Yoshihiro Akiyama Net Worth

No other Japanese mixed martial artist has been able to grab as much attention as Yoshihiro Akiyama, who also goes by the nickname Sexyama.

Published

10 months ago

Sep 21, 2023

Dan Western

What is Yoshihiro Akiyama’s net worth?

Net Worth: $4 Million

Age: 48

Born: July 29, 1975

Gender: Male

Height: 1.78 m

Country of Origin: Japan

Source of Wealth: Professional MMA Fighter

Last Updated: Jul 26, 2024

Net Worth:	$4 Million
Age:	48
Born:	July 29, 1975
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.78 m
Country of Origin:	Japan
Source of Wealth:	Professional MMA Fighter
Last Updated:	Jul 26, 2024

Table of Contents

Introduction

Yoshihiro Akiyama is a Japanese mixed martial artist who currently fights part-time as a member of ONE Championship.

Previously, Akiyama was a member of the UFC where he was involved in several memorable fights in multiple weight classes.

As of July 2024, Yoshihiro Akiyama’s net worth is estimated to be $4 Million.

Yoshihiro Akiyama Facts

Akiyama was born in Osaka, Japan, and grew up in the country.
He trained in Judo prior to becoming a mixed martial artist, as well as Gaidojutsu.
From 2001 to 2004, Akiyama was heavily active in Judo competitions, taking part in several international events.
In 2004, Akiyama began his professional MMA career, defeating Francois Botha.
Two years later, he defeated Melvin Manhoef for the HERO Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Championship.

Early Life

Yoshihiro Akiyama, who is also known as Choo Sung-hoon, was born July 29, 1975 in Osaka, Japan, and is of both Japanese and Korean descent.

Akiyama is of Korean descent, with his family assuming Japanese names upon his great-grandfather’s arrival to the country.

Growing up, Akiyama excelled in Judo and started learning several other martial arts including kickboxing, karate, and wrestling.

Using his full set of skills, Akiyama entered into professional MMA, winning his debut match in 2004 against pro boxer Francois Botha.

Career

Yoshihiro Akiyama would lose his second career match, but then went on an undefeated streak that lasted for 14 bouts.

The final match of Akiyama’s win streak came in 2009 when he made his UFC debut, winning via decision over Alan Belcher.

Akiyama then dropped his next four matches, including losses to Vitor Belfort and Jake Shields, before defeating Amir Sadollah.

In 2015, Akiyama fought his last UFC match with a loss against Albert Mina, and has since fought part-time with ONE Championship.

Yoshihiro Akiyama’s Career Earnings & Net Worth

Yoshihiro Akiyama was a member of the UFC for over five years where payouts are often disclosed to the public.

Akiyama won just two of his matches with the UFC, but was still able to earn a total of $600,000 thanks in large part to fight bonuses.

He was also able to earn significant money fighting in smaller promotions over the years, and earned several endorsements and modeling jobs.

Due to all of these sources of income, it’s estimated that Yoshihiro Akiyama’s net worth is $3 million.

Personal Life

Since 2009, Yoshihiro Akiyama has been married to Japanese model Shiho Yano, and the couple has a daughter together who was born in 2011.

Akiyama is a well-educated man, has famous friends that include actors in Japan and Korea, and lists Mike Tyson as his biggest professional influence.

Outside of his time in the octagon, Akiyama has gotten into the television business, appearing in both Now, Follow Me and The First Business in the World.

Akiyama is active on social media with an official Twitter account and official Instagram account that is updated regularly.

Awards & Achievements

Yoshihiro Akiyama has been winning awards since before he even got involved in the MMA ranks.

The Japanese mixed martial artist was once a Judoka that enjoyed a lot of success and kept it going in the octagon.

Here are the top awards and achievements that Yoshihiro Akiyama has earned in his career:

Performance of the night against Shinya Aoki in ONE Championship.
Three-time Fight of the Night bonus winner in UFC for his fights against Michael Bisping, Alan Belcher, and Chris Leben.
K-1 HERO Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Champion of the World.
2002 Asian Games Judo 81kg Champion in Busan.
Won the Kodokan Cup Japan Judo Championship (81kg) in 2001.

