Michael Bisping is back?: The best (and worst) MMA April Fool’s gags
Michael Bisping is still deeply involved in the fight game, but don’t expect him to step back into the cage anytime soon.
That feels like a necessary disclaimer on April Fool’s Day, with Bisping’s past promotion Cage Warriors taking advantage of the occasion to jokingly announce the former middleweight champion is ending his retirement to challenge middleweight champion Dario Bellandi.
Of course, the announcement was just another April 1 gag, a common occurrence in the sports news world to which the combat sports sphere is no exception. Several fighters joined in on the fun, with boxing star Tyson Fury proclaiming he is taking over the James Bond mantle from Daniel Craig, and Ben Askren also announcing his comeback—to return to collegiate wrestling at the age of 40 to compete for the university of Iowa.
From the eye-catching to the eyeroll-inducing, check out this year’s best (and worst) April Fool’s posts below.
BREAKING NEWS
— Cage Warriors (@CageWarriors) April 1, 2025
Michael Bisping’s Back! And He’s Coming for the Middleweight Crown!
UFC & CW legend @Bisping is out of retirement for a comeback fight against Dario Bellandi pic.twitter.com/U5ijwmwY9w
The @NCAA has granted me 1 more year of eligibility and @Hawks_Wrestling offered me a bag!!! So pumped to wrestle one more year and try to win a 3rd hodge
— Funky (@Benaskren) April 1, 2025
BREAKING: Renato Moicano set to face Gilbert Burns at UFC 315 for a Catchweight Bout.
— Show Me the Money Podcast (@showmethepod) April 1, 2025
Moicano took the picanha bet personally, and now there is bad blood. pic.twitter.com/pCSn99CPmJ
Game changer History will be made with ONE’s first-ever tag-team mixed-rules fight when Rodtang and Anatoly Malykhin collide with Superlek and Reug Reug! Who you got in this insane showdown?
— ONE Championship (@ONEChampionship) April 1, 2025
Full breakdown in the comments ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/M28pQ6KFnm
Honestly I see no need in still boxing professionally with my injuries.. especially with the money and platform I’m building on kick ..I’m sorry to all I’ve let down in the boxing world & appreciate all the support you all have given me through the years .. I’m officially…
— DeenTheGreat (@DeenTheGreat) April 1, 2025
Dear fans,
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) April 1, 2025
Today marks our final day in boxing. I want to thank everyone who has been part of this journey with me.
To my dear friends scheduled to fight on the London and NYC cards, I apologize for the time and effort you put into training camp. I wish you the best of luck in…