UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has his fair share of detractors.
Ever since he was introduced to the wider world as a brash-mouthed, cocky Brit on the third season of the Ultimate fighter, some fans have loved to hate the Clitheroe native.
After suffering career setback after career setback, the Count finally caught a break and got his first crack against then champion Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 nearly a decade after his promotional debut. Bisping knocked Rockhold out in the opening round in one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport.
However, reaching such dizzying heights has only caused the vitriol from his haters to intensify, especially after he was matched up against retiring legend Dan Henderson for his first title defence rather than one of the divisions top contenders.
His actions last month haven’t exactly gone down well with the fans either.
Michael Bisping is a villain no more; he's a role model, an inspiration, a champion writes @TheJivemaster https://t.co/Q8aCGyi5MS
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 9, 2016
Bisping said he had verbally agreed to fight all-time great Georges St-Pierre at UFC 206, but that fight didn’t materialise after the Canadian couldn’t iron out a contract dispute with the promotion. When that fell through he admitted he would be wiling to take a fight against returning fan-favourite Nick Diaz, but that also never happened.
However, when the opportunity to fight top contender Jacare arose after his scheduled opponent Luke Rockhold withdrew from their UFC Fight Night 101 headliner with an injury, Bisping ruled himself out of the contest citing an orbital injury and the keyboard warriors have been continuing to talk smack about him ever since.
As you would expect from the Count, he couldn’t possibly not react to such abusive messages, so he finally fired back on Instagram on Saturday in what may just be the most devastating put-down of internet trolls ever.
A particular highlight from the statement (see embedded post below) was this stand-out line:
“Find something useful to do, add to the world, be happy and spread love. Oh and in the meantime…. Go fuck yourself.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BMa6WnEhLQW/
Classic Bisping.
Who are the winners of the much-coveted 2016 Wooly Awards? Find out in our GAA Hour Special