In 2019, the honor of being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame was awarded to Michael Bisping, marking him as the first British champion in the history of the organization. This year, Vitor Belfort, a former adversary of Bisping, is set to be included in this prestigious fraternity. This induction will make Belfort the fifth opponent Bisping faced – including Rashad Evans, Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, and Wanderlei Silva – who received such an accolade for their time inside the octagon.
Bisping, known as ‘The Count,’ encountered a significant debilitating injury when he battled Belfort – he suffered a detached retina. During that fight, Belfort had been undergoing testosterone replacement therapy and triumphed over Bisping with a second-round TKO at UFC on FX 7 in 2013. As fate would have it, Bisping later clinched the middleweight championship, but at a severe cost – he lost his eye due to complications spurred by the injury.
Even with the severity of the injury that forever changed his life, Bisping recently discussed his views on Belfort’s impending induction. During a conversation with Mike Bohn on The Bohnfire podcast, Bisping expressed, ‘In a void of emotion, Belfort was the UFC heavyweight champion of the world at 19. He later secured the light heavyweight championship and nearly achieved the middleweight title, making him the closest combatant to a three-weight champion.’
Unveiling deeper thoughts about Belfort, Bisping stated, ‘Was he guilty of cheating on a grand scale? Yes. Was he involved in heavy steroid usage? Undoubtedly. But, were many others during that period also partaking? The answer is resoundingly yes. rationally speaking, I understood.’ However, the sentiment shifts when he reflected on his personal loss inflicted by Belfort, in such cases, Belfort can keep his Hall of Fame honor to himself.’
But despite the bitterness and personal pain, Bisping didn’t deny Belfort’s merit. ‘Even though he cost me an eye, he is worthy of the Hall of Fame recognition. No one can refute his accomplishments inside the octagon. If his record doesn’t warrant Hall of Fame status, then it becomes tough to ascertain what does. Like it or not, he has rightly earned it.’
Even with their intricate past interlaced with animosity, Belfort’s legacy is something Bisping couldn’t ignore. Following the devastating eye injury, ‘The Count’ carried on with his career, battling in the cage for nearly half a decade.
Outside of his own past, Bisping has been known for his unabashed support of Tom Aspinall. In his recent remarks on The Bohnfire podcast, Bisping directed sharp comments towards Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, urging him to either ‘defend or vacate’ his UFC heavyweight title.
‘If Jones refuses to provide Aspinall with an opportunity, he’s forgetting how, as the youngest champion in the sport, he was handed that very chance by others,’ Bisping stated. ‘He frequently mentions how younger fighters will eventually rise, and yet, as the youngest champion himself, he was granted that chance.’
Moreover, the fighter further added, ‘When you snag the championship, you adopt a responsibility to provide the same opportunities to others. So it’s a case of put-up or shut-up.’ While Bisping has been voicing his concerns about the radio silence encompassing the heavyweight championship, Jones has notified that the UFC is well informed about his future course of action.
It seems that Jones, nicknamed ‘Bones,’ is planning a comeback, with the anticipated venue being Madison Square Garden, slated for November. While Bisping may challenge Jones’ actions, it’s clear that Jones has no hesitation in making his intentions known to the UFC. What’s also certain is that despite any personal grievances, Bisping acknowledges the achievements of his past rivals and the future promises of upcoming fighters.
Bisping’s boxing journey is one of perseverance and indomitable spirit, overcoming life-changing injuries to etch his name in UFC history. His story showcases the harsh realities of the sport, the consequences fighters may have to bear, and how their legacy is often more complex than win-loss records.
In conclusion, while the world of UFC is filled with dazzling victories and crushing defeats, it’s also a mirror reflecting personal struggles and triumphs. Stories like Belfort’s and Bisping’s remind us that the journey and the legacy it leaves behind can often be more significant than the destination.