How Vin Diesel led to Conor McGregor and Michael Bisping’s intense rivalry
Follow Us
McGregor and Bisping
It may be surprising for new fans to learn this but Michael Bisping had an instrumental role in the early part of Conor McGregor’s career. The two European stars once shared a very cordial relationship that was broken apart and it was all because of a movie role.
McGregor made his forray into the UFC in 2013, by which time Bisping was already one of the biggest European stars in the UFC. Though he was yet to become a champion, he was well respected among his European peers for being an actual pioneer for the sport in their region of the world.
In fact, it was Bisping who introduced McGregor to the paradigm sports management agency when he was initially looking to settle for a reliable management agency in the sport. Later on, he’d also help McGregor get in contact with founder, Audie Attar to take up the role of his manager. The business relationship has been nothing but an all-around success.
However, you’d not realize this by the animosity the two share nowadays on social media and across. Long gone from the days of mutually tipping their hats to each other, the two fighters are always on each other’s throats for one reason or the other.
Conor McGregor and Michael Bisping were both considered for a principal role in the same film
All of this started back when McGregor was offered a role in the long-standing sequel to Vin Diesel’s XXX Franchise. There was only one problem, while McGregor was certainly at the height of his fame, the negative connotation to it was his loss to Nate Diaz. When he was offered the role, McGregor had to deny the golden opportunity as he was busy with his rematch preparations.
No biggie, as the producers of the film swiftly got into contact with another European star with an accent Bisping. Unlike McGregor, Bisping had actual experience behind the camera having acted in many small-budget movies and TV shows prior. He was instantly added to the cast.
As comical as it sounds this is where their feud started in earnest. The movie itself was panned by critics but managed to gain attention at the box office grossing nearly $350 million. Bisping who played Hawk, was a natural fit to the role. Since then no good word about Bisping has ever been said by McGregor.
After this Bisping would find a stable career behind the camera having multiple appearances on films and also getting starring roles in TV shows. McGregor on the other hand is only getting his start in Hollywood as he is set to star in the remake of Roadhouse starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
Earlier McGregor was rumored to make his screen debut in the seventh season of the epic TV show, Game of Thrones, whose production was centered around Belfast. However, none of that came to fruition.
Stay Updated!
Jerin Mathew
(713 Articles Published)