For UFC middleweight Michael “The Count” Bisping (20-3) being hated on is something he comes to expect whenever he fights outside of Britain, but it isn’t something he fully understand.
He is currently preparing for his next fight against Jorge Rivera at UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia and fully expects to be booed by fans at the Acer Arena once again. He fought Wanderlei Silva at UFC 110 almost a year ago and received a cold welcome from ‘Aussie’ fans there.
Bisping isn’t focused on winning over the fans when he fights, he just wants to make them exciting. Having already won three “Fight of the Night” honors “The Count” is expecting another thrilling fight against Rivera when they meet in the octagon in the co-main event of UFC 127.
The Brit recently posted these comments in his ‘Fight Blog’ for UFC 127 at NineMSN.com about those fans that hate him and those that love him.
Obviously I’d prefer it if everybody liked and respected me, but I also realise that won’t always be the case. You’ve got to take your lumps in this sport, both inside and outside the octagon. I know that not everybody will like me or want me to win. I don’t mind being booed and having to play the bad guy. To be honest, I quite like the idea of proving the majority wrong and sticking it to them with a big victory.
I get to experience the best of both worlds in my career. I’m a hero whenever I fight in the UK and I’m a villain everywhere else I go. I’m Chuck Liddell one fight and Josh Koscheck the next! I get to experience the full range of emotions and, at least, I get a passionate reaction either way so at least I know no-one is going to take a hot dog break when I fight…
It’s actually humbling to have kids and parents wait hours just to get a photo with you. You try and be as friendly as you can be and pray it was worth their time to meet you.
The reasons for the abuse outside the UK are still confusing to me, though. I live in a tiny little town in the north-west of England and yet I generate this huge amount of ill-feeling outside Great Britain. It’s pretty strange, when you think about it.