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      Michael Bisping wanted to join the army and become a boxer like Nigel Benn after prison… but became UFC legend instead

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      MICHAEL BISPING was staring at prison ceiling walls when he mapped out a plan to follow in Nigel Benn’s footsteps by joining the army as a boxer. British legend Benn served four years in the forces after signing up aged 18 to avoid a life of crime.
      Nigel Benn served four years in the forcesCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Michael Bisping with his UFC titleCredit: Getty
      He then turned professional after a successful amateur career in the army and became of of the nation’s most celebrated fighters.
      So when Bisping found himself in a maximum security prison in his early 20s for a bar fight, he looked to Benn for inspiration.
      He told SunSport: “I started thinking, ‘What am I going to do?’
      “I kept coming back to fighting, I tired to join the army to become a professional boxer, to go down the same path as Nigel Benn.
      “But that never happened. Then, slowly and surely I came up with this crazy plan to be a mixed martial artist.”
      Bisping, who competed in kickboxing and jujitsu, was no criminal growing up in Clitheroe, Lancashire, but admitted to getting into one too many scraps on the street.

      One such brawl saw him jailed for a month, all while his wife Rebecca was seven months pregnant.
      It was at that moment, Bisping ‘hit rock bottom’ and realised his life had to change there and then.
      Speaking while on his evening with tour in the UK, he said: “I left school at 16 and I thought I had it all figured out.
      “And then you soon come to find out there’s not much call for uneducated, unqualified 16-year-olds.
      “I soon figured out life wasn’t going anywhere, money was tight, I was broke all the time and I was sick of that.
      “Of course, I was young and I was an idiot, going out and getting into fights and things like that and I’m not proud of that phase in my life.
      Michael Bisping competed in kickboxing and jujitsu growing up
      The future UFC legend, left, aged 21 with his brother Konrad
      “I ended up going to prison, and that was when I hit rock bottom. I was sat in prison and looked around and I was surrounded by the dregs of society.
      “I said to myself, ‘Wow, is this it? Is this what my life has come to? I need to make a change’.”
      Bisping made his MMA debut in 2004 in Newcastle, at a time when the UFC were considering selling with the sport failing to hit the mainstream.
      That was Stateside, meaning the landscape was even worse in Britain.
      Bisping, now 42, remembers: “Those days were the Wild West, it’s certainly come on a long way now.
      “The scene looked a lot different then, now it’s a lot more professional.
      “Sometimes you’d show up at shows in the early days and there would be no doctors, or no ambulance crew or anything like that.
      Michael Bisping made his MMA debut in 2004
      He admits the early days of MMA in the UK were ‘Wild West’
      “The health and safety rules were not exactly adhered too, shall we say. Opponents getting switched out on the day.
      “I’ll be honest, that was part of the appeal, as well, it was fun, it was gritty, it was raw.
      “And we all felt like we were a part of something that was going to explode and be big.”
      Bisping was right, and the sport did explode, thanks in large to the debut of the UFC’s reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter, which first aired in 2005.
      A year later, Bisping was invited to compete in third season and eventually won it, booking his way into the UFC, where he stayed until retirement.
      The middleweight then capped off a rollercoster career in 2016, knocking out rival Luke Rockhold to finally win the UFC title.
      Luke Rockhold was knocked out by Michael Bisping in their rematchCredit: 2016 Zuffa LLC
      Michael Bisping lifts the UFC belt aloftCredit: Zuffa LLC – Getty
      Bisping, who only fought Rockhold on two weeks notice, then made one homecoming defence against Dan Henderson.
      He lost the title to UFC legend Georges St-Pierre in 2017 and retired after his next fight, a loss to Kelvin Gastelum.
      Bisping remains the only British UFC champion and a huge player in catipulting the sport to new heights in the UK.
      It is a far cry from his early underground days, which helped pave the way for the most iconic UFC career in British history.
      Bisping said: “Now, to see where it’s gone since I was involved in the early days, it’s amazing to see and to think I was a little part of that, to help it grow, I am proud of that.
      “I didn’t even know the sport existed, but I was 100 per cent in, there was no back up plan. I stayed the course and it all panned out.” 

