UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping is willing to oblige Eddie Hearn’s debate request but not in a public forum, especially because he believes recent comments were misconstrued.
Hearn lashed out at Bisping in a recent appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show” over comments related to UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and efforts to get back in the octagon after sustaining a serious eye injury in his October no contest with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.
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Bisping also questioned the timing of Hearn signing Aspinall to his agency and if he might’ve had an ulterior motive due to his beef with UFC CEO Dana White. Hearn took issue with Bisping’s comments and proposed a debate about UFC fighter pay.
The former UFC champion turned commentator responded on Monday’s episode of his “Believe You Me” podcast with fellow commentator Paul Felder.
“He wants to have a debate? I’m not having a debate online, but I’m very happy, next time I’m in London, to sit down face to face, man to man, and have a conversation like that. OK, Eddie? Let’s see if he keeps the same energy,” Bisping said. “Eddie Hearn was talking sh*t about me and (about Felder too), really, but he only named me,. He said he wants a debate. He said again he wants a debate. He said the word. ‘I should be ashamed because I don’t want Tom Aspinall to get paid.’
“Why should I be ashamed? I have no idea the money that Tom is getting paid. I’m not a part of that. All I ever said, and I think anyone with half an ounce of intelligence can see it, that Eddie Hearn is muddying the waters with something between him and Dana White and his perceived war and beef that he has with Dana. That’s all I said. I never mentioned a goddamn word about his compensation. I hope Tom Aspinall gets paid sh*t loads. I hope you can go out there and get him a contract for $30 million per fight. It’s no skin off my nose. That’s what I want for all fighters. What the f*ck are you talking about, Eddie? That’s it. I just had to say that. That’s a lie. To say those word, that I should be ashamed – I never said that. I just said it’s a bit weird that he’s not fighting, and Eddie Hearn is now managing him. We all know that.”
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Bisping said he has no regrets about anything he’s said in the past and believes Hearn is misrepresenting his position. Bisping has no problem admitting he is an employee of the UFC and therefore has allegiance to the brand, but when it comes to supporting his fellow fighters, Bisping said that’s not something that should ever come into question.
“It’s absolute horse sh*t what Eddie Hearn is saying. And he wants to have a debate? Eddie, all you little sh*ts out there, I don’t want you to get it twisted: I care about fighters. We care deeply about this sport, and this is why we are commentators. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Michael Bisping: ‘It’s absolute horse sh*t what Eddie Hearn is saying’
