UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has revealed the extent of his physical and mental suffering following years of punishing competition in the Octagon. He listed a series of health issues he continues to deal with, despite retiring from the sport in 2017.
Michael Bisping Opens Up About Lingering Health Issues Post-Retirement
MMA fighters endure both mental and physical tolls with each fight and often continue to experience serious pain from past bouts even years after leaving the Octagon. In many cases, they sustain lifelong injuries.
One such fighter is Michael Bisping, one of the most influential figures in the MMA community, who is widely respected for his resilience and determination in becoming a champion. Following his retirement, Bisping revealed that he fought with only one functional eye, having started to lose vision after his fight with Vitor Belfort in 2013.
Recently, speaking to Mike Bohn of “MMA Junkie,” Bisping shared the list of health issues he endured last year. He revealed that he underwent three surgeries, which only caused more pain and ultimately proved ineffective. The former champion also mentioned that he has lumps on his wrist, and doctors have advised him to undergo surgery.
“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. I had three surgeries back to back. None of them helped — in fact, all they’ve done is made my condition worse. 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.”
One eye, two knee replacements, a ruined nose, and daily pain — Michael Bisping shares the cost of chasing greatness 🥋💔
"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. I had three surgeries back to back. None of… pic.twitter.com/r9lFFveYiY
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
The UFC Hall of Famer revealed that he is dealing with breathing issues due to a severely damaged nose. However, he made it clear that he doesn’t feel sorry for himself and instead embraces his warrior mentality.
“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. As the hours go on throughout the day, it gets tougher and tougher. But I knew what I was signing up for.”
Throughout his career, Bisping faced tough challenges and overcame tremendous adversity. He never backed down from taking fights on short notice. However, his recent remarks highlight the lingering effects of combat sports on an athlete. Following his loss to Kelvin Gastelum in 2017, the former Mmiddleweightchampion retired from the UFC and has since transitioned into a successful role as a UFC commentator.