What is Michael Bisping's Net Worth?
Michael Bisping is a former English mixed martial artist with a net worth of $9 million. Today, he is renowned as a sports analyst and commentator. He has also ventured into acting, landing a few roles over the years. In his MMA career, he earned a formidable reputation in the UFC, competing in both the Middleweight and Light Heavyweight divisions, and eventually winning the UFC Middleweight championship. Additionally, Bisping found success in the UK’s Cage Rage organization, claiming the Light Heavyweight championship.
Bisping was a pioneering force for British fighters in the UFC. He became the first UK fighter to compete in a UFC main event and the first Brit to win a UFC championship at UFC 199. No other British fighter has matched this feat. His contributions to the sport were recognized in 2019 when he was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Known as "The Count" due to his Polish heritage, Bisping's nickname stems from his grandfather, who was a Polish Count.
Early Life
Michael Gavin Joseph Bisping was born on February 28, 1979, in Nicosia, Cyprus. Raised as a "military brat" by a British Army father, he began training in Jujutsu at the age of eight. The family moved to Clitheroe, Lancashire, where he attended a Roman Catholic school. By age 15, Bisping was competing in Britain’s initial MMA competitions but paused his training at 18.
He briefly halted his martial arts training but resumed a year later, focusing on boxing, kickboxing, and karate. After a brief kickboxing career with notable titles, financial strains forced him to take various jobs, including factory, slaughterhouse, demolition, upholstery, postal service, tiling, and plastering work.
Career
Bisping made his professional MMA debut in 2004, winning at "Pride & Glory: Battle of the Ages." He competed extensively in UK tournaments, establishing a commendable record and capturing the Cage Rage Light Heavyweight championship. By 2005, he was a top MMA fighter in Britain.
In 2006, Bisping competed in "The Ultimate Fighter 3," a UFC reality show, trained by Tito Ortiz. He won the competition by defeating fighters like Ross Pointon, Kristian Rothaermal, and Josh Haynes as a Light Heavyweight.
After "The Ultimate Fighter 3" victory, he entered the UFC as a Light Heavyweight, triumphing over Elvis Sinosic and Matt Hamill. However, he transitioned to the Middleweight division after a loss to Rashad Evans.
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His Middleweight debut saw a win over Charles McCarthy via TKO, followed by victories against Jason Day and Chris Leben. He then coached the ninth season of "The Ultimate Fighter." However, a severe knockout by Dan Henderson temporarily impaired his cognition and memory.
Bisping rebounded by defeating Denis Kang, but lost to Wanderlei Silva. He continued with wins against Dan Miller, Yoshihiro Akiyama, Jorge Rivera, and Jason Miller, but faced setback against Chael Sonnen, among others.
In 2016, when Chris Weidman withdrew from a championship bout against Luke Rockhold, Bisping stepped in on 17 days' notice, winning via first-round knockout and securing the UFC Middleweight championship. This victory was a historic upset in UFC history. After one title defense, he lost the championship to Georges St-Pierre and retired in 2018, citing eyesight issues.
Relationships
Bisping met his wife in Manchester, and the couple has three children. They reside in Orange County, California. Their eldest son is a promising wrestler who competed in NCAA Division II at San Francisco University.
Medical Conditions
After a bout with Victor Belfort left him with a detached retina, Bisping developed strabismus, a condition causing misalignment of the eyes when focusing on objects.
Feud with Victor Belfort
Bisping's animosity towards Victor Belfort stems from the fight causing his detached retina, during which Belfort was on steroids. This loss remains controversial, and Bisping has criticized Belfort, arguing that his career was facilitated by steroid use. Following Belfort’s loss to Lyoto Machida in his 2018 retirement fight, Bisping claimed Belfort's career was tainted by steroids.
