Bisping Refuses to Fight Vitor in London

[Onetrickpony]

By Jed Meshew@JedKMeshew Jan 17, 2018, 8:00am EST

Vitor Belfort was supposed to have his retirement fight at UFC St. Louis. Unfortunately, his planned opponent, Uriah Hall, suffered a bad weight cut and was removed from the card for medical reasons, leaving Belfort without a dance partner. Belfort quickly pivoted, announcing a desire to rematch former middleweight champion Michael Bisping at UFC London in March. Bisping himself has stated a desire to have his retirement fight at that event and a rematch between two future Hall of Famers would seem to make a lot of sense for both fighters, but there’s one problem: Bisping isn’t interested.

Speaking on his Believe You Me podcast recently, Bisping categorically shutdown any talk of him possibly fighting Belfort in his retirement fight.

“I’m not fighting Vitor Belfort in London,” said Bisping. “I’m not fighting Vitor Belfort in London. I am not fighting Vitor Belfort in London. 100 percent, I’m not fighting him. Zero percent chance.”

Bisping and Belfort previously headlined UFC on FX 7, where Belfort knocked out Bisping with a head kick and punches. At the time, Belfort was granted an exemption to use Testosterone Replacement Therapy and the head kick ended up detaching Bisping’s retina from his right eye, two circumstances that Bisping has not forgotten. When explaining why he had no intention of rematching Belfort for his farewell bout, Bisping pointed to this incident as a key reason why.

“I may or may not have one more fight,” explained Bisping. “So here’s the thing. I don’t like Vitor Belfort. People looking at this video are probably saying, ‘Look at his eye, he’s a f**king mess.’ It is part of the reason why I never wanted to do a video podcast before, because my eye is a mess and it was Vitor Belfort that did it and he was roided out of his mind. He’s a known drug cheat. I don’t like the guy. I find him to be a hypocrite. It’s his last fight and he’s probably going to juice like crazy again anyway because who gives a f**k. ‘Oooh, I failed. So what? Retired. Done. Gone.’”

But it’s not just his history with Belfort that has Bisping disinterested in battling the “young dinosaur;” as his career draws to a close, Bisping is mostly concerned with going out in a fashion that he can look back fondly on. “The Count” says he wants his final fight to be a tribute to the fans and not an emotionally charged blood feud that would have people remember him for “being a d**k” instead of for being one of the most successful fighters ever.

“And not just that,” said Bisping. “For me, the main reason is I don’t like the guy and I just don’t want to be associated with him and I know if we were to fight, it would just turn into a typical Michael Bisping performance of trash talk and all this type of thing at the weigh-ins and the press conference and all that stuff. I’d be talking s**t and I don’t want to do that.

continued,

Morning Report: Michael Bisping says no to Vitor Belfort in final bout because ‘I don’t want to be remembered for being a d*ck’

 

[Onetrickpony]

Personally, I think it's a little too late for Mike to start worrying about being remembered as a Dick.

 

[The Big Guy]

He should beat vitors ass and then they both retire

Or bisbing rematch with rashad then both retire

 

[Onetrickpony]

He should beat vitors ass and then they both retire

Or bisbing rematch with rashad then both retire

Rashad has fallen even farther than Belfort and is a shadow of his former self. I would really rather not see Rashad fight ever again.

Even though Belfort is also a shrivelled dad bod version of his former self I still want to see Bisping fight him. There is a lot of history with these two and I cant think of a better last scrap for either. I hope this is a money tactic because his excuse for not fighting him is as flimsy as toilet paper in a rainstorm.

Mike could definitely beat Vitor now. He could avenge the loss he complains the most about, it would be a huge money fight for his retirement and the best send off double retirement the UFC has ever had.

I just don't understand his reasoning at all.

 

[silentsinger]

First I heard that Vitor was granted an exemption for TRT? That's not how I remembered that at all, I thought he just pissed hot.

 

[Onetrickpony]

First I heard that Vitor was granted an exemption for TRT? That's not how I remembered that at all, I thought he just pissed hot.

He had an exemption just like half the rest of the roster at that time. The issue was that your levels are supposed to be at a certain range for your age and Belforts were two and a half times higher than the allowable limit.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Rashad has fallen even farther than Belfort and is a shadow of his former self. I would really rather not see Rashad fight ever again.

Yup when you're a former champ who is now losing to the likes of Dan Kelly and Sam Alvey, it's time to hang up the gloves.

 

[Onetrickpony]

First I heard that Vitor was granted an exemption for TRT? That's not how I remembered that at all, I thought he just pissed hot.

Here's an article about Belforts trt issues if you're interested.

Report: Vitor had elevated T levels before UFC 152

 

[Onetrickpony]

Here's an article I saw yesterday where Vitor is trying to get the fight.

Vitor Belfort tells Michael Bisping to 'stop finding excuses' and accept rematch at UFC London

By Guilherme Cruz@guicruzzz Jan 16, 2018, 6:00pm ESTVitor Belfort is campaigning for his retirement fight to be against Michael Bisping.

The UFC is scheduled to return to London on March 17, and “The Phenom”, who recently had a middleweight bout against Uriah Hall cancelled during the UFC St. Louis official weigh-ins, is now targeting a rematch with “The Count”.

Belfort complained after UFC St. Louis that the UFC wasn’t willing to pay him his show money after the bout fell through, and the Brazilian sees the possibility of fighting in London as “a way to help me with all the camp expenses.”

