Tag: michael bisping

Busted! Michael Bisping caught making homophobic remark during live UFC 298 broadcast

Michael Bisping UFC 298Michael Bisping is being both praised and condemned for his use of a homophobic slur during the live UFC…

Michael Bisping UFC 298

Michael Bisping is being both praised and condemned for his use of a homophobic slur during the live UFC 298 broadcast on Saturday night.

The former middleweight world champion joined Joe Rogan and Jon Anik at the commentary table for the promotion’s latest pay-per-view offering in Anaheim, California. By all accounts, the evening went off without a hitch and offered some memorable moments for fans inside the Honda Center and those watching around the world.

However, there was one incident that has fight fans in a furious debate on social media. After delivering a promotional pitch for the main event showdown between Alexander Volkanovski and Ilia Topuria, ‘The Cout’ was busted making an anti-gay remark.

“What a guy. What a night. UFC 298. Anaheim California. Certainly one for the books,” Bisping said before a long pause. Seemingly unaware that the cameras were still rolling, he added: “What a guy? That’s f*cking gay.”

It’s certainly not the first time the UFC has seen one of its own make anti-LGBTQ comments on camera. Ahead of his UFC 297 title tilt with Dricus Du Plessis, former 185-pound king Sean Strickland went off on a Canadian reporter who questioned ‘Tarzan’ about a series of anti-gay comments he made on X (formerly Twitter). Strickland’s response was pretty much what you’d expect.

UFC Fans React to Michael Bisping’s Commentary Slip-up

Perhaps in a sadly unsurprising twist, Bisping received a heap of support — and even praise — for his ill-time comment once the clip started making the rounds online.

Of course, not everyone was thrilled with Bisping’s anti-gay commentary or the fact that UFC fans — who have been labeled as toxic on more than one occasion — are basking in it.

What is your take on Michael Bisping’s poor choice of words?

UFC 298 – Joe Rogan set for commentary return with Michael Bisping for title fight showdown in Anaheim

Joe Rogan joins Michael Bisping for commentary at UFC 298 ahead of title fight showdownLong-time color-commentator, Joe Rogan will enter the three-man booth for commentary duty for the first time this year, next…

Joe Rogan joins Michael Bisping for commentary at UFC 298 ahead of title fight showdown

Long-time color-commentator, Joe Rogan will enter the three-man booth for commentary duty for the first time this year, next weekend, as the podcast host and standup comedian joins former UFC middleweight champion, Michael Bisping, and play-by-play lead, Jon Anik to call all the action in Anaheim, California at UFC 298 next week.

Returning to pay-per-view in their United States debut this annum, the Octagon lands at Honda Center in Anaheim, with an undisputed featherweight championship headliner taking main event honors.

Making his own comeback to 145 pounds, Australian favorite, Alexander Volkanovski looks to defend his featherweight crown against unbeaten challenger, Ilia Topuria – who remains steadfast in his prediction of a dominant first round knockout win over the incumbent at UFC 298.

Joe Rogen calls the action with Michael Bisping at UFC 298

And returning to duty next weekend at UFC 298, Rogan replaces former bantamweight champion, Dominick Cruz in the commentary booth as per MMA Fighting, with Hall of Fame inductee, Bisping making his flagship comeback replacing former two-division gold holder, Daniel Cormier.

Alongside the return of Rogan and British favorite, Bisping, taking roving reporting duties and conducting both pre and post-fight interviews is revered reporter, Megan Olivi per the report. 

Also featuring as part of a high-profile flagship card is former two-weight best and Olympic gold medalist, Henry Cejudo, who features in a potential bantamweight title-eliminator against surging Georgian force, Merab Dvalishvili.

The night’s co-headliner also sees former middleweight champion, Robert Whittaker return in a high-stakes clash with former title challenger, Paulo Costa – while the unbeaten Ian Garry features against Texan striker, Geoff Neal.

Currently slated to open the main card: a middleweight fight between Anthony Hernandez, and replacement opponent, Roman Kopylov. 

Taking featured preliminary bout action is a strawweight pairing of most recent title chaser, Amanda Lemos, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace, Mackenzie Dern – who replaces an injury-stricken, Tatiana Suarez. 

And you happy to see Joe Rogan join Michael Bisping in the commentary booth?

Jared Cannonier touted as severe test for unbeaten UFC star Khamzat Chimaev: ‘He’s the perfect opponent’

Jared Cannonier touted as ideal opponent to fight Khamzat Chimaev in UFC return he's perfect for himFormer middleweight title challenger, Jared Cannonier has been touted as an ideal opponent to test the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev…

Jared Cannonier touted as ideal opponent to fight Khamzat Chimaev in UFC return he's perfect for him

Former middleweight title challenger, Jared Cannonier has been touted as an ideal opponent to test the unbeaten, Khamzat Chimaev in his return to the Octagon, according to former divisional champion, Michael Bisping.

