Michael 'The Count' Bisping
Biography:
Michael 'The Count' Bisping is Britain's most recognisable and decorated mixed
martial artist and one of the world's premier middleweight contenders. The
31-year-old Lancastrian is the Ultimate Fighting Championship organisation's
longest-standing British competitor, having first rose to prominence as winner
of season three of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF).
In July 2006, Bisping became the first British fighter to compete in and
eventually win the hit reality television show, a triumph which landed 'The
Count' a multi-fight deal with the UFC, the billion-dollar fighting
organisation which is view in 147 countries worldwide, in 17 different
languages and in half a billion homes.
Originally competing at light-heavyweight, Bisping won his first four fights in
the UFC, defeating Josh Haynes, Eric Shafer, Elvis Sinosic and Matt Hamill in
exciting fashion. His 2007 victory over Sinosic at UFC 70 marked the second
time the UFC had held an event in Great Britain and the first time the
organisation had promoted a show in Manchester. Buoyed on by a sold-out home
crowd at Manchester's M.E.N Arena, Bisping's performance that night heralded
the arrival of a new British sporting star, with sports writers noting the
Count's reception blew away that of boxers who had appeared in the 20,000 seat
arena, including the likes of Mike Tyson and Ricky Hatton.
Bisping's tenure as a UFC light-heavyweight ended up being short-lived,
however, as he dropped down the weights in 2008 and began competing in the
UFC's stacked middleweight division. Better than ever before, Bisping cut a
swath through the division, blitzing Charles McCarthy, Jason Day and Chris
Leben in his first three starts. The proud Clitheroe-native became the first
Briton to headline a UFC card at UFC 78, and then repeated the trick at UFC 89
in Birmingham against Leben.
Bisping returned to 'The Ultimate Fighter' in July 2008, this time as coach of
season nine. Leading a team of British mixed martial artists into battle
against American rivals, Bisping proved to be every bit as effective a coach as
he is a fighter, eventually guiding two of his fighters to victory in the
finals in Las Vegas.
As well as punishing opponents inside the UFC's Octagon, Bisping has also won
numerous accolades and awards away from the rigours of battle. The personable
Mancunian won the 'Fighter of the Year' award as voted by Nuts Magazine readers
in 2008, beating fellow fighters Ricky Hatton, Amir Khan and Joe Calzaghe to
claim the prize.
He was also voted 'Coolest Man in the UK' by readers of Zoo magazine, beating
the likes of Daniel Craig, David Beckham and Noel Gallagher.
An international sports star, the Count's likeness can be found in the
best-selling video games UFC Undisputed 2009 and Undisputed 2009, in a series
of collectable action figures by toy giants Jakks, and on posters, t-shirts and
collectable items in such high street stores such as JD Sports, HMV, WH Smiths
and Argo.
Charismatic and articulate, Bisping's fame continued to rise in 2010, as he
bagged appearances in popular British television series Hollyoaks Later, and
also starred in the US action movie Beatdown.
Switching back from fiction to reality, recent middleweight wins over Denis
Kang and Dan Miller have solidified Bisping's standing in the 185-pound pile.
With a UFC Middleweight Title shot now in sight, 'The Count' appears at a
sold-out UFC 120 in London with the entire country behind his assault on the
world middleweight crown. Bisping headlines the all-time fastest-selling UFC
show held on the British Isles when he faces Japanese superstar Yoshihiro
Akiyama at London's sold out 22,000 seater O2 Arena on Saturday, October 16.