Michael Bisping - A marketing tool for the UFC or a real contender?

Michael Bisping is a British mixed martial arts fighter who entered the UFC Ultimate Fighter 3 competition as an unknown. A few weeks later, he emerged as The Ultimate Fighter 3 Champion. The growing popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA) meant Bisping was catipulted to being an instant celebrity.

As the new Ultimate Fighter Season 3 champion, Bisping was understandably promoted by the UFC as a future star. Whilst all champions of the show are used as marketing tools by the UFC, Bisping was pushed into the limelight more than most. Many have suggested that the reason for this was the UFC's desire to establish itself in the UK. While there are a number of 'superstar' American fighters, Bisping stood alone as the star of British mixed martial arts.

Having started his career well in the octagon, beating the likes of Eric Schafer and Elvis Sinosic, it was his fight with fellow Ultimate Fighter 3 contestant Matt Hamill that left many believing that Bisping received preferential treatment. In what was a very close fight, Bisping was given the decision victory.

It was after this fight that people started to question if Michael Bisping was for real. Many fans felt that the only reason Bisping was awarded the fight was because the UFC were keen to keep Bisping's unbeaten record intact. An unbeaten fighter is certainly easier to market than a beaten fighter.

Bisping's next fight was against Rashad Evans, another highly regarded fighter who like Bisping was unbeaten and a Ultimate Fighter show winner. In another close fight it was Evans this time that received the decision victory. After a fight that could have gone either way, Bisping decided to move down a weight class to the middleweight division.

Having moved down a weight division, Bisping has been extremely impressive in his 3 fights so far. Still people doubt him though. It often seems that people look past his ability and focus on  the fact that the UFC think of him so highly. Bisping has been named as a coach on the upcoming Ultimate Fighter show. On the show, Bisping will coach a number of British fighters who will face off against their American counterparts. The other coach on the show, Dan Henderson, will be Bisping's next opponent.

There are two theories of thought when it comes to Michael Bisping. Some people feel that he is over-rated and that he clearly lost to Matt Hamill. They feel that if he weren't British he wouldn't get the attention he does and he certainly wouldn't be coaching on the Ultimate Fighter show.

Then there are others, including me, who feel that he truly is a world class fighter. His only loss, a controversial loss at that, came to Rashad Evans, a man who is now champion in the weight class above. He has faced some good fighters in the UFC and made them look very ordinary. Fighting at his natural weight has allowed Bisping to really kick on in his MMA career.

In my opinion Bisping is for real. Of course the UFC are keen to use him to market the UFC in Britain, he's a successful British MMA fighter. We will get a good indication of just how good Bisping is when he faces Henderson. Should he win that fight, he will surely finally get the credit he deserves. Even if he loses I don't think it is anything to be ashamed of...Dan Henderson is a great fighter.

In conlcusion..Bisping is both a marketing tool and a real contender. What makes him such a great marketing tool though isn't the fact he's British...it's the fact he's a world class MMA fighter.