Cannonier, the current number four ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since extended his winning run to two straight fights back in June, turning in a decision win over fellow former title challenger, Marvin Vettori in a Fight of the Night outing.

Prior to that, the former light heavyweight landed a controversial split decision win over former undisputed middleweight kingpin, Sean Strickland – with the victory returning him to the winner’s enclosure after his title siege defeat to common-foe, Israel Adesanya.

As for Chimaev, the AllStars MMA veteran co-headlined UFC 294 back in October of last year, turning in a close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, Kamaru Usman – improving his unbeaten record to 13-0.

Jared Cannonier backed to fight Khamzat Chimaev

And linked with a slew of opponents for his comeback from the likes of Paulo Costa, to the above-mentioned former champions, Strickland, and Adesanya, Chimaev should be tested by the returning Cannonier next, according to Hall of Fame inductee, Bisping.

“I would like to see him (Khamzat Chimaev) against a Jared Cannonier – because if he can’t take him down, and he can’t fix that problem with the cardio, then he’s going to have a real long-term problem going forward,” Michael Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “But who knows – maybe there’s a reason why he was running out of gas, OK? Probably because he doesn’t pace himself. He goes forward straight away, (and) wrestles.”

“Jared Cannonier, in my humble opinion, is the perfect opponent [for Khamzat Chimev],” Bisping explained. “There’s others out there. There’s Sean Strickland. They had a little moment in the gym, as well. So, Sean Strickland – Khamzat Chimaev, take my money. I’d love to see that one. But Khamzat – Jared Cannonier – that would be great.” 

Do you want to see Jared Cannonier fight Khamzat Chimaev in his return?

Conor McGregor Warned to Stop Surrounding Himself with ‘Yes Men’ Ahead of UFC Comeback

Conor McGregorIf Conor McGregor wants to make his 2024 return to the Octagon a success, he needs to stop surrounding…

Conor McGregor

If Conor McGregor wants to make his 2024 return to the Octagon a success, he needs to stop surrounding himself with a bunch of “yes men.”

That is according to former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping who fully believes that McGregor can return to his glory days, but only if the Irishman separates himself from the apple-polishers on his payroll.

“Conor needs to not surround himself with ‘yes men’ that are on the payroll, he’s got to surround himself with people who are going to dictate when he trains,” Bisping said in an interview with Betway. He’s got to have people around him who are strong enough to say, ‘If you’re not going to do this work then I’m not going to corner you.’ When I talked rubbish to my trainer in sparring once, he shut it down right then and there. He said, ‘If you’re not going to listen then get out.‘

“That’s what you need, a strong character that cares about the win, not just the money. I respect Conor for what he’s doing because he doesn’t need to do this, but I know why he’s doing it. It’s because the feeling of winning and knocking another man out unconscious while the world goes crazy is an incredible feeling.

“Money cannot buy it, nor the respect from the fight community and that’s why he’s doing it. To be the best version of himself he has to surround himself with people who want him to become champion again.”

The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall

Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise up the UFC ranks was a journey unlike any other in combat sports. But as is the case with many athletes who achieve that level of success, McGregor’s performances fell flatter as his bank account grew fatter. After claiming the featherweight and lightweight titles in less than a year, ‘Mystic Mac’ decided to cash in with a boxing match against legendary pugilist Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. McGregor suffered a 10th-round knockout loss and nothing has been the same since.

He returned to the Octagon the following year and has proceeded to lose three of his last four, including back-to-back KOs against lightweight fan favorite Dustin Poirier.

McGregor’s only win in the last seven years came against a past-his-prime Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone in 2020.

Nothing has been officially confirmed for McGregor’s quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history,” but the Irishman insists that he will fight this summer, presumably as part of the UFC’s International Fight Week festivities in Las Vegas.

His expected opponent, Michael Chandler, remains confident that the bout will go down as McGregor stated in a New Year’s Day announcement on social media, but UFC CEO Dana White has remained coy, saying that nothing about McGregor’s return has been finalized.

Khamzat Chimaev backed as ‘Number one option’ to fight for title after UFC 297: ‘He’s got a ton of hype’

Khamzat Chimaev backed as number one option to fight for gold after UFC 297 he's got a ton of hypeUnbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has been mooted as the next likeliest to fight for undisputed gold after UFC…

Khamzat Chimaev backed as number one option to fight for gold after UFC 297 he's got a ton of hype

Unbeaten middleweight contender, Khamzat Chimaev has been mooted as the next likeliest to fight for undisputed gold after UFC 297 this weekend according to Hall of Fame star, Michael Bisping – who points to the Chechen’s recent uptake in “hype”.

