It's been a big year for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. The events have grown and the fan support has gone from strength to strength. This has allowed the fighters to train in a more professional manner and put in the time to reach the levels required to compete at the top level of this sport.

The UK has always been known for producing tough fighters in all martial sporting events, but now we are seeing truly international levels of competitors coming about.

The new name that has set out to continue putting the UK on the map is the winner of series 3 of the reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter Michael Bisping.

Michael is a tough no nonsense type of fighter who has won over the fans with his down to earth easy going manner. He's all business in the Octagon and is a rising star in the UFC

AO: Let talk about your original martial arts background.

MB: Yes, I started off doing traditional Japanese jujitsu when I was eight years old, I was taught there by a chap called Paul Davis. I did that for a long time when I was a kid, I really loved it. You know, I was obsessed with it to be honest! It was my big thing. I just loved martial arts, but then as I got a little bit older, I did kick boxing a little bit more round about 14 and 15 years old. I started up with professional kick boxing fights and around age 20 I gave it all up to be honest. It was not a conscious decision; it was just kind of happening. I didn't go to a gym one week and one week turned into two weeks, then I met my girlfriend, we had a couple of kids, we bought a house, you know - so it just kind of happened and I wasn't training any more, I had a few years off and then I decided that I wanted to get back into it more to do it properly.

AO: What do you think Martial Arts gave you growing up with it in your life?

MB: Martial Arts has really given me so much you know. I mean I would recommend it to all parents, its great for children to give them confidence. Obviously it brings co-ordination, fitness, discipline, it gives you something to work towards. There is so much there it is hard to pinpoint it down to one thing but you know its rewarding and obviously now I am making a career out of it.

AO: At what point did you make the crossover to mixed martial arts? How did that really start?

MB: Well, you kind of come to a point in your life, you know you ask yourself, where am I going, what am I doing with myself. I was drifting in and out of not particularly great jobs and I thought what am I going to do with myself. I was always good at martial arts. I decided to be a fighter and try and make some money doing that. I was going to be a boxer originally as at the time mixed martial arts was not particularly big, then as it started to get bigger. I met an old coach who said he would help me out a little bit. I trained in mixed martial arts because it seemed much more logical as opposed to being a boxer. I gave up work and I trained full time and well here we are today. It's the best thing I ever did.

AO: What appeals to you about being in the Octagon?

MB: I did it as a career, I did it for the money, although if I won the lottery I would still do this, I love it, absolutely love it, that feeling when you win it's the best feeling on earth, unless you have done it yourself you can't describe it and that's why I do it. I love it!

AO: Your have an unbeaten Pro Record in MMA, is that a pressure for you?

MB: It's a huge pressure, a huge burden to carry. It adds another dimension to everything, you train hard and you are thinking is this going to be the one I lose. It's a big pressure, so you then train so hard for a fight and when you win it seems worthwhile.

AO: Most great fighters have said that it was in loss that they gained the most. That's the biggest test and what gave them extra motivation

MB: Yes, you made a good point; I mean obviously I think it's inevitable that we all get beaten. I try not to get complacent and think well I'm doing really good, I'm doing everything right. I try and strive to better myself all the time and try to improve my techniques and so on, but I think that said even though I do not see my self getting beaten, if it did happen I would get more obsessed even though I still strive to not see that happen. (Laughs)

AO: That's what you always hear from good fighters. What was it like being in the Ultimate Fighter TV show?

MB: It's a big change from being at home! Being in Las Vegas, absolutely crazy you know. As I say a complete contrast to a small town in the north of England. For me it's a real (surreal) experience, which is hard to describe unless you go through it. I never thought I'd be on a reality TV show let alone win the damn thing and it was great you know.

AO: Winning was obviously a high, what was the lows?

