Michael Bisping: The Fighter Who Never Gave Up Part 1

Michael Bisping: The Fighter Who Never Gave Up Part 1

By James Lee

“Rockhold has this air of invincibility mentally right now as well… never more confident.” Michael Bisping retreats towards the cage. Bay Area’s own presses with a jab.

“Ohhh he got rocked…. He hurt him bad, and again. Michael Bisping is the new UFC middleweight champion of the world!!!” Left hook Larry prevailed. Swooping over the right shoulder of the champion. Blitzing the button. Turning the dreams of a fighting nation into reality.

“Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. That’s why this is a crazy sport ladies and gentleman, because anything can happen, at any given moment…. And you’re just sitting at home watching this and you go holy shit!”

The voice of Joe Rogan echoed across the fighting world as the 6/1 underdog marvelled gloriously, bathing in the pride of the people surrounding him and those back home after causing a crash in the system of his opponent.

Back home, thousands across the United Kingdom buzzed, whilst weary eyed, as the country’s greatest achievement in the sport drew itself upon them.

“They’re celebrating in England right now baby, that Brit is the best at 185.” The climb had been conquered.

​Michael “The Count” Bisping was born in the Cypriot city of Nicosia in February 1979. His father Jan, of Polish descent, worked on a British military base when Michael was born, helping the British army maintain their illustrious naval and military outposts in Cyprus.

Historically, Cyprus has served the British army well since the Treaty of Establishment was signed in 1960. With thousands of tommies still in the Mediterranean settlement, the fighting spirit of his father and his peers lives on through the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion, despite his actual upbringing taking place in Lancashire.

His town of Clitheroe is located around thirty miles from Manchester which played home to some of his biggest fights, with his first title defence against Dan Henderson standing out especially.

In 1994 and at the growing age of eight, Michael had his first taste of mixed martial arts when he ventured into japanese jiu jitsu, a discipline which has helped him greatly in defending submission attempts against some of the world’s best later on in his career.

Consequently, due to his early start in the sport, Bisping eagerly continued his mixed martial arts journey into the striking element with kickboxing. He excelled early and travelled the country with his father, competing and growing; leading to the title of professional British light heavyweight kickboxing champion being awarded to him whilst at Black Knights kickboxing gym in his late teenage years. He later claimed the same title upon his kickboxing return; attributing to his high skill set.

As his teenage years ended, he was forced towards a more traditional route of earning and stopped competing in kickboxing. Ironically, his real financial gains came through martial arts as he went on to earn millions doing the thing he loves later on in life.

The game lured him back evidently. The urge was too much, especially with the growth of mixed martial arts as a sport throughout the early 2000’s. The avenue for fighting and finance combined had finally been achieved and he wanted in on it.

Bisping’s professional MMA debut came shortly after he began training full time as he took a fight in Newcastle at Pride and Glory 2. His opponent, Steve Matthews, wasn’t quite ready for the storm of the 0-0 professional fighter. He would later find out nobody was on the UK scene. He was just the unlucky one who encountered him first.

“The Count” quickly showed the class difference between the two men, performing like a fighter who had many more professional fights than he had. Bisping picked up a technical knockout victory just 38 seconds into the bout; a nice way to start off a professional career.

Bisping continued on with little hesitation, fighting just one month after his debut. This time in Essex, at the Circus Tavern, in a fight card headlined by Francis Carmont’s fourth professional mixed martial arts bout. In the crowded venue, the bout lasted twelve seconds longer than his first, with Bisping finishing the fight with strikes. His opponent John Weir retiring professionally straight after.

July 10th 2004 saw the first of four professional titles. Cage Rage were building up a name in the UK and with links to Sky Sports, Bisping popularised his name when he defeated Mark Epstein for their light heavyweight title. After another short knockout victory versus Andy Bridges, Bisping met Epstein once again at Cage Rage 9 in Wembley, but again, the power of Bisping prevailed.

On a spring month in 2005, Bisping began to plant the seeds towards a sustained career. He had signed with Cage Warriors, the number one mixed martial arts organisation in Europe, and found himself at the forefront of English prospects.

Cage Warriors are known for delivering the best talent in Europe, sending many fighters across to the UFC including Conor McGregor and Joanna Jedrzejczyk afterwards and his CW run is what ultimately took him to the sport’s biggest organisation.

After two defences of his Cage Warriors light heavyweight championship along with the acquaintance of the FX3 light heavyweight title, Bisping met Ross Pointon, who he would meet again shortly down the line. Bisping beat Pointon convincingly; a fight which would be his last under the Cage Warriors banner.

Now 10-0 and looking for the next challenge, something crossed his path which changed his life forever.

“I don’t know if it’s gunna be me and Ross vs the Americans, I certainly hope not.” The first introduction to the Land of the Free came to Bisping in 2006. After two successful seasons of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), the UFC decided to add two Englishmen to the third series.

Early on, it became clear Bisping was a class ahead of most competitors. After finishing Kristian Rothaermel in the first round, the man from 5000 miles away found himself against a familiar man. After a drop out in the semi finals, Pointon moved up 20lbs to take on Bisping for the second time. Stoke’s own was taken out very forcefully and Bisping moved to the finale; a huge feat and also a night where the promises he kept came true.

The Ultimate Fighter Finale was make or break for Bisping. He knew a win would guarantee a UFC contract, with bigger paychecks and an opportunity for bonuses. Deliver he did. He delivered a brutal beatdown to Josh Haynes and as Bruce Buffer announced his name as the victor, his whole life changed in that Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.