Now nearing his 50s, Akiyama isn’t likely to win a gold medal or another mixed martial arts championship, but he does have a full trophy case already.

He was able to achieve a lot during his career as a member of Team Cloud and Jackson’s Submission Fighting, and also earned a black belt in Gaidojutsu.

How Does Yoshihiro Akiyama Spend His Money?

While not quite among the richest MMA fighters in the world, he does enjoy some finer fashion as he does modeling part-time.

Akiyama can often be seen with some of the most expensive watches in the world as he shows off for his fans.

This has earned the Japanese mixed martial artist the nickname of Sexyama from his adoring fans on social media around the world.

Other than that, Akiyama pockets much of his money, and once had some of his money stolen from a former manager.

Akiyama had to live well below his means for a time during the prime of his career due to around $1 million being embezzled.

Highlights

When most children were learning how to read and even walk, Yoshihiro Akiyama was setting milestones in Judo.

Akiyama began training in several martial arts in his youth, leading to a prominent professional career as a mixed martial artist.

Here are some of the best highlights of Yoshihiro Akiyama’s career:

Won several Judo awards including All-Japan Industry Judo Singles Champion in 2001.
Represented Japan at the 2003 World Judo Championship at 81 kilograms.
Made his MMA debut in 2004 with a win over Francois Botha.
Lost just one of his first 14 professional matches, defeating Alan Belcher in his UFC debut to give him a 13-1 record.
Defeated Shinya Aoki in 2022 for his 25th career match, giving him his 16th win.

While he’s not a member of the UFC Hall of Fame, Akiyama was instrumental in helping the promotion reach Japan.

Now, combat sports are among the most popular in Japan, with Akiyama being one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts history.

Akiyama has been a pioneer of sorts in the same way that fighters like Ronda Rousey or Brock Lesnar have been.

Favorite Yoshihiro Akiyama Quotes

Due to English not being his first language, there weren’t a lot of extensive interviews during the early part of Yoshihiro Akiyama’s career.

However, Akiyama became more comfortable using a translator and provided some memorable lines over the years.

Here are our favorite quotes from Yoshihiro Akiyama:

” I think that regardless of whether it’s men or women saying so, to be called sexy by anyone is high praise.” – Yoshihiro Akiyama
” I felt my win over Denis Kang was lucky…he is a much more skilled fighter than I am.” – Yoshihiro Akiyama
” I will devote myself from now on so please support me.” – Yoshihiro Akiyama
” When I was in the hospital, Dana White came personally and told me (my fight) was elected as the fight of the night.” – Yoshihiro Akiyama
” Since you’re doing this, you want to make people admire you, you know?” – Yoshihiro Akiyama

3 Amazing Lessons From Yoshihiro Akiyama

While not among the likes of Chuck Liddell or Conor McGregor in terms of the most well-known UFC fighters in the USA, Akiyama was huge in Japan.

He helped to make mixed martial arts much more mainstream and has learned a lot along the way.

Now that you know all about Yoshihiro Akiyama’s net worth, the fourth-generation Japanese fighter has a lot to teach.

Here are some of the best success lessons to learn from Yoshihiro Akiyama:

1. Stay Humble

You won’t find a fighter that shows their opponent as much respect as Yoshihiro Akiyama, and that’s on purpose.

The way that Akiyama was taught from the age of three is to be humble and show respect, which has earned just as much respect coming his way.

There is a lot of etiquette involved in Judo, which Akiyama says is his favorite part about competing.

2. Challenge Yourself

Every time that Yoshihiro Akiyama hit a new milestone, he wanted to see how much further he could go.

That’s what led Akiyama to getting into the World Judo Championships and 2002 Asian Games.

From there, Akiyama pushed himself to try mixed martial arts and became one of the best in the world.

3. Find Your Passion

Yoshihiro Akiyama won many matches and made millions of dollars while fighting, but it didn’t feel like a job.