MB: Yes winning it was obviously great. The high for me was like getting to train in the US with some great guys I new I would learn a lot of good things that was fantastic. The low point was six weeks spent with 16 horrible sweaty guys who just go on and on endlessly, derogatory comments about each other and so on. It was was terrible, normally I would take a stand on what I was but it was not about me teaching them about what's right for the sport and all that type of thing. It was just horrible. I couldn't wait to get out of that place. (Laughs)

AO: How has your life changed since you have been in the UFC?

MB: Things have changed completely, people know who I am these days. Work for me these days is getting up and training and if it's not doing that it's doing interviews. I mean that's great it's really an honour to do these things. I consider myself very lucky to do this work I never thought I'd ever be in a position to share that you know, obviously I've got a little bit more money in my pocket these days, financially I'm doing better. I'm more secure, so obviously that's good, there is less stress financially, so yeah, a lot has changed. Life for me can't get any better right now, I've never been so happy in my life. When you work like, I used to work; twelve hour shifts then you now do something you like. You have to be happy! If you are not happy with your job then that's a big chunk of your life in which you are not happy. But as I say even if I won the lottery I'd still be doing this now, I'm ridiculously happy! (laughs) 

AO: What's your training like now?

MB:: I'm very lucky you know. I train at the Wolfs Lair where we have all we need under one roof. Top martial training and the fitness and conditioning work that we do is second to none so when I was on the Ultimate Fighter the training was not to hard for me because of the training I was already doing. It got in trouble one time for doing something too quick so they made up some punishing workouts that where ridiculously hard work outs.

AO:You seem very comfortable with the stuff that's going on around you. You seem very easy going, its that your personality, to just get on with it?

MB: I'm feeling happy and I like to be in happy go lucky mode. I'm a relaxed, type of person I am. What I am like, you can either like it or lump it, and I think that has probably what has added to my popularity that I am a real person. I feel very comfortable with all the people around me, that help's.

AO: I was at the Manchester fight. The crowd favourite was you that night. It was like you where the main event!

MB: The crowd was crazy, that was just unbelievable. Manchester is like my hometown and they just went absolutely ballistic which was great. That is something I will always remember, you know, it will always be there, it will always be a high point in my life. UFC 75 in London will be another big fight night for the UK and me.

AO: How do your family feel about it all?

MB:Well it's all paid off. When I was a kid my dad used to drive me up and down the country to various different competitions and to the best places to train, so I have to thank him for that. He always knew I had a talent for it.

My mum and dad have always been very supportive for what I did.   When you decided to do this with two children. You need a very supportive family. My wife and kids are what its all about. It was a big gamble at the time, but now it's paid off.

AO: What would be your dream fight, which would you like to fight?

MB: I'm relaxed about it. This is a question I get asked a lot and I haven't really got anyone that I really particularly want to fight. I just want to fight good guys and progress in the sport.

AO: How do you see yourself in terms of your future in the sport and gaining a title shot with the UFC?

MB:Realistically it's still a long way off, I know that, I'm still working and I don't want to rush it but if you keep winning that's going to happen. Its inevitable, which is great, that's the plan.

Thank you very much for the support, your support is unbelievable. The people of England are just excellent. Its like wow, they want my autograph, why the hell do you want my autograph (laughs). Thank you for that, it's the support of the fans that have made mixed marital arts grow.

AO: Thanks Mike. I'm sure the readers will enjoy hearing from you.

MB: Hey, that's no problem Alan. Its great to have the support of the fans, Thank you all. I hope that I don't disappoint you all.

Alan Orr is a disciple of Robert Chu Sifu and the European representative of the Chu Sau Lei Wing Chun system.

Teacher of Tui Na Chinese Massage Therapy

He is also the European representative for Guro Mark Wiley in the Filipino martial arts and Sensei Eddy Millis of Shark Tank in NHB/Grappling. MMA Fight Coaching.

www.alanorr.com
www.thechinesemedicineacademy.co.uk
www.warriorfunctionaltraining.com

For further information Tel: 07958 908 196 or email: info@alanorr.co.uk

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