      Catch An Evening with Michael Bisping: Tales from the Octagon this October in the UK, tickets from myticket.co.Uk

      Michael Bisping is the greatest British UFC fighter in historyCredit: 2016 Zuffa LLC More

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      Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder 3 weigh-in live stream FREE: How to watch plus what did fighters weigh in last time

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      TYSON FURY and Deontay Wilder finish their epic rivalry this weekend in Las Vegas.The heavyweight superstars fight for a third time. But must first weigh in for the huge clash.

      BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH

      Tyson Fury with trainer SugarHill Steward
      And Fury’s trainer SugarHill Steward says Fury could weigh in 20lbs heavier than he did in the victorious rematch, when he bullied and stopped Wilder in seven rounds in February, 2020.
      Steward said: “It’s not going to be 300 pounds, it’s probably going to be like 290 or something but not 300 exactly.
      “Heavier than last time by 20 pounds or so, why not? The bigger the better, the heavier the stronger.
      “He’s training with that weight, he’s built up. It’s not like he’s just putting on fat, it’s building up muscles. The bigger the better, the heavier the stronger.”
      When is Fury vs Wilder weigh in?

      The weigh in for Fury vs Wilder 3 takes place on Friday, October 8. This is a day before their big fight.
      It will kick off at 10pm BST.
      The MGM Grand in Las Vegas plays host as the fighters hit the scales.

      FURY VS WILDER 3 – FIGHT NIGHT START TIME, STREAM & TV INFO

      How can I watch the Fury vs Wilder weigh in?
      Expect fireworks from the weigh, and you can watch it for FREE.
      BT Sport YouTube channel will be showing all of the action.
      What did they weigh last time?
      Fury weighed in 273lbs (19.5 stone) for the 2020 rematch which he dominated. Wilder weighed in 231lbs (16.5 stone).
      In their first fight in December 2018, the Gypsy King came in at 256.5lbs (18.3 stone), though he had undergone a staggering weight loss. Wilder also came in lighter than in the rematch on 212lbs (15.1 stone).
      Fury weighed 19.5 stone in the rematch
      And he came in at a lighter 18.3 stone in their first fight in 2018 More

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      Fury exposed Wilder as a crude banger and an easy target to hit last time… expect him to pick up where he left off

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      TYSON FURY is expected to start where he left off and batter Deontay Wilder to another humiliating defeat — even if the American enters the ring stark naked.Wilder was stopped in the seventh round after his trainer, Mark Breland, threw in the towel — a merciful gesture that got him the sack — when they last met 20 months ago.
      Tyson Fury will pick up where he left off against Deontay WilderCredit: The Mega Agency
      Fury demolished Wilder in their rematch last FebruaryCredit: Getty
      The Bronze Bomber lost not only his WBC world heavyweight title, but also his unbeaten record and his credibility.
      His ludicrous excuse that his crushing loss was because he tired himself out under the 40lb weight of his bizarre Star Wars ring-walk costume belongs in the ‘dog ate my homework’ category.
      The simple truth is Fury exposed Wilder for what he was — an unskilled, crude banger who was an easy target to hit.
      Tyson was on fire and still fuming at being robbed when their first clash was considered a highly dubious draw 14 months before.
      At last, after two frustrating postponements, they come face to face in what could turn out to be a thrilling and titanic Trilogy in Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. 
      If it’s as good as the two most famous heavyweight trilogies between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and Evander Holyfield v Riddick Bowe, fans who pay £24.95 to see it on TV in the early hours of Sunday won’t be able to claim they didn’t get value for money.

      BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH
      If the Gypsy King can emphatically demolish Wilder as he did before, it could end Deontay’s career.
      But hanging in the air  is the thought that perhaps Wilder under new trainer Malik Scott — his one-time sparring partner — has managed to iron out many of his boxing imperfections so he can gain sweet revenge.
      Remarkably, Fury and Anthony Joshua between them  dominated the heavyweight division for six years.
      How Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder stack up ahead of the trilogy fight
      That is until Joshua’s abject failure against Oleksandr Usyk when he waved goodbye to the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, which may have killed off the £200million fight with Fury at Wembley  forever.
      Joshua seemed to have completely lost his  fighting spirit and like my local petrol pumps, his tactical ideas were running on empty. 
      And the way Joshua was laughing, joking and fist-pumping with his fans as he strode to his downfall made me think he was more suited to star  at The London Palladium than Madison Square Garden.
      Fury enjoys a bit of fun in the build-up to his fights but when it comes to working hours he’s all serious business.

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      He knows any complacency or a single slip in concentration and his crown could be packed in Wilder’s luggage on its way  to Alabama.
      Deontay still carries dynamite in his right fist.
      Scott said proudly: “Deontay’s defence is impeccable right now. But one thing you can never change is his God-given power.”
      CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES ON FURY VS WILDER 3
      Tyson Fury jokingly staggers around and pretends to fall into bin after being asked if he is ready to face Deontay Wilder More

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      Tyson Fury’s promoter rules out Dillian Whyte fight in UK and insists ‘it works better’ with 10,000 Brits in Las Vegas

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      BOB ARUM would rather welcome 10,000 travelling Brits to Las Vegas than promote a fight between Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte on home soil. Fury faces Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout on Saturday night in Sin City, following his rematch win in 2020, after the original ended all square.
      WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury before his trilogy with Deontay WilderCredit: The Mega Agency
      Dillian Whyte is the WBC mandatory challengerCredit: Dave Thompson Matchroom Boxing
      Then, on October 30 Whyte, 33, fights Otto Wallin, with the winner set to be mandatory challenger for the WBC title.
      It means Fury, who needed 47 stitches after beating Wallin in 2019, could be ordered into a massive all-English affair with Whyte.
      But his US promoter Arum fancies doing it in the fight capital of the world rather than the heavyweights’ backyard.
      The legendary promoter told iFL TV: “Yeah, of course in Vegas.
      “The big fights belong here. Sometimes you do it in the UK, but the PPV in the US is robust.
      “The gate – the travel ban will be lifted in November – 10,000 Brits would come over here for the fight.
      “They wanna come to Vegas, and Vegas is made for those kind of tours, so it works better here than any place in the world.”

      BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH
      Fury, 33, has not boxed in Britain since 2018 against Francesco Pianeta which was his tune-up for Wilder, 35.
      And the Gypsy King, who after drawing to the Bronze Bomber signed a deal with Arum’s Top Rank promotion, vowed NEVER to fight at home again.
      He has since adopted America as his training base, and prefers the Stateside crowd.
      But more recently, Fury has opened up to the idea of fighting in front of his home faithful and has the backing of his other promoter Frank Warren.
      Speaking to BBC, Warren said: I think he’ll be back here which will be a great homecoming.
      “If Tyson wins the fight we’ll sit down. There’s a few options there. Usyk would be a massive fight here. The Joshua fight is still a massive fight.
      “Dillian Whyte is a big fight, providing he beats Otto Wallin which isn’t a forgone conclusion. There’s some big fights for him.”
      Tyson Fury says he’d have nutted the c*** if face-off with Deontay Wilder happened at final press conference More

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      Amir Khan fight with Kell Brook hits rocks again as Brit pair can’t agree weight and Eddie Hearn pulls out

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      AMIR KHAN’S all-British dust-up against Kell Brook looks to be in doubt once more as the pair cannot agree on the weight they would fight at.The two former world champions have been skirting around one another for the best part of a decade.
      Khan is keen to have the fight with Brook at the welterweight limitCredit: Getty
      Brook has wanted to fight Khan for several yearsCredit: The Sun
      But they have failed to ever agree terms as egos have got in the way of a British super-fight.
      Now Khan-Brook is not as big as it once would have been, but the British duo are still in talks to make it happen.
      However, Khan has now revealed the latest stumbling block in the negotiations as they bicker over weight limits.
      Khan said: “Kell said he would fight at 147lbs. I agreed. Now Kell wants 149lbs. Then he wants 149.5lbs. Is he even serious about wanting the fight?”
      Khan, an Olympic silver medallist at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, holds a professional record of 34 wins and five defeats.
      The 34-year-old has not fought since July 2019 and not held a world title since he lost his super-lightweight unification to Danny Garcia in 2012.