”Bisping stop finding excuses,” Belfort wrote on his social media on Tuesday. “UFC had offered us Belfort vs. Bisping 2 and I said yes. I will fight you in your country. How about that? Let’s make an amazing show for all the fans around the the world and retire in great fashion.



“Thanks UFC and Dana White for finding a way to help me with all the camp expenses and offering me this great fight. I promise you and all my fans: on March 17th in London you all will see ‘The Phenom’ in the Octagon. I’m leaving it all in there!”

Bisping and Belfort fought for the first time five years ago, headlining UFC on FX 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and “The Phenom” won via second-round knockout. The Brazilian was on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) during that period, which has always been a topic of criticism for Bisping.

continued,

Vitor Belfort tells Michael Bisping to 'stop finding excuses' and accept rematch at UFC London

 

[Pitbull9]

He had an exemption just like half the rest of the roster at that time. The issue was that your levels are supposed to be at a certain range for your age and Belforts were two and a half times higher than the allowable limit.

It is also SO EASY to manipulate your levels that he was 100 percent doing that.

 

[silentsinger]

Here's an article about Belforts trt issues if you're interested.

Report: Vitor had elevated T levels before UFC 152

Thanks, matey. I can't point fingers because I've fucked up on email too but lol at that screw up.

 

[Yossarian]

Not a big Bisping fan here, but I think he's doing the right thing. Vitor will go bezerker trt mode for his last fight, and that Vitor is death in shorts.

 

[silentsinger]

I like that Mike sticks to his guns about fighting juicers, a detached retina's nothing to be sniffed at.

I don't want him fighting Rashad either though. I know Mike took that fight at short notice but it was scary to watch.

 

[Onetrickpony]

I like that Mike sticks to his guns about fighting juicers, a detached retina's nothing to be sniffed at.

I don't want him fighting Rashad either though. I know Mike took that fight at short notice but it was scary to watch.

I detached my retina and have had about 9 surgeries on my left eye. I’ve had the oil in my eye the same as him and don’t understand how he fights with it. If he was to retire now I’d be fine with it but there’s no way he’s going out with his last fight being the Kelvin ko.

I understand his apprehension at Fighting Belfort but ask for increased testing to be put in the contract and get it done. There would be no better swan song than knocking Vitor out before retiring.

 

[silentsinger]

I detached my retina and have had about 9 surgeries on my left eye. I’ve had the oil in my eye the same as him and don’t understand how he fights with it. If he was to retire now I’d be fine with it but there’s no way he’s going out with his last fight being the Kelvin ko.

I understand his apprehension at Fighting Belfort but ask for increased testing to be put in the contract and get it done. There would be no better swan song than knocking Vitor out before retiring.

Ouch, that must be horrible! How did you do that?

I want to see him knock him out too, I honestly don't know enough about advanced testing and contracts to comment about that really.

 

[Onetrickpony]

Ouch, that must be horrible! How did you do that?

I want to see him knock him out too, I honestly don't know enough about advanced testing and contracts to comment about that really.

Boxing. It didn’t hurt when it happened but the surgeries and recovery were the worst time of my life.

 

[Rambo John J]

honestly I think it is a bad idea

Vitor could catch him early and then it would be a real shitty last fight

Mike B put himself in a spot with his big mouth and shit talk.....kinda made a graceful exit impossible

Should have fought the real contenders, cause his belt legacy looks more flukey with each loss

Tough dude....not a fan of his in fight conduct at all

Sucks about his eye

 

[NHBStriker]

Personally, I think it's a little too late for Mike to start worrying about being remembered as a Dick.

I distinctly remember Bisping screaming "There is no Jesus!" at Belfort. I'm not religious, but that is being a Dick.

 

[silentsinger]

I distinctly remember Bisping screaming "There is no Jesus!" at Belfort. I'm not religious, but that is being a Dick.

I'm biased because I'm a fan but it's part of his schtick. If he wasn't like that he'd be earning a lot less.

 

[NHBStriker]

I'm biased because I'm a fan but it's part of his schtick. If he wasn't like that he'd be earning a lot less.

I hear you man. I get it, but I don't like it.

 

[Onetrickpony]

I'm biased because I'm a fan but it's part of his schtick. If he wasn't like that he'd be earning a lot less.

That’s why his ‘remembered as a dick’ excuse doesn’t hold any weight.

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

First I heard that Vitor was granted an exemption for TRT? That's not how I remembered that at all, I thought he just pissed hot.

He's done it all.

 

[Gay For Longo]

Personally, I think it's a little too late for Mike to start worrying about being remembered as a Dick.

One meeting with the guy and you would have the exact opposite opinion man
He probably will be remembered as a dick but from personal experience, one of the nicest fighters I've ever met

 

[Gay For Longo]

Rashad has fallen even farther than Belfort and is a shadow of his former self. I would really rather not see Rashad fight ever again.

Even though Belfort is also a shrivelled dad bod version of his former self I still want to see Bisping fight him. There is a lot of history with these two and I cant think of a better last scrap for either. I hope this is a money tactic because his excuse for not fighting him is as flimsy as toilet paper in a rainstorm.

Mike could definitely beat Vitor now. He could avenge the loss he complains the most about, it would be a huge money fight for his retirement and the best send off double retirement the UFC has ever had.

I just don't understand his reasoning at all.

Honestly I think it's the same deal as ronda/cyborg
Mike has no respect for him and doesn't want Vitor making money with/off him

 

[Gay For Longo]

First I heard that Vitor was granted an exemption for TRT? That's not how I remembered that at all, I thought he just pissed hot.

Nope he was on trt and had an exemption but went batshit crazy with the levels he was doing