Michael Bisping is one of the iconic veterans in UFC history. He has faced some of the top names in the promotion and forged some good friendships and rivalries over the years. During a recent Q&A session on X, the former UFC champion mentioned a few names he still hates.
Each of these rivalries contributed to Michael Bisping‘s legacy in the UFC. Bisping faced Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217 in November 2017 and lost in the third round. However, since then they have maintained a pretty good friendship which Bisping wrote in his tweet.
Gsp for sure a friend. Good terms with most but don’t speak to them much. Don’t hate any of them but vitor, hendo and wand are dildo’s for sure.
Michael Bisping on X
The same could not be said for the rest of his former opponents. Bisping’s rivalry with Vitor Belfort is particularly bitter due to the circumstances of their fight at UFC on FX 7 in 2013. Belfort, known for his use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at the time, knocked out Bisping with a head kick, which resulted in Bisping suffering a detached retina that significantly affected his vision. Bisping has openly criticized Belfort for using TRT, blaming it for the injury that almost ended his career.
Gsp for sure a friend. Good terms with most but don’t speak to them much. Don’t hate any of them but vitor, hendo and wand are dildo’s for sure. https://t.co/jnAamxzl94
— michael (@bisping) September 7, 2024
The rivalry between Bisping and Dan Henderson is one of the most iconic in UFC history, beginning when Henderson knocked out Bisping at UFC 100 in 2009. Henderson infamously landed a brutal punch after Bisping was already unconscious. As for Wanderlei Silva, they coached opposing teams on “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2010. They eventually fought at UFC 110, with Silva winning by unanimous decision. While their rivalry wasn’t as explosive as others, Bisping clearly took their fight seriously and was frustrated by the loss.
Interestingly, Bisping was able to defeat Dan Henderson in a rematch when he was champion. This must have felt like redemption after the brutal knockout he suffered in their earlier fight. However, Bisping lost his title when GSP came out of retirement to become a 3-time welterweight champion. Bisping retired after losing the very next fight to Kelvin Gastelum in 2017.
Michael Bisping makes his pick for the top four MMA fighters of all time
Michael Bisping recently surprised many by placing Conor McGregor on his all-time list of top four MMA fighters. Bisping acknowledged that while McGregor might not have the most impressive fight record compared to the others on his list, his impact on the sport is unparalleled.
Bisping recently sat down for a conversation with combat sports broadcaster, Adam Catterall on his YouTube channel. There, the former champion listed out his Mount Rushmore naming fighters like Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, and Khabib Nurmagomedov as his top choices.
However, Bisping decided his Mount Rushmore choices should be ‘pioneers’. Royce Gracie back from the UFC’s early days in 1993 made the list. Other veterans like Randy Couture, BJ Penn, and Anderson Silva were brought into the conversation. However, Bisping went with an unconventional pick, naming Fedor Emelianenko, often counted among the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Ronda Rousey also earned an honorable mention for her role in popularizing women’s MMA.
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