UFC: Michael Bisping's eye injury causes blow to world title aim
MICHAEL BISPING’S world title ambitions have been dealt a massive blow with an eye injury forcing him out for six months.
That kind of delay, in the swiftly
changing world of the UFC, will badly hamper Bisping’s aim of becoming
Britain’s first-ever world champion.
Lyoto Machida, who had previously said he was moving from light-heavyweight to middleweight, will now fight Munoz.
Bisping
says he is gutted after problems arose with the same eye for which he
had an operation for a detached retina earlier this year.
The
34-year-old said: “I am devastated for everyone who bought tickets to
see me fight Munoz. I am so sorry for the fans, I really am. I am
obviously disappointed for myself, too, but my first thoughts are with
the fans who had made sacrifices to come and see me.
“I can only
apologise to them, and to the UFC. I have been training so hard for this
fight, that I just cannot believe I will not step into the octagon in
Manchester.
“However, I promise my fans I will be back real soon.”
UFC president Dana White said: “We’re going to get Michael the best
treatment possible. Hopefully he’ll be able to get through this thing.”
Munoz’s
new opponent Machida, the former light-heavyweight champ, had been in
training for a contest with Tim Kennedy on November 6.
Munoz said:
“It is kind of a crazy turn because Lyoto and I were planning on
training together soon, but now we are going to fight.
“I didn’t even know Michael Bisping was hurt, and then all of a sudden I’m fighting Lyoto.
“But that is the nature of this game, and you have to be ready for anything and that’s precisely what I am always prepared for.
“Now I’ll make the adjustments in training to make sure I’m ready when I step into that cage.”
Brazilian Machida, 35, opted to drop weight classes following a decision loss Phil Davis at UFC 163 in August.
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