Michael Bisping’s Eye Injury: All the Details

Michael Bisping is undeniably among MMA’s most well-known personalities, and the former UFC middleweight champion’s career achievements were impressive enough to earn him a spot in the promotion’s Hall of Fame. This article examines Bisping’s career-changing eye injury, the ill-omened fight, and his legacy. 

Michael Bisping’s Eye Injury

Michael Bisping’s career has seen him go through numerous brutal scraps in the octagon, but his fight against Vitor Belfort is one that changed the course of his life forever. During the calamitous fight, Bisping suffered a brutal eye injury that caused his right retina to detach. This caused ‘The Count’ to eventually lose vision in his right eye, and the Englishman was forced to wear a glass eye for the rest of his life. 

The Fight

Michael Bisping faced Vitor Belfort at UFC on FX 7: Belfort vs. Bisping in January 2013 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The middleweight contest was a high-stakes affair for both fighters vying for a title shot against the then-champion Anderson Silva. 

After a back-and-forth first round, Belfort threw a brutal head kick in the second round, dropping Bisping. Belfort then proceeded to barrage the Englishman with some brutal ground-and-pound punches that won him the bout via knockout. While the loss was undoubtedly bad for Michael Bisping, matters got worse when it was later revealed that the head kick had caused the Englishman’s retina to detach. 

The injury went unnoticed by both doctors and Bisping for several months, which ultimately contributed to the seriousness of the injury. Not only did Bisping lose the fight, but it changed him and his career forever. 

Post-Injury Career

Despite having a 20/200 vision, the bare minimum requirement for MMA fighters, Michael Bisping continued his career in MMA. While doctors advised ‘The Count’ to call it a career after his he was legally blind in his left eye, Bisping decided to keep on keeping on.

Michael Bisping not only continued fighting, but he also faced some of his most formidable opponents with one damaged eye. Following the loss to Luke Rockhold in November 2014, Bisping went on the best run of his career. 

After back-to-back wins over C.B. Dolloway and Thales Leites, Bisping faced Anderson Silva in February 2016. ‘The Count’ outstruck the Brazilian MMA legend over five brutal rounds to win a unanimous decision. He went on to beat Luke Rockhold in their rematch to win the middleweight title. 

Legacy

Michael Bisping’s career-changing eye injury and subsequent comeback to become the UFC middleweight champion is undoubtedly one of the greatest stories in MMA. The story of his journey serves as a testament to his unwavering determination to overcome challenges and his resilience in the face of adversity. 

Conclusion

Michael Bisping suffered a gruesome injury that left him with a permanently damaged eye during his fight against Vitor Belfort. Despite being legally blind in one eye, the Englishman demonstrated immense resolve by undergoing a long recovery process before returning to action. He defeated several world-class opponents with one functioning eye and cemented himself as an MMA legend.