Documentary Review And Interviews: ‘Bisping: The Michael Bisping Story’ And Interviews With Michael And Director Michael Hamilton

By James Lindorf

Michael Bisping:

Michael Hamilton:

Former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael “The Count” Bisping was one of the company’s most prominent personalities and possessed an unrivaled will to win. Bisping’s path to the world title and eventual Hall of Fame career had familiar beginnings but would shock the MMA world. Over his twelve-year career, Bisping went 30-9 against some of MMAs biggest names and greatest fighters like Silva, GSP, Belfort, Henderson, and Rockhold. More than once, fans and fighters believed his career was over, and that was before they knew he lost sight in one of his eyes. With the help of celebrities and fighters like Vin Diesel, Joe Rogan, and Vitor Belfort, director Michael Hamilton (The Bailey Experience) tells Michael’s unforgettable story in “Bisping: The Michael Bisping Story,” which is now available to rent or purchase from most major streaming platforms.

As far as the presentation goes, ‘The Michael Bisping Story” is a slick modern documentary that is very well done but reasonably conventional. The format may not be groundbreaking, but the subject sets the film apart. Michael Bisping is a fantastic storyteller; he could leave you hanging on every word as he describes an ordinary day. The worst parts of the movie are the moments Michael reaches his limits and is unwilling to dive deeper into a topic. He takes you to a point where you can comfortably guess what he would say but never know for sure.

From stories of growing up in the North of England as part of a family where no one went hungry, but money was tight. Michael’s father, Jan, was a career military man specializing as a sniper until, like his son, an injury forced him from the career he loved. The movie’s first half celebrates Michael growing up, sometimes fighting to defend others and occasionally for his enjoyment as a football hooligan. That gruff combative personality never entirely Bisping who once taunted, a fighter known for being a devoted Christian, with the taunt “Jesus isn’t real.” After establishing the foundation of who Bisping is as a fighter, Hamilton takes us through a “Raging Bull”-esque montage intercutting fight footage and home movies to remind you there is a loving man behind the violence. As the film progresses, Michael entertains us, and Hamilton nails the production end, but that is where the twist comes.

The tale of his injury, the struggle to rehabilitate, and then defy all odds and return to the ring is a compelling story. Still, Bisping’s telling ensures it is riveting. With his career-ending on his terms, Michael is not ready to leave public life and has switched to a career in entertainment. He has hosted and commentated on tv shows and played parts on television and film. At just 43 years old, Bisping will be a part of our pop culture lives for a long time. If you want to know his whole story or just be entertained for 110 minutes, make sure to check out “Bisping: The Michael Bisping Story.:

Genre: Sports & Fitness, Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Director: Michael Hamilton
Producer: Rocky Mudaliar, Adam Scorgie, Yas Taalat
Writer: Michael Hamilton, Scott Dodds
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2022
Runtime: 1h 50m