Chimaev, the current number nine ranked middleweight contender, has been sidelined since he co-headlined UFC 294 back in October of last year in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Landing his thirteenth consecutive professional victory, the AllStars MMA staple scored a close, majority decision win over former undisputed welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman in the pair’s short-notice – billed title-eliminator.

And sidelined through injury after a surgical procedure on his hand to address a ligament issue, Chimaev has claimed he’s been “guaranteed” a shot at either Sean Strickland or Dricus du Plessis after UFC 297. 

Khamzat Chimaev receives backing to fight for gold after UFC 297

According to Manchester native, Bisping, Chimaev is most likely next to fight for middleweight gold, despite distinct reservations from Strickland, and most notably, du Plessis.

“I feel like I talked about this recently: Dricus du Plessis, if he does become the champion, there’s a lot of options for him right, but number one option is probably Khamzat Chimaev,” Michael Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Yes, Israel Adesanya, there is beef there. They’ve squared off in the Octagon, they’ve went back and forth, they’re both claiming to be the real Adrican and all this type of stuff.”

“…Chimaev is ranked number nine, okay? And that’s probably another reason why Dricus says that he doesn’t deserve it,” Bisping explained. “Okay, fair enough, He’s ranked number nine, but he’s got a ton of hype. He just beat Kamaru Usman, who yes, was a welterweight, but he was the pound-for-pound number one. He was a longtime welterweight champion for many defenses and on top of that Dana said, whoever wins, Kamaru or Khamzat, they get to fight for the belt, so there it is there.”

Do you want Khamzat Chimaev to fight for gold in his return to the Octagon?

Tom Aspinall Touted as a ‘Heavyweight GSP’ and an ‘MMA Version of Muhammad Ali’ Amid Jon Jones Drama

Tom Aspinall compared to GSP and Muhammad Ali amid Jon Jones debacleMichael Bisping believes Jon Jones will tarnish his legacy by ducking a fight with Tom Aspinall. Stepping into the…

Tom Aspinall compared to GSP and Muhammad Ali amid Jon Jones debacle

Michael Bisping believes Jon Jones will tarnish his legacy by ducking a fight with Tom Aspinall.

Stepping into the UFC 296 co-main event after ‘Bones’ went down due to a pectoral injury, Aspinall claimed the interim heavyweight championship via a spectacular 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich. Typically, the interim titleholder immediately moves on to unify his gold with that of the undisputed champion. In this case, that would be Jon Jones. However, Jones and the UFC have other plans.

Instead of a title unification clash with Aspinall, Jones will move forward with his previously scheduled showdown against Stipe Miocic, leaving Aspinall to sit by the wayside and wait for things to play out.

Understandably, Aspinall is infuriated and has been targeting Jones in interviews and on social media. That sparked a heated debate between the two on X with many, including Michael Bisping, siding with Aspinall.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the ex-middleweight champ suggested that Jon Jones’ legacy will be tarnished if he retires before unifying his title with Aspinall’s.

“[Jon Jones] doesn’t have anything to prove, other than he can beat Tom Aspinall,” Bisping said. “If he does retire right now, that is always going to be the narrative. There’s people out there – and I know this annoys Jones, so I’m sorry to bring it up – people say that he avoided Francis Ngannou. I’m not saying that, but that’s a narrative that exists. I don’t think that’s true, but people do say that.

“If he doesn’t fight Tom Aspinall if he beats Stipe, that will forever be the narrative. That will forever be the narrative – that he’s ducking Tom Aspinall, that he’s afraid of Tom Aspinall, that he looks at Tom Aspinall – this gigantic man, a true heavyweight that moves like a middleweight, that has ridiculous finishing ability, a heavyweight Georges St-Pierre, a mixed martial arts version of Muhammad Ali, (and is scared).”

Does Dodging a Fight with Tom Aspinall Damage Jon Jones’ GOAT Status?

Jon Jones sent fight fans into a meltdown, suggesting that he would walk away from mixed martial arts altogether following his fight with Stipe Miocic. Many have called for ‘Bones’ to relinquish the heavyweight title in light of his comments.

Doing so would forfeit pay-per-view points Jones is entitled to as a defending world champion, so we can’t see that happening in any way, shape, or form.

It’s clear that Jon Jones sees the Miocic fight as an important one for his overall legacy, but Bisping believes that if ‘Bones’ bows out before fighting one of the most well-rounded heavyweights of all time, Tom Aspinall, it will permanently hang over his legacy like a dark cloud.

“How on earth can Jon Jones retire when there’s another active, defending heavyweight champion?” asked Bisping. “You just can’t do that. That is madness, and it will affect his legacy and tarnish his accomplishments forever.”

Do you think Jon Jones needs to fight Tom Aspinall to solidify his status as MMA’s greatest of all time?