Akiyama is truly passionate about mixed martial arts, and it’s allowed him to continue fighting into his late 40s like Anderson Silva and Daniel Cormier did.

He says that the sport is about being strong, gentle, and kind, and those values help him to remain passionate during all this time in the octagon.

Summary

Yoshihiro Akiyama accomplished a lot as a Korean-Japanese mixed martial artist and increased the popularity of the sport in his home country.

Though he wouldn’t win a championship during his time in the UFC, he was still a fan favorite and earned a lot of money.

Now that he inches closer to full retirement, Akiyama still has a couple of big paydays before he calls it quits for good.

As of July 2024, Yoshihiro Akiyama’s net worth is estimated to be $4 Million.

What do you think about Yoshihiro Akiyama’s net worth? Leave a comment below.

Khabib Nurmagomedov Net Worth

Published

1 month ago

Jun 25, 2024

Dan Western

What is Khabib Nurmagomedov’s net worth?

Net Worth: $40 Million

Age: 35

Born: September 20, 1988

Country of Origin: Russia

Source of Wealth: Professional MMA Fighter

Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024

Net Worth:	$40 Million
Age:	35
Born:	September 20, 1988
Country of Origin:	Russia
Source of Wealth:	Professional MMA Fighter
Last Updated:	Jul 25, 2024

Table of Contents

Introduction

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a Russian former professional UFC fighter and current MMA coach.

Nurmagomedov retired on his own terms after losing his father, a man who was always in his corner for every one of his fights. Khabib’s professional MMA record remains as 29-0-0, going undefeated throughout his career.

As of July 2024, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s net worth is estimated to be $40 Million.

Early Life

Khabib Abdulmanapovich Nurmagomedov was born on September 20, 1988, in Kizilyurtovsky District in Russia.

He was the second of three children of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, a war veteran and decorated athlete. He had an older brother named Mogamed and a younger sister named Amina.

Upon turning 17, his father began training him in combat sambo. Sometime later, his family shifted to Kyiv, Ukraine, where he continued training.

Career

Khabib Nurmagomedov made his professional MMA debut in September 2008 and, within a month, secured four wins—three in a single day.

In October 2008, he won the inaugural Atrium Cup tournament championship in Moscow, and over the next three years, he remained undefeated, winning 12 matches.

Khabib marked his M-1 Global debut in 2009 with a thumping victory and signed a six-fight deal with the UFC.

He made his UFC debut on January 20, 2012, defeating Kamal Shalorus via submission, and on July 7, he defeated Gleison Tibau via unanimous decision.

Khabib trained at the American Kickboxing Academy for the first time during his fight against Tibau and, in January 2013, defeated Thiago Tavares via KO.

He set a UFC record for most takedowns in a single fight with 21 takedowns against Abel Trujillo on May 25, 2013.

Sustaining Multiple Injuries

On September 21, 2013, Khabib defeated Pat Healy via unanimous decision and then faced Rafael dos Anjos on April 19, 2014, winning via unanimous decision.

Khabib was scheduled to fight Tony Ferguson multiple times, but the bouts were canceled due to injuries and health issues.

Between 2014 and 2015, Khabib canceled several matches due to knee and other injuries but made a comeback in April 2016, beating Darrell Horcher.

On December 30, 2017, Khabib defeated Edson Barboza at UFC 219, earning him his first-ever Performance of the Night bonus.

He won the UFC Lightweight Championship on April 7, 2018, by defeating Al Iaquinta at UFC 223, proving that he was in top form.

Khabib then made his first title defense on October 6, 2018, against Conor McGregor at UFC 229, defeating McGregor via submission in the fourth round.

Following the McGregor fight, Khabib was involved in a post-fight brawl, leading to suspensions and fines due to his lack of control.

Successfully Defending His Title

Khabib defended his title against Dustin Poirier on September 7, 2019, at UFC 242, winning the fight via submission in the third round.

