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Britain’s top Ultimate Fighting Championship exponent was taken to hospital for scans after his clash with Henderson went horribly wrong to leave him with an enforced three-month lay-off.

In a scene reminiscent of Ricky Hatton’s fall against Manny Pacquiao here, Bisping lay motionless for more than two agonising minutes before coming around after a right hook that has now posed serious questions about his future.

In a woeful end to his appearance at the big UFC 100 bash, Bisping found himself on the wrong end of a series of brutal punches from 38-year-old Henderson and admitted afterwards: “I honestly don’t know what happened to me out there.

“I will just have to accept what the organisers say in their rules about when I fight next and take it on the chin. But I do know that I have the ability to bounce right back and succeed in my aim of lifting the world title.”

Bisping had been promised a crack at world champion Anderson Silva if he beat Henderson, his rival coach in a recent TV series which pitched a UK team against a USA one.

But Henderson just had too much in his armoury for him and it all left Bisping saying: “I was found wanting and I know it.

“Henderson won it fair and square and I have nothing but praise for him.” Bisping received a vote of confidence from the UFC’s Marshall Zelaznik, who said: “You have nothing to worry about when it comes to debating if Michael comes back and wins a world title or not.

“He will certainly do that. Of that I have absolutely no doubts whatsoever. The thing about UFC, unlike boxing, is that losing a fight doesn’t mean that you are finished.

“You can lose fights in our organisation and still go on for world titles.”

Bisping agreed, adding: “I have seen people like my training partner ‘Rampage’ Jackson lose fights in one or two rounds and still go on to become one of the best light-heavyweight fighters of them all, so I am not disheartened in any way.”

American Henderson certainly put in a vintage performance that now leaves Bisping at the back of the queue to challenge Silva.

And Henderson must be at the front after his brutal stoppage of ‘The Count’ earned him the $100,000 Knockout of the Night bonus.

Bisping had never even been knocked down before, yet even after getting rocked in the first round by Henderson’s big right hand, he surprisingly kept circling into it and ultimately paid the price. There was criticism for Henderson, who after knocking Bisping out clean on his feet, went on to slam in another power shot as the Lancastrian lay stretched on his back.

To add insult to injury, Henderson stated directly afterwards: “Normally I’m not that way in fights.

“I know if the guy’s out, I tend to stop. I hit him hard but I got that last blow in just to shut him up a little bit.”

In the main event, world heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar defeated Frank Mir in the second round to show again that he is the most feared UFC exponent around.