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MMA

03rd May 2018

Michael Bisping’s amusing comments about Irish champion sparks confusing back-and-forth

Someone's missed a joke here

Ben Kiely

Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping’s humorous comments about Karl Moore found their mark.

The last man to hold the Cage Warriors light heavyweight strap before Karl Moore was Michael Bisping. ‘The Count’ won the title in his sixth professional fight. He went on to defend it three times before joining the cast of the Ultimate Fighter and kick-starting his UFC career.

11 years after Bisping relinquished the title, Belfast’s Moore won it. His five-round unanimous decision win over Josh Clark in the 3Arena earned the strap. But as Bisping joked on his podcast ‘Believe You Me,’ Moore never beat him, so…

“Well, you never took it off me, Karl. So you’re a punk bitch (laughs). Joking.”

Michael Bisping

Bisping has maintained that he has, at most, one more fight left in him before he retires. He found humour in his co-host’s suggestion that his swansong should be against the Irishman for his old belt. However, he admitted that it was all in jest and he meant no disrespect.

“My retirement fight in Cage Warriors. Yeah, back to where it all started. Back to the good old days... Karl Moore, keep up the good work, by the way.”

Moore heard the podcast and issued a response that suggested he was in on the joke. He needs an opponent for his next defence, so why not take up Bisping on his ‘offer’?

Despite once claiming to Off the Ball that he is ’10 times better than Bisping,’ it’s doubtful that Moore wasn’t in on the joke. Knowing that Bisping is locked into a UFC contract and hearing him chuckle on his podcast, it’s highly unlikely he could have misinterpreted Bisping’s comments as disrespectful.

Cue the Richard Keys, ‘It was just b^nter’ vine.

However, judging by the reply, Bisping seems to think the joke went straight over his head.

Some wires clearly got crossed here.