Michael Bisping lost the UFC Middleweight Title to former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre in the main event of UFC 217.
The former champion admits that the loss to the returning GSP has left him feeling crushed inside.
“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in this sport. I really am,” Bisping said at the post-fight press conference. “You can’t take that away from me. My kids are over there. They just said, ‘I thought you would be more pissed off.’ Of course I’m pissed off. I’m crushed inside. I am. But also at the same time you’ve got to realize what’s important in life. This is what I dedicate my life to. I do it for my children. I’m happy with what I’ve done. I’m crushed inside, but life goes on. Every time you fight one man is going to win, and one is going to lose. You can’t cry like a little (expletive). All respect to Georges. Well done. He beat me. I felt fantastic going in there tonight. I thought I would smoke him, and I didn’t, so well done.”
Bisping had once hinted at retirement if he lost his middleweight title, but the fighter has since changed course on those statements.
For his next fight, the former UFC Middleweight Champion wouldn’t mind returning to the Octagon in his native England.
“I don’t need time off,” Bisping said. “I’m fine. I’ve got no injuries whatsoever. I’m not hurt at all. I got a couple of little marks on the face. Maybe March in London. That sounds nice. … I don’t want my last time in the octagon to be me getting choked out. So I’ll be back in there at some point.”
If Bisping does in fact have his next UFC fight in his home country, then he would be competing at UFC Fight Night London this March.
