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.

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.

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.