UFC On Fox 2: Michael Bisping Flips Off Fans At Weigh Ins, Nearly Loses Sponsor

Bloody Elbow 2.0 | Anton Tabuena

British middleweight Michael Bisping faces Chael Sonnen tomorrow night at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, Illinois. Tonight at the weigh ins, the voluble fighter flipped off the pro-Sonnen crowd when they booed him.

It seems to have cost Bisping a sponsor based on this tweet from MMA Elite:

@MMAELITE_Alden
Alden Halpern I must apologize to all of our fans.After sponsoring Bisping he flips off fans at weigh in. He will never be sponsored by us again!
Jan 27 via web Favorite Retweet Reply

It’s interesting that MMA Elite also sponsors Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal without complaint. Jackson is remembered for his energy drink fueled “rampage” that left him under arrest for hit and run and Lawal failed a post-fight drug test just weeks ago. Apparently sticks and stones will never cost you a sponsor but flipping the bird at fans will get you off the sponsor rolls pretty quick. What do you think?

UPDATE: MMA Elite has changed their tune:

@MMAELITE_Alden
Alden Halpern I must humbly say that i jumped the gun on Michael Bisping. I just spoke to him and he truly is a gentleman.What i was concerned about…..
Jan 28 via web Favorite Retweet Reply

@MMAELITE_Alden
Alden Halpern Is not what he is truly about. Although I do not endorse the finger, his intentions are not of bad intent but a persona.
Jan 28 via web Favorite Retweet Reply

@MMAELITE_Alden
Alden Halpern After speaking to him you cant help but like this man. We will continue to stand behind him!
Jan 28 via web Favorite Retweet Reply

SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2

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Nate Wilcox

Nate Wilcox is the founding editor of BloodyElbow.com. As such he has hired every editor and writer to work for the site. Wilcox’s writing for BE is known for its emphasis on MMA history, the evolution of fighting techniques and strong opinions. Wilcox developed the SBN MMA consensus rankings which were featured in USA Today from 2009 to 2011. Before founding BE, Wilcox was a political operative working for such figures as Senators John Kerry and Mark Warner and an early political blogger. He is the co-author of Netroots Rising, a history of the political blogosphere from 2003 to 2007. Wilcox also hosts the Let It Roll podcast on music history for the Pantheon Podcast Network.