      Brook was promoted by Hearn for many years but parted ways in recent timesCredit: The Sun
      Khan’s most recent world title challenge came in a sixth round defeat to Terence Crawford two-and-a-half years ago.
      Meanwhile, Brook has a pro record of 39 victories and three defeats, with his last fight coming back in November 2020 when he was also stopped by Crawford.
      The 35-year-old also lost to Gennady Golovkin at middleweight and to Errol Spence Jr at welterweight.
      BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH
      As a result, some feel the time and interest surrounding a fight between Khan and Brook has passed.
      Brook’s former promoter Eddie Hearn, who now works with streaming platform DAZN, told iFL TV: “This fight is a busted flush… neither of them want it anymore, especially Kell.
      “If they can get the money and get you to pay for it, I’m sure people will. But we’re out of that fight.” More

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      Oleksandr Usyk’s space-age kit helped him get the edge over Anthony Joshua to produce out-of-this world performance

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      OLEKSANDR USYK’S spooky space-age kit helped him get the edge over Anthony Joshua and produce an out-of-this world performance, according to its makers.Before the 31-year-old Watford ace worried his fans with a bizarrely relaxed ring walk last Saturday, Usyk, 34, arrived like a laser-focused astronaut with a futuristic helmet helping him ignore the 60,000 AJ fans who booed his Ukraine national anthem and entrance.
      Oleksandr Usyk’s spooky space-age kit
      Oleksandr Usyk walking out at Tottenham’s stadium
      And JAXET, the Ukraine-designers behind the state-of-the-art apparel, have explained to SunSport how their unique fashion-technology blend might have helped their martian-like marvel get the edge.
      The brand’s boss and long-time Usyk friend Artur Mkhitaryan told SunSport: “The first time Oleksandr tried the jacket on, he said he felt as if he was wearing armour, strong yet incredibly comfortable.
      “That’s why we think he felt like a superhero ready for the fight. The lens itself is mirror-coated but does not impair one’s vision.
      “Exactly as we planned, it is meant to draw the line between the inner universe of the person and outer world.
      “So whenever it’s necessary, the lens can help you get a grip and concentrate.
      “We don’t want to comment on Anthony’s entrance, he’s an amazing sportsman and we believe that focus and concentration can come in different forms.
      “But we do hope that for Oleksandr JAXET worked as an additional boost and support to his confidence, especially considering that he was well prepared and put a big effort in getting ready for the fight.”

