Latest news with #Bisping
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Vitor Belfort's UFC Hall of Fame entry raises tricky questions — and for Michael Bisping, complicated feelings
Here's my first thought upon hearing that Vitor Belfort would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer: Wait, he's not already in the Hall of Fame? Right after that, my second thought was: Wonder what Michael Bisping thinks about this. Advertisement That's not sarcasm, just to be clear. It's an honest admission that, more than anyone else, Bisping has a right to feel some type of way about it. That's because back in 2013, when Belfort and Bisping clashed in the headliner of a UFC Fight Night event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Belfort landed a knockout kick that eventually cost Bisping his right eye. The kick was clean. Belfort? Not so much. As we suspected at the time, and later had confirmed in the most hilarious way possible, Belfort was juiced up with synthetic testosterone. We didn't necessarily need lab results to tell us this (though we did eventually get them). All we had to do was look at the action figure physique he'd suddenly sprouted in his mid-30s and then apply some basic math. Belfort, who'd already been busted by one drug test nearly a decade earlier, was far from the only one taking advantage of the MMA world's laissez-faire approach to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) at the time. Chael Sonnen and Dan Henderson had helped stamp 'TRT' into the fight fan vocabulary, claiming they needed the hormonal boost due to their abnormally low testosterone levels. This was absurd, of course, but maybe we were living in an absurd time. Belfort simply took it to the next level by aggressively flunking the eye test while piling up highlight-reel finishes, which played a major role in eventually forcing the state athletic commissions to admit that the whole thing was too ridiculous to continue. Advertisement That's about when TRT was finally effectively ended in MMA, but it was shallow comfort to Bisping. Banning Belfort's supplement of choice didn't restore the vision in his right eye. There was arguably no one more harmed than Bisping by the TRT era in MMA. He fought and lost against at least three known users — Henderson, Sonnen, and Belfort — and suffered devastating knockouts in two of those fights. Since the Belfort loss cost him the most, at least physically, you might think Bisping would have some complicated feelings about enshrining the man in the UFC Hall of Fame. You'd be right about that. But only to a point. 'Was he a massive cheater? Of course,' Bisping told MMA Junkie's Mike Bohn recently. 'Did he take a lot of steroids? Of course. Were there a lot of other people doing that at the same time. Absolutely there was. So I was like, I get it. But then when I thought about it, I lost an eye because of this guy. I'm like, no, he can stick his Hall of Fame up his ass." Bisping then added: "But he does deserve it.' Advertisement This is where it gets tricky, for all the reasons Bisping just outlined. Just going by the official record, you have to admit Belfort had a great career. He burst onto the scene as a teenager in the wild west days of mid-'90s MMA, and was somehow still around — and very much in title contention — by the time the UFC had new ownership and a network television deal in the mid-2010s. Vitor Belfort knocked out Michael Bisping in an infamous 2013 bout in Brazil that ultimately cost Bisping his right eye. (Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) (Josh Hedges via Getty Images) That right there is incredible all on its own. His UFC titles at heavyweight and light heavyweight also look good on paper, though they're arguably a lot less impressive under even the lightest scrutiny than the middleweight run that came later. Really, the only possible justification to keep a guy like Belfort out of the UFC Hall of Fame would be the doping stuff. And if you were doping in one or more of MMA's notorious doping eras (see also: the entire history of PRIDE Fighting Championships), how much can we hold it against you just for doing it less discreetly and more successfully than others? Advertisement Belfort lived many different lives across many different eras of this sport. He also inhabited several different bodies while doing it. You couldn't not notice this. He practically forced us to form some kind of opinion on it, one way or another. Usually fight fans get more forgiving of that stuff the further removed we are from it. While it's happening in the moment, sure, it's cheating and that's bad (especially when it's not your favorite fighter doing it). But give us a decade or so and we'll decide it was actually really fun to watch and we miss it. Bisping's missing eye makes that a little tougher to do in the case of Belfort. Professional fighting is the hurt game, as we know. There's not a doctor anywhere in the world who would tell you it's good for your health, and everyone who steps in the cage knows it comes with risks. Bisping could have easily lost that eye against a clean fighter. But he didn't. Should Belfort still get a place in the UFC Hall of Fame despite all that? I think so. But that doesn't mean we can't feel more than one way about it. And if you're Bisping, I don't think anyone would blame you if you skipped the induction ceremony entirely.
