No Quarter Given: Michael Bisping suffers brutal 1st round KO, just 3 weeks after losing UFC Middleweight title

in #ufc6 years ago


UFC-Fight-Night-Bisping-v-Gastelum.jpg

Brutal and unforgiving

Three weeks ago, Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping was the UFC Middleweight Champion and looked on the brink of adding another UFC legend in Georges St Pierre (aka ‘GSP') to his list of conquests. Less than a month later, Bisping finds himself dethroned by GSP and on the wrong end of a savage first round KO to the 10th ranked Middleweight Kelvin Gastelum.

Mixed Martial Arts can be a brutal unforgiving Sport.

Bad match

Just three weeks after losing his middleweight title belt to GSP via a third round submission, Bisping answered the UFC SOS to save the UFC Shanghai show after Brazilian legend Anderson Silva popped for PEDs. He was up against the heavy-handed, stylist Kelvin Gastelum.

I was shocked Bisping took the fight against Gastelum. It was not just the short notice. Gastelum was always going to be a bad match-up for Bisping. For all his qualities Bisping doesn’t make his size count in a manner that is going to faze Gastelum. Bisping likes to stand however Gastelum is one of the few middleweights that has better stand-up than Bisping. Gastelum also has better wrestling. Bisping's best hope was to take the fight into the late rounds and test Gastelumn's gas tank. However I'd certainly put Gastelum into the "who-needs-that-guy" camp of potential match-ups with Bisping.


Kelvin_Gastelum.0.0.jpg

Suspension

It was surprising the UFC matched Bisping with Gastelum so soon after Bisping's loss at UFC 217. Even though Bisping was technically choked out by St Pierre, moments before the submission he suffered a heavy knockdown which contributed to his demise.

The measure of Bisping's defeat is evidenced in the list of medical suspensions from UFC 217 which included a 30 day suspension for Michael Bisping. However Bisping fought Gastelum just 21 days after the GSP fight. It’s worth bearing in mind that a medical suspension prohibits sparring, so even though Bisping was fighting 21 days after the loss, he was probably sparring almost as soon as he got the call, a week after defeat.

I understand the Bisping's medical suspension was subsequently reduced to 7 days. However the reason and timing of the reduction remains unclear.

Cutting it fine

I hear people like Daniel Cormier say that what Bisping did was smart. Bisping got two fights for one training camp. This is a fallacy. I think Cormier’s logic makes sense if you win your first fight comfortably and you know beforehand that you have another fight lined up that’s great. You stay in shape and go again. Your first fight acts as a glorified spar for your second fight. Indeed Mike Tyson when he was on the come up took fights weeks after each other.

However not only did Bisping suffer a defeat in a tough title fight (and all the emotional processing that goes with losing your title), he also spent a week convalescing. He was 214 pounds when he agreed to fight Gastelum in 14 days at 185. He had two weeks to lose 29 pounds. That's two depleting weight cuts in the span of a month. It's difficult to say have far off 100% Bisping we saw in Shanghai this weekend.

Respect

I get that Bisping saved the day. The card wasn’t scrapped so every fighter on the bill owes him a debt of gratitude. As do the fans he were treated to a night of fantastic fights. However as much as people like spectacular knock-outs, that was difficult to watch knowing the circumstances.


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I respect Bisping’s fighting spirit. There is no doubt he is a warrior. Every man (and woman) that steps into the Octagon is a bad mofo. You don’t get to the pinnacle of mma without being that. I’m sure plenty have the mentality of ‘anytime and anywhere’.

However there are times where even warriors need protecting from themselves. That’s when fighters need a level head in their corner, that they respect, that can pull them to the side and save them from themselves.

What next for ‘The Count’

I don’t think Bisping is out-for-the-count (pun intended) as far as his career is concerned. There will be a UFC event in London in March next. It would be great to see Bisping end his career on a high in the UK. I personally think the London card is too soon but wouldn’t be surprised to see Bisping feature.

