Morning Report: Michael Bisping disappointed UFC 249 was canceled: ‘I was looking forward to it. I’m bored out of my mind’
Michael Bisping at UFC 204 open workouts | Esther Lin/MMAFighting.com
In these times of coronavirus, public opinion differs on how and when sports should return to the normal course of business. In the world of MMA, none have been more adamant about following the advice of the medical experts and sticking to social lockdown than UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping. So, when Dana White finally acquiesced and postponed UFC 249 that was set to take place this weekend, that must have relieved the former middleweight champion, right? Well, not exactly.
Speaking with Submission Radio recently, Bisping revealed that despite his very public stance in favor of listening to the medical experts, he was disappointed when UFC 249 was postponed because, like everyone else right now, he’s bored out of his mind.
“Yeah, I’m gonna sound like a hypocrite here, but no, I wasn’t relieved, I was looking forward to it,” Bisping said. “I’m bored out of my mind, I need something to watch. So, I was looking forward to sitting down with my son and my family and watching a good night of fights.”
Bisping actually commentated UFC Brasilia which was the first UFC event to feel the affects of COVID-19, being held in a closed stadium do to public gathering restrictions placed by the government. It was also the last UFC event to occur, with Dana White having to indefinitely postpone a number of events prior to UFC 249. Since then, fight fans around the world have been desperate for some content and White had been trying to give it to them before ultimately backing down at the request of ESPN. And while Bisping is disappointed about it, he also thinks it may be for the best.
“Obviously when this first kicked off, the virus, when it all started really gathering momentum, over here in the states at least, I flew down to Brazil, to Brasilia, and commentated an event down there with no crowd, you know, and there was nothing too bad,” Bisping said. “But for this one, UFC 249, I think Dana was gonna arrange for testing for everybody. So, they were trying to do it as safe as possible. Anyways, as it turns out, it’s not happening. Probably for the best. But as I say, come on, everyone was looking forward to Khabib versus Tony. At least now hopefully we get to see it, because as we know, it was Tony versus Justin. But with that event being cancelled, I think that hopefully now we’re gonna it booked for a ridiculous sixth time.”
Well, not exactly. Never a man to be deterred, Dana White is planning a stacked UFC 250 card to take place somewhere on May 9, including an interim lightweight title fight between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje. And though Bisping obviously wants to see the Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Tony Ferguson fight, he won’t turn his nose up at the UFC’s planned supercard that includes a bantamweight title fight between Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz as well as a women’s featherweight title fight between Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer.
“Wow. That’s a huge fight card,” Bisping said on his own Believe You Me Podcast. “Three title fights. Was it UFC 217, when I fought Georges St-Pierre, was that the last time they had three title fights on a card? It might be. [Anyway], huge fight card from top to bottom so if that goes ahead on May 9th, number one I hope it does. That should do massive viewing figures.”
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VIDEO STEW
What the Heck - w/ Chase Hooper, Manel Kape, Gerald Meerschaert, and Tyson Chartier.
UFC 249 Timeline.
A history of Jon Jones’ struggles.
10 most emotional retirements in MMA.
Free fights.
Listen Up
Believe You Me. Bisping waxes poetic on a lot, including calling GSP the GOAT.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Pointless.
“Almost There” @perfecting_athletes Thanks Fam For Looking After My Weight Cut -CSO- Time To Recover @SidekickTool # Varsity Mentality pic.twitter.com/3rYUuX0sZy
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) April 17, 2020
Beef all these years later.
On this day six years ago in the main event of the UFC Ultimate Fighter Finale I beat the living crap out of a foul mouthed asshole who is to this day still talking shit. #ufc #tuf #tbt #throwbackthursday pic.twitter.com/khI8L5W5gu
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) April 16, 2020
Thanks Lisa. Very kind of you. Little timmy is just frustrated cos he ain’t relevant, like at all. now now calm down little timmy. https://t.co/shptAFsYFE
— michael (@bisping) April 17, 2020
Inspirational.
Said it since 2010, I’m gonna be the UFC champ. For a skinny runt with not much athletic ability and a lot of passion for MMA that was a BOLD statement and it was often said with conviction
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) April 16, 2020
Never let anyone tell me how to think of myself or who I was. I always knew I was the one. pic.twitter.com/wVouSpuRrz
Staying ready.
I can make weight in a week... just in case y'all need someone... #NewEra pic.twitter.com/QGkJudz1Ma
— Megan Anderson (@MeganA_mma) April 17, 2020
Quarantine hitting some fighters hard in the weight department.
My next fight got be 185 ♂️ ♂️
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 17, 2020
DJ basically calls GSP the GOAT.
https://t.co/YHFVMlh1XS pic.twitter.com/PQN31K358y
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouse) April 16, 2020
Shaq Fu was dope.
After years of studying #shaqfu this means a lot @SHAQ #theresurrection https://t.co/Tjb028vBzs
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) April 16, 2020
NOPE.
RT if you'd be willing to take a shot from @Francis_Ngannou pic.twitter.com/eQsMkBkndT
— UFC (@ufc) April 16, 2020
Lol.
Tony is peaking at the right moments pic.twitter.com/iergvYQO3S
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) April 16, 2020
Mike Beltran is ready for this dangerous times.
Well here it is. Enjoy the laugh and stay safe out there. Nothing wrong with a sense of humor and a laugh at my expense. Gracias pic.twitter.com/StB9pwLEfN
— Mike Beltran (@RefMikeBeltran) April 16, 2020
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
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FINAL THOUGHTS
Thanks for reading and see y’all on Monday.
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