UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker delivered more than just fights in the cage—it also stirred controversy outside of it. During the preliminary card in Doha, Qatar, UFC commentator Michael Bisping took a shot at WWE while discussing heavyweight Denzel Freeman’s background.
Freeman, making his UFC debut against Marek Bujło, previously spent time in WWE’s developmental system after being recruited out of college in 2014. But according to Bisping, it didn’t last long—and for a reason that set off alarm bells in wrestling circles.
“He was on the roster for professional wrestling to be in WWE,” Bisping said during the live broadcast. “He didn’t like it because it was just too fake. Obviously, it’s entirely fake. They kept telling him to slow down in training…”
The remark came as Freeman showed off his speed and explosiveness—traits that apparently clashed with WWE’s in-ring training. “Slowing down” is often advised in pro wrestling to protect opponents in choreographed matches, but Bisping’s blunt dismissal of the entire industry as “entirely fake” triggered flashbacks to a debate wrestling veterans and crossover athletes have been trying to settle for years. Boxing’s lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who wrestled Braun Strowman in WWE, had a far different experience:
“I would say there is 100 times more impact than in boxing… It is painful to say the least.”
Bisping’s jab may have been offhanded, but it reignited a long-running conversation about how the world views professional wrestling. It’s scripted, yes—but fake? Ask the bruises, broken bones, and rehab bills.
Do you think Bisping was out of line calling WWE “entirely fake,” or was he just speaking his mind? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know where you stand.
November 22, 2025 4:03 pm
