGregor vs. Ferguson is a matchup that would have been mouth-watering a number of years ago. Having lost three consecutive fights against Justin Gaethje, Charles Oliveira, and Beneil Dariush, the idea of Ferguson facing McGregor has perhaps lost its appeal slightly. Nevertheless, it would certainly make sense given the rankings, and would give one man a path back towards the lightweight top five.

    Who do you think Conor McGregor should face when he returns to the Octagon?