UFC middleweight champion chats to SunSport and says he'd love to be a part of the BBC's end-of-year sporting spectacular
MICHAEL Bisping would love to be nominated for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year award, but he's not holding his breath.
Mixed martial arts has largely gone ignored by the BBC's end-of-year roundup of the great and the good of British sport.
But after Conor McGregor's knockout of Jose Aldo was featured in an end-of-year montage on last year's show, the door would appear to be open for the Beeb to feature Bisping's historic title win at UFC 199.
Chatting to SunSport in London during a whistlestop victory tour of the UK, 'The Count' explained that he'd been on the show once before - as part of the audience.
"I actually came 12th once," he said.
"A long time ago. 2008 or 9. I came about 12th or something like that.
"I was invited there, I was at the event, but obviously I didn't win."
But this year things are somewhat different.
Bisping made history by becoming the first British world champion in UFC history following his stunning first-round knockout win over Luke Rockhold.
That win came hot on the heels of the Brit's gutsy win over former champion and all-time great Anderson Silva at The O2 Arena in London earlier this year.
Bisping's win over Rockhold also saw him draw level with the great Canadian Georges St-Pierre for the most wins in UFC history.
And with the continuing growth of MMA in this country, Bisping's incredible year could potentially be recognised in the BBC's Sports Review of the Year extravaganza, particularly if he successfully defends his belt later this year.
"It's crazy," he admitted.
"So many people have been talking to me about this.
"It's not gonna be something I'm really thinking about. The BBC don't really cover the sport, so I wouldn't expect it to happen, I really wouldn't.
"Of course it would be amazing. It would mean the world to me to get that recognition. But I won't be putting any money on it happening."
Bisping has led the way for the UFC in the UK, appearing across a multitude of media outlets for the best part of a decade as he helped raise awareness of the UFC and it's brand of high-octane combat sports action.
And now the Brit has a world championship belt to show for his efforts, his clout with the media will only increase as the UFC continues to grow its audience on this side of the pond.
"The UFC's doing well here, but it still needs to get to that next level," he said.
"And I think that having a UK champion will help that. I'm aware of that.
"Of course, everybody wants to be successful, right? So the more attention you get - media attention - it opens doors and things like that, so that's fantastic."
But Bisping says that while the recognition and acceptance would be most welcome, it's not the be-all and end-all of his career as a professional fighter.
"If I'm honest it's not why I do this," he said.
"I do this to take care of my family, so I'm really I'm not interested in trying to be the biggest celebrity I can because I couldn't care less about any of that.
"I just want to get paid and look after my kids."