On October 24, 2020, Khabib defended his title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 254, beating him with a triangle choke in the second round.

After the Gaethje fight, Khabib announced his retirement from MMA with an impressive undefeated record of 29 wins and no losses.

Due to his record and technical ability, Khabib is widely considered one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time.

Khabib was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame on June 30, 2022, joining previous champions like Frankie Edgar, Jose Aldo, and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

His impressive UFC record is ascribed to his background in wrestling, judo, and sambo, as he’s a two-time world champion in combat sambo.

At the time of his retirement, he was ranked #1 in the UFC men’s pound-for-pound rankings, producing results that were the envy of fellow competitors.

Using the money he earned in the UFC, Khabib founded Eagles MMA and promoted the Eagle Fighting Championship after retirement.

Receiving Awards And Accolades

After retiring from active competition, he became a mixed martial arts trainer and cornerman and eventually wholly retired from the sport in 2023.

In 2019, Forbes ranked Khabib as the No. 1 most successful Russian athlete and the top personality under 40 in Russian show business and sports.

Nurmagomedov was made an “Honorary Citizen of Grozny” in October 2018 due to his accomplishments by the mayor of Grozny, Ibrahim Zakriev.

This honor was awarded following his victory against Conor McGregor at UFC 229, precipitating a massive round of gifts from his homeland.

In an interview with Dana White, head of the UFC, he remarked that Vladimir Putin and other leaders showered Khabib with gifts.

Chechnya’s head, Ramzan Kadyrov, presented Khabib with a Mercedes car, which the Akhmad Kadyrov Foundation funded.

His father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, was awarded the title of “Honoured Worker of Physical Culture of the Chechen Republic” by Kadyrov.

In 2019, the Head of the Republic of Dagestan, Vladimir Vasilyev, awarded Khabib and his father the Order For Services to the Republic of Dagestan.

Estimated Net Worth

As of July 2024, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s net worth is $40 Million.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s career:

He is a two-time Combat Sambo World Champion
Khabib currently holds the longest undefeated streak in MMA
International Fighter of the Year (2016)

Favorite Quotes from Khabib Nurmagomedov

“Beginning of the first round, I have to be careful with him because he has good timing, good boxing. But my wrestling and my pressure – he has to kill me to stop me. I’m gonna stop this guy; I’m going to finish this guy. This is my plan.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

“You have to punch hard for knockouts, and to beat me, you have to knock me out.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

“Honestly, this is more than defending my title. For me, it’s personal. Honestly, for me it’s personal. Of course, this is the biggest fight in UFC history, and we’re gonna break this record. For me, it’s personal.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

“Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

“Give me 30 minutes rest, little drink of water. Give me 30 minutes, and I can fight with anybody.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

“I know America is very nice and very good people. I’m a professional athlete.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

“After this fight, I have to fight for the title. UFC thinks Conor has power? Irish people only like 6 million people. I am from Russia. 150 million people. If UFC doesn’t give me the title fight after this fight, I’m going to show how I have power in Russia. I know if I don’t fight for the title next fight, UFC will never, ever go to Russia.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

Summary

Khabib Nurmagomedov is best known for his longest unbeaten record of 29 wins in mixed martial arts.

Currently, he coaches other UFC fighters, including the current Lightweight Champion, Islam Makhachev.

As of July 2024, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s net worth is $40 Million.

What do you think about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s net worth? Leave a comment below.

MMA Fighters

Joanna Jedrzejczyk Net Worth

Published

3 months ago

May 3, 2024

Dan Western

What is Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s net worth?

Net Worth: $4 Million

Age: 36

Born: August 18, 1987

Gender: Female

Height: 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)

Country of Origin: Poland

Source of Wealth: Professional MMA Fighter

Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024

Net Worth:	$4 Million
Age:	36
Born:	August 18, 1987
Gender:	Female
Height:	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Country of Origin:	Poland
Source of Wealth:	Professional MMA Fighter
Last Updated:	Jul 25, 2024

Table of Contents

Introduction

Joanna Jędrzejczyk is a Polish mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the UFC’s women’s flyweight and strawweight divisions.

