Bisping jokes and says that Belfort should face “a young man full of steroids”

Belfort (left) beat Bisping (right) in 2013. (PHOTO: Jeff Bottari/UFC)

Although they go through completely different moments in their careers, the rivalry between Michael Bisping e Vitor belfort is far from having an end point. Current middleweight champion, the Englishman was ironic when commenting on the Brazilian's announcement, which stated that he would like to retire from playing in Brazil in June. For Bisping, the “Phenomenon” should face a “doped” opponent, in a clear provocation to his rival, who has a controversial history with anti-doping tests.

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“I would like Vitor to face a young man full of steroids. Just so he knows what it's like. Put him there in Brazil with a boy who is filling his system with steroids, who has superpowers, and fails his exams, but just so Vitor knows what it's like. Because it's such an unfair advantage! I say this all the time: until someone dies, no one will realize how much of a problem this is. USADA is helping, but it's only a matter of time before someone dies and everyone thinks, “S***, something needs to be done,” Bisping said on his “Believe You Me” podcast.

Despite the provocation to the Brazilian, Michael revealed that the American broadcaster for which he works as a commentator in the United States asked him not to comment on the Brazilian's problems with anti-doping tests – in 2006, Belfort was caught with a testosterone derivative, and in 2014 he was suspended after being caught above the testosterone limit during an exam outside the competition period carried out by the Nevada Athletic Commission, when he was one of the users of the controversial Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), banned shortly after by the commission.

“We have production meetings and we discuss what we're going to say, and I said, “Well, the steroid thing is a problem,” and they said, “Listen, Michael…” They're not going to tell me what to say and what not to say, but they would prefer if I didn’t focus too much on the negative aspects”, concluded the champion.

Bisping and Belfort face each other in January 2013, in São Paulo. On that occasion, the Brazilian knocked out the European in the second round, after landing a beautiful high kick to his opponent's head.