Michael Bisping “crushed inside” after title-loss, discusses possible retirement

Last night, in the main event of the action-packed UFC 217, Michael Bisping attempted to defend the UFC middleweight title against former UFC welterweight king Georges St-Pierre. Unfortunately, this title defense didn’t go the way he planned, as he was put to sleep by a third-round St-Pierre choke.

Shortly after this title loss, Bisping emerged for a brief press conference.

“I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in this sport. I really am,” Bisping told reporters at UFC 217 (via MMAJunkie.com). “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,” he continued. “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.”

“I didn’t win, ultimately that’s why we do it,” Bisping said. “Georges was the better man. I felt good in there. I just got clipped. It’s the way it goes. … Nothing surprised me other than that left hook that dropped me of course. That was a big surprise.”

Bisping also discussed his fighting future, and explained that he doesn’t plan to retire just yet. In fact, he wants to get back in there soon.

“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.”

Who do you want to see Michael Bisping fight next?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/11/2017.