As of July 2024, Joanna Jedrzejcyk’s net worth is $4 Million.

Early Life

Joanna Jedrezejcyk was born on the 18th of August, 1987, in Olsztyn, Poland.

She is Polish by her nationality and is of mixed European white ethnicity.

She also has a twin sister named Katarzyna Jedrzejczyk and an elder sister named Ewa.

There is no detailed info about her educational life and parents.

Career

Joanna Jedrzejczyk made her professional MMA debut in 2012 at the SFT MMA Fight Night Diva Spa, where she faced Sylwia Juskiewicz.

After winning unanimously, Jedrzejczyk faced Lily Kazak in December 2012 and defeated her with a rear naked choke.

The following year, at the Battle of Moscow, Jedrzejczyk defeated the then-no. 1 Russian WMMA flyweight, Julia Berezikova.

Set up to become one of the richest MMA fighters in the world; Joanna Jedrzejczyk quickly solidified herself as a force to be reckoned with.

Joining The UFC

Joanna Jedrzejczyk officially joined the Ultimate Fighting Championship in July 2014 and debuted as a strawweight.

Her first match was against Juliana Lima, which she won unanimously at UFC on Fox.

Following that, she faced the undefeated top strawweight contender Claudia Gadelha and won by split decision.

However, this victory was criticized as many MMA media outlets had scored the match in favor of Gadelha.

Regardless, Jedrzejczyk kept fighting and, in 2015, faced Carla Esparza for the UFC Strawweight Championship, winning with a TKO in the second round.

This made her the first Polish-born UFC title holder and the first female European champion.

Like Ronda Rousey, Joanna Jedrzejczyk was becoming one of the most well-known names in MMA and UFC.

Defending Her Title

Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s first title defense was against Jessica Penne in June 2015, and she defeated Penne in the third round.

She then defended her title from Valerie Letourneau in November, winning unanimously.

During the fight, Jedrzejczyk was struck by 220 significant strikes, the most in a championship fight, breaking the record set by Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit.

At the start of 2016, Jedrzejczyk became one of the coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 23, opposite her former rival Gadelha.

Jedrzejczyk defended her title twice against Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Jessica Andrade, winning other matches.

However, during her sixth defense, she lost in a massive upset against Rose Namajunas, losing her title and marking her first professional loss.

Making A Return

After losing her title, Joanna Jedrzejczyk lost again against Namajunas in a rematch but bounced back to beat Tecia Torres in 2018.

A few months later, she faced Valentina Shevchenko for the vacant WFC Women’s Flyweight Championship but lost unanimously.

In October 2019, she returned to strawweight to face Michelle Waterson and beat her opponent.

She then got in the ring with Zhang Weili for the Strawweight Championship in March 2020 but lost via split decision.

However, many consider the fight one of the greatest in the history of women’s MMA.

The pair had a rematch soon after, but Jedrzejczyk lost after being knocked out during the second round.

During her post-match interview, Jedrzejczyk announced her retirement from the sport, stating she was ready to move on.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2024 thanks to her incredible career.

Joanna Jedrzejcyk Net Worth

As of July 2024, Joanna Jedrzejcyk’s net worth is $4 Million.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s career:

Women’s MMA Press Awards (Strawweight of the Year, 2014)
Best Fighter of the Half-Year (2015)
Lady Violence Award (2015)

Favorite Quotes from Joanna Jedrzejczyk

“I’m looking forward to. It was my first fight in the flyweight division and right away I had to fight with such a tough opponent, in Valentina, and for the belt.” – Joanna Jedrzejczyk

“I’m happy, I’m proud of myself. I broke Ronda Rousey‘s record of title fights [before] and.. that’s it. I must take some time off.” – Joanna Jedrzejcyk

“[As for a rematch], we will see. There are a lot of other good fighters out there in the flyweight division… I will see. I will take some time and go for my other dream, getting the belt in the strawweight division.” – Joanna Jedrzejcyk

