Media Bisping briefly considered unretiring, willing to risk his last eye for a proper send off in London

[Pancake Sprawl]

There's LASIK which leaves a corneal flap (but is quicker for returning to normal jobs and has a shorter period of post-surgery sensitivity to light), but there's others like PRK and LASEK that don't leave a flap and are recommended for combat sports. It's not clear which type guys like Oliveira, Gaethje or Gamrot got...articles and randos on social media will just spout out "Gamrot got LASIK" when his tweet only says he got eye surgery and not the specific type. Can't imagine they choose LASIK tbh, since they'll tell whoever they consult that they're an MMA fighter.

i see, so the lasik one is still prohibited in the UFC? i didn't know there were different kinds. i just assumed LASIK was the only one

 

[Fedorgasm]

I doubt he’d get licensed. That’s why he hid being blind in one eye in the first place. Retiring for 5 years doesn’t make it better; it makes it worse.

Guarantee that Rockhold would poke out his own eye if he could get another shot at Bisping.

Then they could argue to the commission that it's a fair fight.

 

[BowserJr]

He should fight Romero, Weidman or Vitor

 

[ThePimblettEra]

Bisping is a real .
I think we can all acknowledge he was never truly the best MW in the world, despite becoming champ.
However, he had the guts and the determination and that never say die attitude, I think we can all admire that too.
Even though he could be a cunt at times.

 

[DarthChen731]

Bipsing vs. Winklejohn

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Glory > Vision

 

[AbominableJoman]

Bisping vs Sharabullet. Cyclops vs cyclops

 

[wolffanghameha]

i see, so the lasik one is still prohibited in the UFC? i didn't know there were different kinds. i just assumed LASIK was the only one

Yeh there's a few kinds. IIRC PRK is the oldest one, then LASIK became popular because it hurts less and is fine for most people's lifestyles. LASEK is a modification of PRK: https://wimpoleeyeclinic.com/lasek-laser-eye-surgery/
I've seen a site claim their version of LASIK is ok for MMA, but I think they're just lying to sell their surgery, since they use Lebron James and Chris Paul (basketballers) as evidence that it's fine for MMA lol.

As far as prohibition goes, it depends on which commission is in charge. In New York LASIK is banned (says so on page 7 of their documentation here - "Combatants who have had Lasik surgery where a lens flap is created are not permitted to compete"), but I read in The Athletic that in California LASIK is allowed.

Same goes for contact lenses - Nevada don't allow them during fights (on this NSAC page there's a link to the ophthalmologic examination form and it says "combatants cannot compete with contact lenses or glasses"), but many other states do allow contact lenses during fights.

Another interesting option out there are ortho-k contact lenses (orthokeratology), which you place on your eye overnight and during that time it temporarily adjusts your eye and gives you corrected vision for a day or so afterwards and I know of one pro boxer in the UK who used it. But there are slight risks while sleeping in the contacts eg an infection risk.

 

[USA!USA!]

he is fit, doing well in his broadcast career, doesn't need the money

makes ZERO sense to come back and potentially get brutalized again

Enjoy your health and wealth, Mike!

 

[Pancake Sprawl]

Yeh there's a few kinds. IIRC PRK is the oldest one, then LASIK became popular because it hurts less and is fine for most people's lifestyles. LASEK is a modification of PRK: https://wimpoleeyeclinic.com/lasek-laser-eye-surgery/
I've seen a site claim their version of LASIK is ok for MMA, but I think they're just lying to sell their surgery, since they use Lebron James and Chris Paul (basketballers) as evidence that it's fine for MMA lol.

As far as prohibition goes, it depends on which commission is in charge. In New York LASIK is banned (says so on page 7 of their documentation here - "Combatants who have had Lasik surgery where a lens flap is created are not permitted to compete"), but I read in The Athletic that in California LASIK is allowed.

Same goes for contact lenses - Nevada don't allow them during fights (on this NSAC page there's a link to the ophthalmologic examination form and it says "combatants cannot compete with contact lenses or glasses"), but many other states do allow contact lenses during fights.

Another interesting option out there are ortho-k contact lenses (orthokeratology), which you place on your eye overnight and during that time it temporarily adjusts your eye and gives you corrected vision for a day or so afterwards and I know of one pro boxer in the UK who used it. But there are slight risks while sleeping in the contacts eg an infection risk.

wow, great informative post. thanks.

 

[austinblair]

Man Michael Bisping is one of my favorites ever. Take my money and let’s watch him beat the shit out of the Chris

 

[MRT]

It’s all cultural though, The Asians love their athletes, KZ’s retirement is probably going to be one of a kind, his opponent in Holloway and the way KZ came in and fought was just the right circumstances. Even not being in Korea he was glorified. I think everyone knew this was his last fight so it was elevated much more.

Look at Glover retiring, he retired to a empty stadium of his countrymen. Brazil embarrass themselves that night.

I have a feeling no American fighter will have that kinda of retirement.

Are we already forgetting Robbie Lawler's last fight??

 

[Uber_Noober]

Run it back just one more time

 

[AmonTobin]

Imagine being permitted to fight with 1 eye. Mike gets blinded mid fight and manages to con the ref and trick a doctor (for the second time) that you’re fine and literally fight blind for the rest of the fight.
My advice would be it’s not worth the risk. But if he insists, just don’t fight Jon Jones.

 

[Eric Silva 2.0]

I don’t think any commission will let a one eyed person fight would they? He really grew on me as a fighter once he started fighting the toughest fights. I respect him for fighting til the final bell vs Anderson. He took a brutal jumping knee and didn’t quit.

They let a guy fight with one shoulder.

 

[AmonTobin]

They let a guy fight with one shoulder.

They let a guy fight with no legs!

 

[NovaJon93]

Would he even be medically cleared given how his well-documented his vision issues are now? If so, I could get behind a send off fight with Weidman or the trilogy with Rockhold.

 

[Kb7]

Are we already forgetting Robbie Lawler's last fight??

Yes, the fight was on the prelims to a little over half filled arena in a anti climatic bout that ended quick, even Lawler himself said he wanted more. I’m sure at home it looked great winning in a KO but it pales in comparison to KZ’s when it comes to the excitement, emotions and the way the crowd glorified him. Look at the background when Lawler is giving his post interview, a lot of people left their seats compared to KZ’s. It doesn’t help Adesanya and Volkanovski stole the show that event so Lawler retirement was barely talked about. It’s all circumstances and cultural, but I really doubt a American MMA fighter will ever have a retirement as exciting & emotional as KZ’s.

Americans don’t even like their own fighters. The last American fighter that was beloved by all fans was Randy Couture & he retired in Canada to a crowd of 55k. & they were more appreciative of Randy than what he would’ve been had he retired in the states.

 

[Deleted member 587672]

One eye vs one leg

 

[HI SCOTT NEWMAN]

Not gonna lie I think Bisping vs Weidman would be fine and would watch. Its the only matchup for either that I'd accept. Plus they never fought each other before