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      Making high-profile boxing kit is not the easy-earner it once used to be, thanks to heavyweight diva Deontay Wilder.
      The Bronze Bomber blamed the February 2020 battering he suffered at the heavy hands of Tyson Fury on the extravagant and apparently 2st 8lbs costume LA designers Cosmo and Donato generously made for him.
      The twig-legged KO artist said the battery-operated outfit drained all his energy before his Sin City surrender, so JAXET did plenty of research to make sure they gave Usyk the perfect leg up, head to toe.
      “We knew about the (Wilder) story, but we also knew that the unity of style, security and comfort is in the DNA of our brand,” Mkhitaryansaid.
      “So we listened carefully to Oleksandr’s feelings in JAXET and discussed in detail any adjustments needed to make it work best for him.
      “With that in mind, we’ve also created the shorts and shoes upon his request.
      “And we’re extremely proud that he entrusted us with the production of such an essential part of his outfit that bears critical importance due to its functional role.”
      The first time Oleksandr tried the jacket on, he said he felt as if he was wearing armour, strong yet incredibly comfortable. That’s why we think he felt like a superhero ready for the fight.Artur Mkhitaryan, JAXET founder
      Eccentric Usyk landed in London with a shaved head and new moustache, in honour of his Cossack warrior ancestors, and turned up to Thursday’s press conference as Joaquin Phoenix’s terrifying version of Batman villain Joker.
      But social media went most crazy when he made his march through the Tottenham stadium looking like Neil Armstrong and quickly started making giant leaps toward becoming the WBA, IBF and WBO champion.
      And the reflective headgear proved to be a masterstroke as it seemed to help Usyk concentrate on the gameplan that Team AJ seemed to be severely lacking as the 12 rounds slipped away from the Brits’ grasp
      “The lens is our patented invention,” Mkhitaryan added. “It is smartly integrated into the hood so that it’s invisible when pulled up.
      “It protects from UV and the negative environmental impact.
      “All jackets from JAXET include such a lens, and it was fully aligned with Oleksandr`s vision on his Tottenham entrance. Oleksandr has fully trusted us in the development process.
      “We presented the jacket to him during our first meeting and further adjusted it to Oleksandr’s walk to the fight, bearing in mind the specifics of the event.”
      OL BE BACK
      The JAXET phone has been red-hot since their star model wowed on the London canvas.
      But the brand remains eager to rearm Usyk with another suit of armour that will help him do the double of AJ.
      Mkhitaryan revealed: “We have a long-term innovation pipeline and we’re now negotiating new partnerships with other celebrities and influencers.
      “We do receive a lot of inquiries from celebrities and sportsmen now after Oleksandr’s entrance.
      “If Joshua’s up for a rematch, we’d definitely love to think of one more perfect JAXET outfit for Oleksandr’s big fight.”

      UNIFIED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OLEKSANDR USYK IS A PROUD JAXET AMBASSADOR

      Anthony Joshua in his defeat to Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty More

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      Tyson Fury’s promoter brutally dismisses Dillian Whyte’s chances vs Otto Wallin after he is made mandatory challenger

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      TYSON FURY’S promoter Bob Arum does not believe Dillian Whyte will beat Otto Wallin to set up a fight with the WBC heavyweight champion.Providing Fury beats Wilder this weekend and Whyte, 33, comes through Swede Wallin on October 30, the two Brits will be ordered to face one another for the WBC title.
      Whyte has been waiting years for his shot at the WBC titleCredit: Dave Thompson Matchroom Boxing
      Arum does not believe Whyte will beat Wallin and set up a fight with his man FuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The only way Fury would be able to evade Whyte in that scenario is if he could make an undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
      However, Usyk is contracted to a rematch with Anthony Joshua, meaning a clash with Fury is almost certainly off the table.
      This leaves Fury and Whyte on a collision course providing they can both come through their respective opponents.
      But Arum believes Whyte will lose to Wallin and suffer the same fate as last year when he was the WBC mandatory challenger, only to go on and lose to Alexander Povetkin.
      Speaking to iFL TV, Arum said: “Last time he [Whyte] was mandatory, he fought Povetkin and got knocked on his ass.
      “I look for Wallin to clearly beat Whyte, so I’m not even taking it into consideration.”

      Wallin lost a unanimous decision to Fury in 2019Credit: AP:Associated Press
      Whyte has lost two fights in his professional career, to Povetkin in 2020 and Anthony Joshua in 2015.
      The Body Snatcher avenged his loss to Povetkin with a fourth round knockout earlier this year, but is yet to get his own back on AJ.
      He has exchanged words with Fury for some time and last month told SunSport he believes the two-time world heavyweight champion to be a ‘conman’.
      Whyte said: “For God’s sake, don’t get carried away listening to a single thing that conman [Fury] says. His best attribute as a boxer is just getting the public to believe any of his bull****.
      BETTING SPECIAL: GET 30/1 ON FURY OR 50/1 ON WILDER FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CLASH
      “I am the easiest boxer in the world to make a fight with. You call me or my people, offer us the venue, date and purse and we say yes or no. But Fury and his team talk rubbish.
      “They have no interest in ever fighting me, he has been mandated to fight me twice and ducked out of it — the same as he did with the Wladimir Klitschko rematch he swerved.
      “No one wants to see this third Wilder fight. British fans can’t fly over there, it’s going to be on at 5am, so he’s using my name to try to mug fans off again into buying into his b*******. More

