Bisping ready to call time on fight career
CHAMPION REVEALS NEXT TITLE DEFENCE COULD BE HIS LAST
UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping admits he may retire after his fight with mixed martial arts legend Georges St-Pierre later this year.
Bisping defends his belt against St-Pierre at UFC 217 on November 4, with the bout taking place at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Manchester fighter has competed in the UFC for more than a decade, having 27 fights during that time. Now 38, Bisping says the showdown with St-Pierre could be a perfect way for him to end his career.
“Combat sports is filled with fighters who stick around too long, so you’ve got to know when the time is right. I don’t know yet if this will be my last fight but it’s certainly on my mind and getting close,” he told M.E.N. Sport.
“You can’t do it forever, and I’m fortunate to have a lot of stuff going on outside the octagon that I can also do.
“It’s possible it’s my last as I could end my career on a high with a win. I’d potentially like to face the number one contender Robert Whitaker after this but it’s got to make business sense. If the money is right I could do it, but if not I’ll walk off into the sunset after this fight.
“In a perfect world I would beat Georges and then Robert and then retire, but we never know what’s around the corner.”
Bisping heads into the fight with St-Pierre having not fought since he defeated Dan Henderson at the Manchester Arena last October.
A sold-out crowd was in attendance, with the main event between Bisping and Henderson not beginning until 5am to accommodate the PPV audience in the US.
Bisping has great memories of the event in Manchester, and hopes for a similar atmosphere when he fights in New York.
“I live in America now but it doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten my roots. I’ll always remember that event in Manchester last year,” he said.
“The fans were incredible and the atmosphere blew me away. I’m hoping for the same when I fight in New York. I was at the UFC event at Madison Square Garden last year and it was amazing. A lot of people talk about the arena, but until you’re there you don’t appreciate just how incredible it is.
“New York is an iconic city and it certainly feels nice to be headlining a great card with three title fights.”
The other title fights at the event see Cody Garbrandt face TJ Dillashaw for the bantamweight title, while Joanna Jedrzejczyk defends her women’s strawweight belt against Rose Namajunas.
Tickets to UFC 217: Bisping vs. St-Pierre go on general sale today via Ticketmaster.
You can’t do it forever, and I’m fortunate to have a lot of stuff going on outside the octagon Michael Bisping