Coach says Bisping doesn't need to fight again: 'He's done enough'
As far as Jason Parillo is concerned, Michael Bisping can hang up his gloves right now with plenty to be proud of.
In a matter of mere weeks, the former UFC middleweight champion has gone from stopping sparring partners in the gym to suffering stoppage losses to Georges St-Pierre and Kelvin Gastelum, a series of events that has Parillo - his longtime coach - rightfully concerned. As the trainer recently told MMAjunkie's Mike Bohn, if a fight purse is all Bisping is looking for in the twilight of a respectable career, it might be time to ride off into the sunset.
"In my opinion, Michael Bisping’s done enough," Parillo said. "I don’t think Michael Bisping ever has to fight again. I think that he had such a phenomenal career - if we are just fighting for money, maybe it’s not worth it at this point. He’s made a lot of money. He can retire and be fine for the rest of his life. He’ll never be fine just sitting around being fine, he’s going to go out and be making noise doing something else. That’s a conversation that’s going to be had over the course of time, obviously."
Bisping had repeatedly told reporters he'd agreed to face Gastelum on an alarming three-week turnaround to atone for the loss to GSP - one that cost him the divisional strap. He now aims to fight for the last time in his native country on the UFC's March bill in London, but with the event just over three months removed from the pair of stoppage defeats, Parillo would rather see the Brit rest his mighty limbs before ironing out his swan song.
"The wound is still a little fresh," Parillo said. "I’m still a little down about his last fight. Not because he lost. You’re going to be down. I tell these guys, 'Don’t worry about what people say and what people think' and the whole nine yards. But, at the end of the day you’re emotionally attached to these guys when you’re part of it.
"You’re not in there fighting, but you feel the wins and losses and the losses hurt. I want to see Mike rest. I can’t even get my mind wrapped around him fighting anybody at this point. I don’t even want to think about fighting anybody right now."
In hindsight, Parillo admittedly regrets seconding Bisping's decision to fight Gastelum on such short notice, but takes solace in knowing his longtime fighter is at peace with his choices, however ill-advised.
"At the end of the day Michael Bisping’s just fine with who Michael Bisping is," Parillo continued. "He’s fine with the choices he makes and I know that as a coach. Everybody on his team knows that. He made a decision and he knows he’s going to live with it no matter what direction it goes."