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Michael Bisping reacts as ex-rival who blinded him gets Hall of Fame induction
While the former middleweight champion believes his ex-foe is a 'cheater' - he insists he deserves all the plaudits following his UFC Hall of Fame induction Michael Bisping has stated that his ex-rival, Vitor Belfort, is deserving of his spot in the UFC Hall of Fame. The pair famously fought back in 2013 when the Brazilian fighter blinded Bisping with a head kick that detached his retina. The British fighter underwent surgery and now uses a prosthetic eye. Despite this setback, he went on to have a successful career in the ring, picking up the middleweight title in 2016 after defeating Luke Rockhold. Bisping retired in 2017 following consecutive losses to Georges St-Pierre and Kelvin Gastelum. With a professional record of 30-9, the 'Count' has victories over notable names such as Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, Matt Hamill, Chris Leben and Dan Miller. Belfort's career was not without controversy, as he legally used testosterone-replacement therapy [TRT] throughout his time in the UFC. The former light-heavyweight champion was recently welcomed into the UFC Hall of Fame in recognition of his impressive achievements in the octagon. Upon hearing the news from UFC boss Dana White earlier this month, the 48-year-old was visibly moved and broke down in tears. Bisping still believes his rival is a 'cheat' when reacting to the reward - despite giving him some praise. 'When we were in Des Moines, Paul Felder had a little piece for the (video) package where we speak about the greatness of the people getting inducted into the Hall of Fame. They said, 'We won't ask you Mike, for obvious reasons.' I said, 'You know what? I don't care. I'll do it,'' he told MMA Junkie. He continued by acknowledging the fighter's achievements despite personal grievances: "When you look at it and remove all the emotions from it, the man was the UFC heavyweight champion of the world at 19. He then became the light heavyweight champion. He almost became the middleweight champion. He's the closest thing we've had to a three-weight champion. He added: "I lost an eye because of this guy. He can stick his Hall of Fame up his a**. But he does deserve it. You can't deny what he did inside the octagon. You just can't deny it. If that's not a Hall of Fame career, I don't know what is. Whether you like it or not, he deserves it.' Belfort, known for winning the light-heavyweight championship against Randy Couture in 2004, faced many big names during his MMA career, including Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, Tito Ortiz, Alistair Overeem, Dan Henderson, Luke Rockhold, and Jon Jones. With a professional record of 26-14-1, he retired in 2018 following a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida.
USA Today
26-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michael Bisping has mixed feelings about Vitor Belfort's UFC Hall of Fame induction
Michael Bisping has mixed feelings about Vitor Belfort's UFC Hall of Fame induction Michael Bisping has mixed feelings about Vitor Belfort joining the UFC Hall of Fame. If there's anyone who would have a valid protest to Belfort having his name enshrined in the pioneer wing of the Hall during International Fight Week on June 28, it would be Bisping. The former UFC middleweight champion, who is a member of the Hall himself, received a serious eye injury in his January 2013 loss to Belfort at UFC on FX 7. The repercussions of a kick ultimately led to Bisping completely losing his vision, and now he famously has a prosthetic eye. Injuries are an inherent risk of combat sports, but what makes the situation with Bisping even worse, is that Belfort was competing while being granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), which essentially was a then-legal performance-enhancing drug that was outlawed and banned from the sport in February 2014. Bisping understandably still has issue with Belfort for everything that happened. It makes the legacy of "The Phenom" highly complicated, but if Bisping can remove all emotion, he said Belfort belongs in the UFC Hall of Fame. "When we were in Des Moines, Paul Felder had a little piece for the (video) package where we speak about the greatness of the people getting inducted into the Hall of Fame. They said, 'We won't ask you Mike, for obvious reasons.' I said, 'You know what? I don't care. I'll do it,'" Bisping told MMA Junkie. "When you look at it and remove all the emotions from it, the man was the UFC heavyweight champion of the world at 19. He then became the light heavyweight champion. He almost became the middleweight champion. He's the closest thing we've had to a three-weight champion. "Was he a massive cheater? Of course. Did he take a lot of steroids? Of course. Were there a lot of other people doing that at the same time. Absolutely there was. I get it." During his storied career, Belfort owned UFC gold, won the UFC 12 heavyweight tournament and racked up an all-time UFC record 13 finishes in the first round of his fights. There are other athletes in the UFC Hall of Fame who have accomplished far less than Belfort, and had their own controversies as well. For that reason, Bisping can accept that Belfort, despite his faults, earned his place. "I lost an eye because of this guy," Bisping said. "He can stick his Hall of Fame up his ass. But he does deserve it. You can't deny what he did inside the octagon. You just can't deny it. If that's not a Hall of Fame career, I don't know what is. Whether you like it or not, he deserves it." To hear more from Bisping, check out his complete appearance on "The Bohnfire" podcast with MMA Junkie senior reporter Mike Bohn above.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Zillow CEO sounds alarm on concerning housing market trend