“It was amazing to return home to Poland at UFC Krakow as a champion,” she recalls. “When I first won the belt, I couldn’t believe I had done it. There were a lot of emotions, a lot of tears and I could really feel how much it meant to the people in Poland.”– Joanna Jedrzejcyk

“When you win you don’t expect it to have an impact on so many people. All I really thought about afterward was my family, my boyfriend, and my team – they’re the people I did it for. We did it together.” – Joanna Jedrzejcyk

“I got a lot of attention in Krakow, it was a big night because it was the first time UFC came to the country. I think the event was such a success that they should come back again every year. It doesn’t have to be in Krakow every time either, I think they could do an awesome show in Gdansk too.” – Joanna Jedrzejcyk

3 Strong Lessons from Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Now that you know all about Joanna Jedrejcyk’s net worth and how she achieved success let’s take a look at some of the most substantial lessons we can learn from her:

1. Stay Humble

Because of the two preceding life lessons, you don’t have any reason to brag.

Humility is another virtue that you must learn to master on your way to success.

2. Appreciate the Joy

There is a lot of pressure to keep up to date with the latest happenings. We develop a fear of missing out (or FOMO).

It causes unhappiness and limits your success. Learn to accept that you are not required to know or have everything. It’s where true freedom lies.

3. Write Down Your Thoughts

Writing down what you think helps clarify things. It is also a way of arriving at a solution for a dilemma that you have, but you’re unsure of the solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Joanna Jedrzejczyk worth?

Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s net worth is estimated to be $4 Million.

How old is Joanna Jedrzejczyk?

Joanna Jedrzejczyk was born on August 18, 1987, and is currently 36 years old.

How tall is Joanna Jedrzejczyk?

Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s height is 1.68 m, equal to 5 ft 6 in.

Summary

Joanna Jędrzejczyk is a Polish mixed martial artist who made her UFC debut in July 2014, defeating Juliana Lima.

Jędrzejczyk won the UFC Women’s Straw-weight Championship by beating Carla Esparza in March 2015.

She is considered one of the best female MMA fighters in the world.

As of July 2024, Joanna Jedrzejcyk’s net worth is $4 Million.

What do you think about Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s net worth? Leave a comment below.

MMA Fighters

Michael Bisping Net Worth

Published

3 months ago

May 3, 2024

Dan Western

What is Michael Bisping’s net worth?

Net Worth: $9 Million

Age: 45

Born: February 28, 1979

Gender: Male

Height: 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)

Country of Origin: United Kingdom

Source of Wealth: Professional MMA Fighter

Last Updated: Jul 25, 2024

Net Worth:	$9 Million
Age:	45
Born:	February 28, 1979
Gender:	Male
Height:	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Country of Origin:	United Kingdom
Source of Wealth:	Professional MMA Fighter
Last Updated:	Jul 25, 2024

Table of Contents

Introduction

Michael Bisping, born in Cyprus, is an English sports analyst, actor, commentator, and retired mixed martial artist.

Bisping is a former UFC Middleweight Champion, Cage Rage Light Heavyweight Champion, and The Ultimate Fighter 3 Light Heavyweight tournament winner.

As of July 2024, Michael Bisping’s net worth is roughly $9 Million.

Early Life

Michael Bisping was born on the 28th of February, 1979, in Nicosia, Cyprus.

Bisping attended St Augustine’s Roman Catholic High School, Billington.

His father, Jan, was in the British Army, and his mother is Irish.

Bisping began training Jujutsu at the age of 8. When he was 15, he competed as an amateur in Britain’s first “no holds barred” competition.

Career

Michael Bisping made his professional MMA debut at Pride & Glory 2: Battle of the Ages in 2004 and scored his first knockout a month later.

In 2006, he joined The Ultimate Fighter 3 reality series, training under Tito Ortiz as a contestant and winning the final as a Light Heavyweight.

After this victory, he was set to fight Eric Schafer but withdrew due to visa issues.

Fortunately, the bout was rescheduled, and when the pair faced off, Bisping defeated Schafer by TKO during the first round.

