UFC 217 will go down in the history books as one of the most flabbergasting events in MMA history. Never before have three belts switched hands in one night, and all three were lost in shocking fashion. The most dramatic fight was Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre for the middleweight title. Here was Bisping, the winningest fighter in UFC history, full of hubris and absolutely confident that he’d beat GSP after the former welterweight GOAT spent four years away from the sport, unconscious near the end of the third round. Not only did GSP come back successfully, but he got his first finish in a decade. Incrdible.
The back and forth fight looked like it was going in Bisping’s favor after some sharp elbows split open GSP, who was gasping for breath near the middle of the fight, but then a quick right hand stumbled the Englishman before GSP locked in a rear naked choke and put Bisping to sleep. With Bisping saying a win over GSP would make him the greatest of all-time, you would think he’d be devastated. He is.
ANOTHER HOOK THAT SET IT UP!! #UFC217 @GeorgesStPierre pic.twitter.com/sBwgt08n17
— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2017
Bisping spoke to MMAJunkie after UFC 217’s historic card and explained he’s incredibly disappointed, but this isn’t the end of “The Count.”
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in this sport. I really am. You can’t take that away from me. My kids are over there. They just said, ‘I thought you would be more pissed off.’ Of course I’m pissed off. I’m crushed inside. I am. But also at the same time you’ve got to realize what’s important in life. This is what I dedicate my life to. I do it for my children.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done. I’m crushed inside, but life goes on. Every time you fight one man is going to win, and one is going to lose. You can’t cry like a little b*tch. All respect to Georges. Well done. He beat me. I felt fantastic going in there tonight. I thought I would smoke him, and I didn’t, so well done.
Georges was the better man. I felt good in there. I just got clipped. It’s the way it goes. Nothing surprised me other than that left hook that dropped me of course. That was a big surprise.”
Now, when itcomes to Bisping retiring (something he’s mentioned more than once leading up to this fight), it seems like he’s shelving the notion for now. He doesn’t want to go out unconscious. “I don’t need time off. I’m fine,” Bisping said. “I’ve got no injuries whatsoever. I’m not hurt at all. I got a couple of little marks on the face. Maybe March in London. That sounds nice. I don’t want my last time in the octagon to be me getting choked out. So I’ll be back in there at some point.”
So could March be the final fight in what’s sure to be Bisping’s UFC Hall of Fame career?
(Via MMA Junkie)
