Tag: michael bisping

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?

UFC star Jon Jones warned against avoiding Tom Aspinall title fight: ‘It will tarnish his legacy forever’

UFC star Jon Jones warned about ruining legacy by avoiding fight with Tom AspinallUFC star, Jon Jones’ legacy will most definitely be called into question according to Hall of Fame inductee, Michael…

UFC star Jon Jones warned about ruining legacy by avoiding fight with Tom Aspinall

UFC star, Jon Jones’ legacy will most definitely be called into question according to Hall of Fame inductee, Michael Bisping, if the Endicott native attempts to avoid a title fight with current interim gold holder, Tom Aspinall in the future. 

Jones, a former two-time undisputed light heavyweight champion and pound-for-pound number one ranked fighter, has been sidelined from the Octagon since he landed the vacat heavyweight crown back in March of last year with a first round guillotine choke submission win over Ciryl Gane.

As for Aspinall, the Atherton native struck interim spoils back in November at UFC 295 in Madison Square Garden, landing a spectacular first round KO win over surging Russian contender, Sergei Pavlovich. 

And in the time since his victory, British champion, Aspinall has been vocal in his pursuit of a title unification with Jones in the future – once the fan-favorite returns from a pectoral tendon tear injury, and a recent procedure to shave down multiple bone spurs in his elbow.

Jon Jones warned about legacy-ruining decision

Remaining non-committal on a continued fighting future beyond a planned title fight against former two-time gold holder, Stipe Miocic, Jones has been warned against avoiding a title unification bout with Aspinall by his compatriot, Bisping, who claims his legacy will be forever stained.

“If he (Jon Jones) doesn’t fight Tom Aspinall, if he beats Stipe (Miocic), that will forever be the narrative,” Michael Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “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 tru heavyweight that moves like a middleweight, that has ridiculous finishing ability, a heavyweight Georges St-Pierre, a mixed martial arts version of Muhammad Ali.” 

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

Do you believe Jon Jones fights Tom Aspinall in the future?

Michael Bisping claims Brock Lesnar vs. Tom Aspinall at UFC 300 isn’t as ‘Crazy’ as you might think

Tom Aspinall and Brock Lesnar at UFC 300Ex-UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping doesn’t believe Brock Lesnar’s return at UFC 300 is as far-fetched as one might…

Tom Aspinall and Brock Lesnar at UFC 300

Ex-UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping doesn’t believe Brock Lesnar’s return at UFC 300 is as far-fetched as one might think.

With the promotion’s next big milestone event a few short months away, the stage is slowly being set for one of the biggest nights in MMA history. Fight fans already have a slew of exciting matchups to look up to, including the recently announced lightweight title eliminator between Charles Oliveira and rising contender Arman Tsarukyan. But the million-dollar question remains — who will feature in the evening’s main event?

With many of the promotion’s top stars already booked and titleholders like Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev not slated to return until summer, there is a surprising lack of big-money fights to make. However, Bisping believes he has the answer in former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.

UFC CEO Dana White has already debunked rumors of Lesnar’s return at the event, but with both the UFC and the WWE now under the same banner, ‘The Count’ is convinced that fight fans could see ‘The Beast Incarnate’ step back inside the Octagon on April 13.

“UFC 300, will we see Brock Lesnar on there again?” Bisping stated on his YouTube channel in a recent video. “It sounds stupid, because Brock Lesnar is no spring chicken. He’s 46 years old, 46 years old but remember Randy Couture fought into the ripe old age of 47. Fighters have gone longer. Guess what, when there’s millions of dollars on the line, people will come and fight.”

He continued, “People would love to see Brock Lesnar stepping in there once again… He’s only 46, he’s still a draw and people love him. The UFC and the WWE, they’re both owned by the same parent company now. So, I would imagine that the politics and the contractual stuff would be pretty easy waters to navigate. So I can’t see that being a hurdle. But, who would the opponent be?”

Bisping Lobbies For Brock Lesnar vs. Tom Aspinall at UFC 300

But who could Brock Lesnar face in his hypothetical return? Well, Bisping even has the perfect opponent in mind for the WWE Superstar.

“…Call me crazy, call me Tom Aspinall’s number one fanboy, but could you imagine Brock Lesnar vs. Tom Aspinall headlining UFC 300?” Bisping concluded. “… Maybe it’s just wishful thinking. But Tom Aspinall, Brock Lesnar, that would be mental. That is the type of thing I think the UFC are going to do” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Tom Aspinall has been undeniably frustrated with his position as the current interim heavyweight champion. Since winning the title with a stunning 69-second KO of Sergei Pavlovich in November, he has been lobbying for a fight with the division’s undisputed king, Jon Jones. Currently, ‘Bones’ is sidelined while recovering from a pectoral injury, but even when he returns, it won’t be Aspinall he fights.

Instead, Jones will move forward with a previously scheduled scrap against two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic later this year. With Aspinall forced to sit out and wait, a fight against someone like Brock Lesnar could be just what the doctor ordered for one of the UFC’s most exciting heavyweights.

Michael Bisping Delivers Brutally Honest Take on Anthony Smith’s Short-Notice Showdown against Khalil Rountree

Michael Bisping gets brutally honest with Anthony SmithMichael Bisping was brutally honest while looking back on Anthony Smith’s decision to accept a short-notice scrap with rising…

Michael Bisping gets brutally honest with Anthony Smith

Michael Bisping was brutally honest while looking back on Anthony Smith’s decision to accept a short-notice scrap with rising contender Khalil Rountree.

