Michael Bisping shows why UFC will miss him after agreeing to second fight in three weeks

Michael Bisping entered the Octagon at Madison Square Garden in the main event of UFC 217 a fortnight ago with many in the MMA community wondering aloud if it’d be his last ever fight.

As it turns out, it won’t even be his final fight this month.

In a shocking turn of events, Bisping stepped in to replace drug test-flagged Anderson Silva and face Kelvin Gastelum at UFC’s debut in Shanghai, China. The bout takes place on the 25th, three weeks after the Englishman’s loss of his middleweight title to Georges St-Pierre at MSG.

Bisping had confirmed in the post-217 press conference that he had no intention of allowing his last active moment in the cage to be him passing out to a GSP submission hold. But while the announcement of the company’s next visit to England in March left experts confident that it would be the site of The Count’s last stand, few realised there’d be such a sudden return to combat between the two.

It’s a testament to the work ethic and servitude of a man who even in defeat in New York solidified his status as one of UFC’s legendary names. But it’s also fair to say that regardless of the result in China, all the plaudits for saving the main event are already evolving into talk of the “road to London”, as many look past this bout and speculate over whether Bisping will indeed call it a career at the O2 Arena.

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“I feel great,” Bisping told media at the official Shanghai conference call. “The fight [versus GSP] was a week ago. I spar three times a week. UFC sends me to all the doctors for my medicals. I’m physically, 100% totally fine.”

Despite being put to sleep at The Garden, Michael did indeed emerge for post-show questions with no serious ill-effects and says the UFC’s own checks were mere formalities.

He explained: “I’m cleared medically, but the UFC just wanted to make sure that I’m fine, which I am, and that’s that.

“Kelvin’s a tough guy. I respect him a lot and I’ll focus on the fight. Obviously last week didn’t go my way. Best way to rectify that is to get straight back on the horse, so to speak, and try to get back in the win column.

“Physically I’m totally fine, 100% fine. Mentally, of course I’m a little bit numb so I want to rectify that and exorcise my demons. Best way I do that is to get back in the ring and fight again.”

A combination of MMA’s relative lack of mainstream acceptance in his native Britain and his reputation as one of the game’s biggest smack-talkers mean Bisping isn’t exactly a Mo Farah or Jessica Ennis type of British athlete, showered with universal adoration.

And yet, stepping in to fight in Shanghai so soon after his title loss has, for once, put him on the receiving end of a lot of respect from the entire MMA community.

“It’s kind of hard not to notice it,” Bisping admitted. “There’s been a lot of positive things said and written and of course, I appreciate all of that. It certainly makes a nice change from people talking s***!”

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“I’m doing this for myself. Yes, it’s great. I’m in the UFC with a hard position, but I’m doing this for me. I don’t fight for anybody else. I’m doing it for me and my family, my wife and children.

“Of course, Kelvin needed an opponent. I’d be lying if I said I’m doing this for Kelvin. Again, I’m doing it for me, my wife and kids. So that’s about it really.

“Kelvin’s a tough guy. He’s a great fighter, he’s got excellent boxing, strong dude, good wrestling, in-shape, and always getting better.

“I’m not expecting a walk in the park, far from it. But, this is what we do.

“There’s no easy fights out there. We’re all big, strong alpha-males that trained in martial arts. May the best man win in China.”

One can only imagine that news of Bisping potentially headlining UFC London on March 17 in his final MMA bout will begin to surface once the Gastelum challenge is out of the way. Though that’s the likely scenario win lose or draw in China, it would be great to see Bisping shake off the memories of the loss to GSP before he embarks on the last leg of a remarkable journey.