Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping is experiencing the harsh aftermath of a career spent in the octagon, revealing the extent of his physical suffering in a candid interview.
“Last year was so bad I honestly didn’t know how I was going to continue living my life. I was in so much pain,” Bisping shared. “I had three surgeries back to back. None of them helped — in fact, all they’ve done is made my condition worse.”
The 45-year-old British mixed martial arts icon, who retired in 2018, detailed a sobering list of injuries and chronic conditions that plague him daily. Despite his cheerful demeanor on his popular podcast and as a UFC commentator, Bisping’s physical reality is grim.
“I’ve got one eye. I’ve got two total knee replacements. I’ve got a torn labrum I need to get operated on. I’ve got a gigantic lump on my wrist — they want to do an operation on that,” he explained.
Bisping’s facial injuries have been particularly problematic. “My nose is destroyed because they took my ribs and rebuilt my nose, but they messed that up, so I can’t breathe through my nose at night,” he said.
The Hall of Famer lost sight in his right eye following a head kick from Vitor Belfort in 2013, yet remarkably continued competing at the highest level, eventually capturing the UFC middleweight championship in 2016 against Luke Rockhold.
The deterioration of his physical health has created mounting challenges that intensify throughout each day. “As the hours go on throughout the day, it gets tougher and tougher,” Bisping admitted.
Despite the severe consequences to his health, Bisping expressed a stoic acceptance of his circumstances: “But I knew what I was signing up for.”
Bisping’s revelations offer a sobering glimpse into the long-term physical costs that many combat sports athletes face after their careers end – a reality often overshadowed by the glory of championship moments and highlight reels.
