MMA Community reacts to Michael Bisping stepping up to fight Kelvin Gastelum

The MMA community has been devastated by a serious of injuries and fight cancellations ever since the conclusion of last weekend’s epic UFC 217 event in New York.

First, former UFC lightweight title holder Frankie Edgar was forced out of his highly anticipated featherweight title fight with current champ Max Holloway at UFC 218.

Shortly following that announcement, news broke that former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz had suffered a broken arm and was forced to pull out of his scheduled UFC 219 scrap with surging contender Jimmie Rivera.

As the old saying goes “when it rains it pours”, and with that the bad news continued for the UFC.

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva was flagged by USADA on Friday for a potential anti-doping violation and was thus removed from his bout with Kelvin Gastelum which was set to headline UFC Shanghai on November 25.

Finally today some positive news began to surface in the world of mixed martial arts.

First, it was announced the Jose Aldo was stepping in to replace Frankie Edgar and square off with Max Holloway for a second time in the main event of UFC 218 in Detroit.

Shortly following that news, Ariel Helwani announced that Michael Bisping, who just competed in the main event of UFC 217, was stepping up on short notice to replace Anderson Silva against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Shanghai.

Here is how the MMA Community reacted to the rather shocking news:

Michael @bisping is a bad ass! Has there ever been another fighter who headlined two UFC events in the same month? Not to mention the two fight venues are on the opposite side of the world from each other. #UFCShanghai

— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) November 12, 2017

WOW! Michael @bisping steps on two weeks notice to fight Kelvin Gastelum in Shanghai! #UFC https://t.co/OwRKngCne1

— BJ Penn (@bjpenndotcom) November 11, 2017

Michael @Bisping is a gangster. From thinking about retiring to taking a fight the same month he lost his title. https://t.co/jsHYfaQDaP

— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) November 11, 2017

Regardless of anyone's opinion of Bisping, he is an absolute legend for the UFC. Huge props to him for stepping up to fight Gastelum.

— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) November 12, 2017

How is Bisping having a less than 1 month turnaround after being rocked and repeatedly elbowed by GSP. Seems irresponsible by everyone involved. https://t.co/t0DJu9qAQu

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) November 11, 2017

3 weeks after his loss to GSP, @Bisping returns vs. @KelvinGastelum in Shanghai!

Is this too soon for Bisping? Can Gastelum get the big win? pic.twitter.com/o6vEUP0udM

— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) November 12, 2017

I've said it before and I'll say it again. There's only one Michael @bisping. Remember the last time he took a fight on two week's notice? #UFCShanghai

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) November 11, 2017

Bisping – Gastelum in China! Fuck yeah!

— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) November 12, 2017

UFC pulls Mark Hunt from his fight for "Fighter Safety" then sends Bisping back in on three weeks rest following his loss at UFC 217.

— Nicole Bosco (@NikBos) November 11, 2017

#Respect to Michael @bisping #UFCShanghai

— Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) November 12, 2017

Bisping stepping in for the Spider in Shanghai to face Gastelum?

You could tell me almost anything right now and I’d believe it after the week we’ve had in MMA.

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) November 11, 2017

Absolute legend @bisping best wishes for #UFCShanghai heeeeeey! @ParilloBoxing @UFCGymCostaMesa

— #CyborgNation (@criscyborg) November 12, 2017

Ya gotta appreciate the badass that is @Bisping. Once again, on very little notice, he's offering to step up and save another UFC card. What a fuckin G!

— Stephie Haynes (@CrooklynMMA) November 12, 2017