Last month on November 4 in the main event of UFC 217, Michael Bisping suffered a crushing defeat to Georges St-Pierre losing the middleweight title in the third round.
Just three weeks after being choked unconscious by Georges St-Pierre, Michael Bisping stepped back in the Octagon on short notice to face Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 122 after Anderson Silva, was forced out from the event after failing an out-of-competition drug test administered by the (USADA).
It was a bold move from the Bisping, but unfortunately, the former champ didn’t bounce back to win column at UFC Shanghai and suffered another loss to Gastelum, via first-round KO.
Current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley questions the logic behind Michael Bisping’s decision to make such a quick turnaround against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Shanghai and is even more confused by his management’s decision to stand by him for that bout.
“You know, I never want to tell a fighter what they should do, but you (Michael Bisping) just got choked unconscious three weeks before,” Gastelum told BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor in a recent interview. “You just fought, and headlined, a huge card at the most world-famous arena. It turned out to be the second-best showing in Madison Square Garden’s history. You went out and fought the greatest welterweight of all-time (Georges St-Pierre), I hate to say that, but right now it is true. But you fought him (GSP), got choked out, and then the thing you want to do is go back and fight Kelvin Gastelum in Shanghai on Fight Pass?
“I just don’t feel like that is a very intelligent move. I don’t know who is managing him and who thought that is was a good idea. I mean Kelvin Gastelum is a hard matchup for him. He may have never beat Kelvin Gastelum even with a six-week camp and no brain trauma or concussions. I mean the freshest Michael Bisping possible and he still might not have won.”
Even many members of MMA community questions the promotion, for allowing Michael Bisping to accept the fight so quickly.
Champ Woodley doesn’t believe Bisping accepted the bout due to a lack of money.
“I mean it’s not like Bisping needed the money,” Woodley continued. “The guys constantly on FOX, he does movies here and there and just got a huge payday with Georges. What was the logic in fighting Gastelum. Who weighed the risk and reward? It proved to be a huge risk that he shouldn’t have taken.”
Michael Bisping received a 60-day medical suspension after suffering a bitter loss to Kelvin Gastelum. He is hoping to back in the Octagon by early next year at O2 Arena in London, England and hinting it will be his last fight.
What was your reaction when Michael Bisping quickly accept the bout against Gastelum at UFC Shanghai?