Over the past few years, homebuyers have navigated an increasingly uncertain housing market. Elevated home prices and stubborn mortgage rates have led many Americans to postpone their homeownership plans, hoping for more favorable conditions. Ongoing housing gridlock and broader economic concerns have also muted buyer confidence, with experts predicting a slow-moving spring market. Don't miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet's FREE daily newsletter While housing inventory is finally rising, demand has remained weak, resulting in subdued home sales this year. Growing economic uncertainty and constantly fluctuating mortgage rates have dashed many predictions that 2025 would see a strong housing rebound with renewed buyer demand. Though housing performance for the second half of the year is still unclear, many experts predict it will face the same challenges plaguing the market since 2022. Image source: Bisping/Star Tribune via Getty Images Most Americans began adjusting their spending or financial plans in the wake of blanket reciprocal tariffs announced by the Trump Administration in April. Though many tariffs have been paused, consumers are still wary of making big purchases during an unpredictable time. 24% of Americans cancelled plans to buy a home or purchase a car after widespread tariffs were announced in April. The ripple effect of tariffs on inflation, interest rates, and the labor market are driving the fear that costs will go up across the board for most households. Many housing experts believe the unknown around the economy will play a major role in consumer wariness for the foreseeable future. More on homebuying: The White House will take surprising approach to curb mortgage ratesHousing expert reveals surprising ways to reduce your mortgage rateDave Ramsey predicts major mortgage rate changes are coming soonWarren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway sounds the alarm on the 2025 housing market On the Q1 2025 Zillow earnings call last week, CFO Jeremy Hoffman noted that unpredictable economy will feed into housing market challenges. "I think on the housing market front, it's been challenged for a while," Hoffman said. "We expect it to continue to bounce along the bottom. This has been the environment we have been operating in since 2022. And we expect more of the same in 2025." "Given volatile macro and interest rates expected to remain elevated, we expect housing volumes will likely remain subdued through the remainder of the year," he continued. Homebuyers have noticed diminished buying power over the past few years as home prices rise with inflation and housing costs outpace wage growth. One in four Americans spent over 30% of their income on housing in 2023, making it difficult for renters and buyers to sustain the rising cost of housing. As homeownership becomes increasingly unaffordable, buyers will continue to wait out the market in the hopes that it may turn around. Related: Morgan Stanley predicts major mortgage rate changes are coming soon Still, lower housing sales don't necessarily mean lower housing demand. Zillow CEO Jeremy Waksman also highlighted long-term housing difficulties on the earnings call. "What's keeping transaction volumes down is the folks that have to pull the trigger," he said. "That doesn't mean the demand isn't there. It just means that they're not actually following through and able to buy." "That's the affordability challenge, which is exacerbated by lack of you'll see that in the buy side signals," he explained. "You'll see that in the demand signals and our traffic and other companies that report on buy side demand. Even with the challenges in the outside for their wallet, right, the pent-up desire is still there." Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Miami Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Popular cake chain sells multiple bakeries to make a major move
Nearly every mother or grandmother has a secret recipe passed down for generations. This dish becomes everyone's favorite and is always the star at every family gathering, but it stays within family and friends most of the time. One popular cake chain began as a fun hobby for two Las Vegas moms with excellent baking skills and a dream of opening their own specialty cake shop. The two got together to fuse their secret recipes and made a chocolate Bundt cake with cream cheese frosting that was a big hit. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Their community became enamored with the pair's homemade Bundt cakes, and after realizing how lucrative their creations could be, they took a leap of faith and founded their cake shop in 1997. Related: McDonald's menu adds experimental new items fans will love Although it all began inside a home kitchen, this chain has become the largest specialty cake company nationwide, with nearly 700 locations in over 40 U.S. states and Canada. Image source: Bisping/Star Tribune via Getty Images Nothing Bundt Cakes has sold nine of its company-owned bakeries in San Diego, California, to the private equity firm FS Investors. Although this surprising business move might seem like a concerning development, it's actually the first step in a huge expansion plan and a milestone in the brand's long-term growth strategy. Neither Nothing Bundt Cakes nor FS Investors has disclosed any specifics of the deal. However, they made one shocking revelation that will make the San Diego community very happy. Related: Another fast-food burger chain is quietly closing locations As part of the sale of its bakeries, FS Investors also signed a development agreement to build 16 new bakeries throughout the San Diego area to accelerate the cake chain's expansion. Although 10 states have yet to taste Nothing Bundt Cakes' creations, this major development is another step toward making its cakes available in every state, as the company aims to more than double its units in the next few years. "Our focus at Nothing Bundt Cakes is to accelerate growth and build upon the record that we set of over 100 new bakeries in 2024," said Nothing Bundt Cakes CEO Dolf Berle. "Selling our San Diego company-owned bakeries to FS Investors gives them a platform from which they can build a significant number of new bakeries in this region." In celebration of Mother's Day on May 11, Nothing Bundt Cakes is launching the "Nothing Bundt Moms Mother's Day Sweepstakes." From April 29 through May 12, customers can enter the sweepstakes for the chance to win a $3,000 prize or one of 10 $100 Nothing Bundt Cakes gift cards to gift to their mothers or a special woman in their lives. More Retail News: Iconic fast-food burger chain unveils surprising new locationsBurger King lawsuit over questionable Whopper claim moves forwardAfter closing stores, Walmart makes a big addition However, that's not all. The cake chain has also unveiled its new Mother's Day-themed Bundt Cakes, Bundtinis, and Bundtlet Towers, as well as its seasonal flavor, Lemon Blueberry. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