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      If Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder is as good as other famous heavyweight trilogies like Ali vs Frazier – £24.95 is a SNIP

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      TYSON FURY is expected to start where he left off and batter Deontay Wilder to another humiliating defeat even if America’s Bronze Bomber enters the ring stark naked tomorrow.Wilder was stopped in the seventh round after his trainer Mark Breland  threw in the towel –  a merciful gesture that got him the sack – when they last met 20 months ago as the American lost his WBC world heavyweight title but also his unbeaten record and his credibility.
      Muhammad Ali came out on top against Joe Frazier in the most famous boxing trilogy of all, avenging a points loss with two winsCredit: Getty
      Tyson Fury is strong favourite to make it two victories over Deontay Wilder, following a draw in their first meetingCredit: Reuters
      His ludicrous excuse that his crushing defeat was because he tired himself out before climbing through the ropes under the 40lb weight of his bizarre Star Wars ring-walk costume belongs in the dog ate my homework category. 
      The simple truth is Fury exposed Wilder for what he was – an unskilled crude banger who was an easy target to hit.
      Tyson was on fire and still fuming at being robbed of victory when their first clash was dubiously ruled as a draw 14 months before.
      At last after two frustrating postponements they come face-to-face in what could turn out to be a thrilling and Titanic Trilogy in Las Vegas’s T-Mobile Arena.
      If it’s as good as the two most famous heavyweight trilogies between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe,  fans who pay £24.95 to see it on TV near breakfast time on Sunday morning won’t be able to claim they didn’t get value for money.
      It’s certainly going to be fascinating to see if the Gypsy King can just as emphatically demolish Wilder as he did before.
      If he does, that could see the end of Deontay’s career.

      But hanging in the air is the thought that perhaps Wilder under new trainer Malik Scott – his one time sparring partner – has managed to iron-out many of his boxing imperfections so he can gain sweet revenge.
      Remarkably Fury and Anthony Joshua between them dominated the heavyweight division for six years.
      That’s until Joshua’s abject failure against Oleksandr Usyk when he waived goodbye to the WBA, IBF and WBO belts which may have killed off the £200 million fight with Fury at Wembley Stadium forever.
      Though it was a fortnight ago I still can’t get over Joshua’s tame capitulation – making the brilliant master craftsman Usyk look even better than he is.
      AJ seemed to have completely lost his fighting spirit and like my local petrol pumps his tactical ideas were running on empty.
      The way Joshua was laughing and joking and fist-pumping with his fans as he strode to his downfall made me think he was more suited to star at the London Palladium than Madison Square Garden.
      Fury enjoys a bit of fun in the build-up to his fights but when it comes to working hours he’s all serious business.
      He knows any complacency or a single slip in concentration and his crown could be packed in Wilder’s luggage on its way back to Alabama.
      Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe produced another great trilogyCredit: AFP – Getty
      Deontay may not have learned much more in recent months in how to execute some of the fine points of the Noble Art but he still carries dynamite in his right fist.
      Scott, who was stopped in six rounds by Derek Chisora, at Wembley eight years ago, said proudly: “One thing no one can ever change about Deontay is the God-given power.”
      We have to presume that Wilder will be far more canny on this occasion and not allow Fury the freedom of his exposed chin. 
      After what happened in February last year Fury – an 4/11 favourite – will have the psychological edge and I won’t be surprised if he produces a repeat performance and finishes Wilder off even quicker.
      Two weeks ago I pointed out Usyk as the challenger was an unusually short-priced 9/4, which could only mean there was a lot of smart money on his back. Wilder also happens to be quoted at 9/4.
      Is that an omen?  If it is, there likely to be a very short British queue to buy tickets for the Usyk-Wilder unification showdown.

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      Tyson Fury jokingly staggers around and pretends to fall into bin after being asked if he is ready to face Deontay Wilder More