Smith, who regularly appears alongside the former middleweight world champion on the Believe You Me podcast, stepped up on two weeks’ notice to face Rountree as part of a UFC Fight Night event in December. ‘Lionheart’ was stopped in the third round via TKO.

‘The Count’ couldn’t help but question why Smith would have accepted the bout considering the high risk and low reward.

“I’m happy to hear that you still want to fight, but if you want to fight, you’ve got to be a little more meticulous about it, if you don’t mind me saying,” Bisping said on the latest episode of the podcast. “I’ll be honest: I said it when we watched the fight on the live (broadcast), and I didn’t want to go into it because it’s like I was betraying you or whatever. I hated it. I was on a walk – I think it was Thanksgiving day when I got the message – and I found out you were fighting. I hated it.

“I f*cking hated it. I didn’t understand it. You’re a fighter, 100 percent, and you’ve got balls of steel. You’re like, ‘F*ck it, let’s go. I can do this.’ I think with the trend lately of people stepping up on short notice, Tom Aspinall going out there and doing it, and Volkanovski stepping up. All right, he lost. But it’s been kind of a thing, people stepping up on short notice. You only really do that when there’s something worth risking it for. I did it, but that was a title fight. I didn’t understand it because you gained nothing from that” (h/t MMA Junkie).

Michael Bisping Refuses to take anything away from khalil rountree’s performance

Anthony Smith admitted that his pride is what ultimately pushed him into accepting the fight against one of the division’s most destructive knockout artists.

With the loss, ‘Lionheart’ has now dropped three of his last four contests, including back-to-back defeats against Magomed Ankalaev and Johnny Walker. He got back into the win column in August by way of a split decision over Ryan Spann, but the setback against Rountree dropped him to the No. 10 spot in the light heavyweight rankings.

“You’ve just got to be more professional with it, as you say, in between camps with your weight and stuff like that leading up to fights and just making the correct choices,” Bisping added. “I would love to see you fight on a full camp against Khalil – and we can’t take away from Khalil’s performance. He did tremendous. But the purpose of a fight camp is not only to get you in shape, it’s to get you mentally ready, as well.”

Do you agree with Michael Bisping’s assessment?

Conor McGregor warned against middleweight fight with Michael Chandler: ‘That extra weight is going to be an issue’

Conor McGregor warned away from middleweight fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 302 that extra weight is an issueConfirming over the course of the weekend that he is poised for a June return to the Octagon at…

Conor McGregor warned away from middleweight fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 302 that extra weight is an issue

Confirming over the course of the weekend that he is poised for a June return to the Octagon at an earmarked UFC 302 event against Michael Chandler in a stunning middleweight division debut for the duo – Conor McGregor has been warned away from a 185 pound leap by Michael Bisping, who points to an extra weight carry bringing with it some cause for concern.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the UFC, confirmed his return to the Octagon following a three-year hiatus from the sport through injury before the turn of the year, planning a June comeback.

And revealing plans for a June 29. return – McGregor claimed he was slated to fight Kill Cliff FC staple, Chandler at UFC 302 during an early International Fight Week for the organization – as part of a shocking middleweight limit debut for both fighters.

Conor McGregor warned away from 185 pound leap

However, as far as former divisional champion, Bisping is concerned, McGregor should be wary about the prospect of competing at 185 pounds – having initially entered the UFC fighting at the featherweight limit.

“He (Conor McGregor) fought at 145 [pounds], went up to 155 – 185 that is not his optimal weight class,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Granted, he’s fighting another lightweight in Michael Chandler. The problem is though is that, as I say, it’s not your optimal weight class, so they’re going to be carrying more weight. If you’re Conor – and I’m not hating on Conor and I’m really excited for the fight because he’s the most exciting guy because of the energy and the presence and the hype and the performances.”

“Win or lose – and there’s been losses recently, they’re still big moments and the comeback is going to be something special,” Bisping explained. “It really is, but I think with all that extra weight it’s going to be an issue.” 

Who wins in a middleweight fight at UFC 302: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?

Ex-UFC Champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson Reveals the one fight that brought him to tears

Rampage JacksonMMA icon Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson is not a fighter known for showing his emotions, but there was one fight…

Rampage Jackson

MMA icon Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson is not a fighter known for showing his emotions, but there was one fight in particular that brought him to tears.

Interestingly, it wasn’t even one of his own.

Speaking on the JAXXON Podcast, ‘Rampage’ revealed that Michael Bisping’s brutal knockout loss to Dan Henderson at UFC 100 was the first and only time that he had cried during his 20-year career in the fight game.

“I never cried, but me and Bisping, we was like brothers, especially back then,” Jackson revealed on his podcast. “We’re not as close as now because some bullsh*t happened between our managers. Me, [Cheick] Kongo, and Bisping we was all like brothers.

“I never cried when I got knocked out, but when Bisping got knocked out the one time — it was [Dan Henderson] — I cried in the locker room! He got knocked out that bad, I felt really bad. I’m almost ashamed to say it” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Dan Henderson Delivers A knockout That Stands the test of time

Bisping’s second-round knockout loss to ‘Hendo’ is still considered to be one of the UFC’s most vicious KOs of all time.

‘The Count’ earned some redemption seven years later, scoring a unanimous decision victory over Henderson at UFC 204 to retain the middleweight world title, but it did little to erase the memory of the ‘H-Bomb’ that Henderson detonated on Bisping’s chin in the late noughties.

“I felt like, at the time, maybe I didn’t help him good enough in training or something,” Jackson added. “It was something like that, and I just felt bad for him. I remember crying in the locker room like what the f*ck is wrong with me. Why am I crying? I never cry, it’s weird.”