As much as I’d like to see a grudge match between Yoel Romero and Bisping. I hope Bisping is given an easier match-up. Maybe a fight against Lyoto Machida. Who is a name big enough to draw a crowd however his best days are likely behind.

Bisping has given the UFC and UK mma great years of service. I don’t think the defeats of the last few weeks will tarnish Bisping’s legacy. However as he reaches the twilight of his career, I hope he realises that there is one thing greater than legacy in Combat Sport. That is health.

Bisping has had some hard fights. He has suffered what I would consider injustices against fighters subsequently found to be on PEDs. He has many fans and admirers around the world. However fans are fickle. When Bisping does put down his gloves; the fans will move on to another warrior to idolise. The people left to carry the burdens of his decisions will be his family and loved ones. Hopefully that cross will be a light one to bear.

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You are so incredibly accurate with 5his post @nanzo-scoop being a fighter myself it is important to have people around you that can help you make the correct decision, close friends, family, your coach and team and the show itself you fight for,
Fighters naturally have a warriors mind and are stubborn enough to jumped head first it to any battle. So this is were I feel that decision should be taken away from fighters. It's a shame to see this didn't happen in Bispings case.

I was also really surprised to see Bisping take this fight on such short notice. I understand that he was probably fight ready after having put in a lot of training for the GSP fight, but I don't know if his mind and body had fully healed from the defeat. It's amazing how in the UFC one day you can be a king and the next you are way down the ranks again

Forgot this was on, will try to catch it tonight. It was probably a bad decision to take the fight so soon. Not dis-count-ing him getting back to the top though :)

I see what you did there! Hope you're good.

Well written analysis of not just the fight, but the effect of factors preceding the fight, as well as the following consequences of the fight. You also bring up some interesting topics, such as the controversial "Medical Suspensions".
That might make for another good post, delving into the facts, history, and controversy of the suspensions. I'll keep an eye out for it!

Congrats Kelvin! Great!

I was putting my money on Mike tho! Was unhappy to see the fast finish by Kelvin but it is what it is! Hey @nanzo-scoop maybe we c each other at the last fight in England! Hopefully I'll be there!

Thank you for a cool post again, #MMAsteemGod :)

Hopefully, I'm definitely going to try to make it.

I had a 3 fight parlay which would have paid off about 10-1 if Micheal had won! I knew it was a bit of a long shot, but I feel like I really overestimated his chances. No more parlays for me! They never seem to work out.

Bisping is a gatekeeper who lost all fights when faced with a top opponent. His super unwarranted title shot came after beating frikkin Thales Leites by SPLIT decision and then getting his ass knocked out by Anderson Silva. Then the loudmouth delivers the luckiest punch ever since Serra vs GSP and claims himself as the best middleweight ever. Like whaaaaat? Ducks all worthy contenders and defends his title against a FORTY-SIX (yes, 46) years old man. Gets almost knocked out and his face rearranged by said grandpa and retains his title only because the ring side judges were blind and dumb at the same time. After that he gets destroyed by two welterweights, one of them not having fought for four years. Michael 'The Count' Bisping - GOAT!

Lol... That's definitely one way of looking at it. I'd guess many would share your view.

:) I actually respect Bisping a lot and always tune in when he fights. I even wrote an article about him here on steemit just couple of hours before the fight took place. Guy is a warrior and always shows up to do battle.

Like you, I can't believe this fight was allowed to go ahead, or indeed why Bisping would agree to it. I don't particularly like him, but I felt for him on Saturday.

Cg

Great post, Bisping is an absolute warrior for taking this fight so soon. I've heard mixed things about him in person, but you can't doubt his warrior heart, even when he loses he comes back.

nice post mate,bisping still a beast thou.

Kevin is the man, clean and precise. Give him the title shot instead of musty Luke Rockhold. #teamGSP

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