Ultimate Fighting

After scoring a TKO against Elvis Sinosic in 2007, Michael Bisping faced Matt Hamill and won the match via split decision.

However, his victory was highly controversial, with many fans believing Hamill won the fight.

His next big match was at UFC 78, where he faced off against Ultimate Fighter winner Rashad Evans, which resulted in his first loss.

Following that, and with the support of UFC president Dana White, Bisping decided to drop down to middleweight.

Bisping made his middleweight debut against Charles McCarthy and won by TKO. He then beat Jason Day by TKO in June 2008.

He then fought Chris Leben as the headliner of UFC 89 and won by unanimous decision, after which Leben tested positive for steroid use.

Soon after, Bisping was announced as one of the coaches for the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter alongside Dan Henderson.

A Skilled Fighter

After coaching on The Ultimate Fighter, Michael Bisping fought Dan Henderson in UFC 100, which ended up being his first KO loss.

In November 2009, he faced off against Denis Kang and won in the second round with a TKO.

The following year, he defeated Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 120, and they won the Fight of the Night award for their performance.

Bisping then stepped into the ring with Jorge Rivera in 2011, and the match ended with a TKO from Bisping in the second round.

This fight was filled with trash talk, which continued after Bisping won. Ultimately, Bisping was fined for running his mouth.

Soon after, several fighters, including Chael Sonnen, Demian Maia, Vitor Belfort, and Alan Belcher, came forward to challenge Michael Bisping to a fight.

Bispings Recent Career

Following his win against Rivera, Michael Bisping lost to Sonnen and Belfort before winning against Alan Belcher in 2013.

In 2015, he beat C.B. Dollaway and Thales Leites and was expected to face Robert Whittaker before withdrawing due to injury.

In 2016, he took on Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 to become the UFC Middleweight Champion and the first British fighter to earn the title.

Bisping defended his title against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217 but lost in the third round via technical submission.

After losing the middleweight title, Bisping faced Kelvin Gastelum and lost via TKO in the first round.

Michael Bisping then announced his retirement in May 2018 and, in December, appeared on The Joe Rogan Experience, stating injuries forced him to step back.

He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2019 and released the book Quitters Never Win: My Life in UFC the same year.

Michael Bisping Net Worth

As of July 2024, Michael Bisping’s net worth is $9 Million.

More Professional MMA Fighters:

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Michael Bisping’s career:

Bisping is a former UFC Middleweight Champion
At UFC 78, he became the first British fighter to compete in a UFC main event
2008 International Fighter of the Year

Favorite Quotes from Michael Bisping

“People say sometimes that I’m distracted. That’s why I’m trying to do movies. I do the podcast. That’s because when I’m done, I want to be set up.” – Michael Bisping

“Due to the UFC educating people on MMA as a sport, people give us the respect as athletes, opening doors to opportunities which weren’t available in the past. It has been amazing to be part of the UFC journey.” – Michael Bisping

“Some people are born for a certain thing. And for me, unfortunately, I wish it was something a bit more artistic or whatever, but I was a born fighter. That’s what kept me coming back. It makes me feel alive. And, I just know, there is nothing I do better in this world than fight.” – Michael Bisping

“Financially, I’ve done very well doing what I do. I’ve got plenty of money in the bank. I’ve got gigs with FOX doing analyst work, media work. The UFC has been very kind to me. Ultimately, however, I want to be world champion. I have to achieve that to validate my entire career.” – Michael Bisping

“Without wishing to sound arrogant, when I was younger, I used to win every single martial arts tournament I ever entered. I used to enter the under 14s and under 16s, winning both gold medals in those, and then go in the men’s tournament just for the experience, and end up getting a silver medal.” – Michael Bisping

3 Powerful Lessons from Michael Bisping

Let’s take a look at some of the best lessons we can learn from him:

1. Have Goals

Reviewing your Big 5 annual goals every morning and working on your plan every day is an exceptionally powerful way to breed unbeatable focus and drive.