Michael Bisping signed off his UFC career in one of the most dramatic as he fought back to claim victory from the jaws of defeat.
The victory in October 2016 marked Bisping’s 20th win in Dana White’s promotion since his debut in 2006.
Bisping claimed the middleweight belt after knocking out Luke Rockhold at UFC 199Getty Images – Getty
It made him the record holder at the time for the most wins in UFC’s history, surpassing the legendary Georges St-Pierre.
Britain’s Bisping was defending his middleweight title for the first time having shockingly knocked out Luke Rockhold four months prior.
Dan Henderson, his opponent, had done the same to him in brutal fashion seven years before the encounter.
The feud between both men stretched nearly ten years and was one of the most historic rivalries in the middleweight division back in the 2010s.
Henderson inflicted huge pain on Bisping with one of the most devastating KO’s in the organisation’s history when the pair clashed in 2009 at UFC 100.
It was the first time the Brit had been knocked out in his UFC career. Henderson was a former PRIDE – Japanese MMA promotion – champion and Bisping was just at the beginning of his career.
But this time it was a different tale and the roof inside the Manchester Arena nearly came flying off when Bruce Buffer announced Bisping as the middleweight champion once again.
An incredible thing about Bisping’s performance was the fact he could only see out of his right eye for the majority of the fight following the damage ‘Hendo’ caused in the very first round.
The even more brilliant aspect of Bisping’s performance was the brutal fact that he became legally blind in his right eye three years before the fight.
After fighting Vitor Belfort in 2013, in which a fight-ending head kick had left Bisping with a detached retina, doctors had continuously told him that he should retire.
Bisping gave it to Henderson with varied combinations that kept his opponent guessingGetty Images – Getty
But the man from Clitheroe, Lancashire, who initially dealt with the issue privately in fear that he wouldn’t be allowed to fight, fought on six surgeries later.
Bisping later confirmed on the Wild Rides podcast that he was clinically blind for his last couple of UFC fights but only ever told his wife the truth.
“At his [Henderson’s] age, he just kicked my a***,” Bisping said in his post-fight octagon interview.
“All the trash talk, you have to respect the legend… I’d just like to thank all the fans. All the support you gave me, it melts my heart. I’m not being cheesy, thanks from the bottom of my heart.
“I know people spoke and said he’s not number one contender but this guy knocked me out cold. Look at my face.”
A 37-year-old Bisping showed off his Union Jack themed mouthguard as the two squared off in the octagon.
Although nine years his elder, Henderson’s overhand right – the ‘H-bomb’ and same one that knocked out Bisping – was one of the most devastating power shots in the UFC.
And it didn’t take long for ‘The Count’ to experience his American counterpart’s knockout power.
Bisping got cracked early with an H-bombLeft-handed world 2
But he came back fightingLeft-handed world 2
Until he got hit with another overhand rightLeft-handed world 2
Bisping responded in the later roundsLeft-handed world 2
And ultimately outperformed his American counterpartLeft-handed world 2
With 38 seconds left in the first round, it was nearly 2009 all over again, as ‘Hendo’ hit Bisping with a beautiful, well-timed, counter right that sent him crashing into the canvas.
The crowd erupted as he followed up with huge elbows on the ground that split open Bisping, but ‘Hendo’ couldn’t finish his opponent as both men found their feet before the end of the round.
It was clear Bisping was damaged when the camera caught his left eye cut open and already swelling before we’d even entered round two.
As the bout progressed, Bisping got more comfortable and continued to increase the volume at which he was throwing kicks that kept his opponent guessing.
However, near the end of round two, ‘Hendo’ cracked the Brit with another H-bomb that sent him back to the floor, but the champion was able to recover on the ground.
Bisping would rock his opponent several times, throwing deadly combinations that Henderson struggled to handle.
Although the more tired of the two, the American kept landing his trademark overhand right, but, thankfully for Bisping, not with the same effect.
The championship rounds then came swiftly around, but the fourth started with ‘Hendo’ gaining a few minutes to regroup after a groin kick from Bisping was delivered slightly too high.
In the final round, the same signs continued and Bisping was the one providing more output in terms of kicking and striking.
Henderson, who was clearly reserving his energy for the more explosive blows, didn’t do enough in the eyes of the judges as Bisping retained his belt.
All three judges scored the contest in favour of Bisping.
Although the scorecards received a mixed reaction, it was fact that Bisping had outstriked Henderson in every round by quite a significant margin bar the first.
Ultimately, it was Bisping’s relentlessness and determination that got him over the line in the end, marking an historic day for the British MMA great, in which Henderson would announce his retirement from the sport.
Bisping would go on to lose his next two fights against St-Pierre and Kelvin Gastelum, which he somehow fought in the space of three weeks.
After having a scare with his good left eye, ‘The Count’ decided to hang up the gloves and pursue a career in the media.
It was announced in March 2019 that the veteran of 40 professional fights during his 13-year career would join the UFC’s Hall of Fame.
Today Bisping calls fights as a commentatorGetty
