After getting stopped in the first round by Kelvin Gastelum two weeks ago, Belfort announced his intention to retire from MMA upon the completion of his contract with the UFC. With only one fight left on that contract, Belfort said he wants the opportunity to retire in front of his hometown crowd when the UFC heads to Rio de Janeiro in June for UFC 212. Then, last week, Belfort raised a few eyebrows by putting a possible opponent out there for his retirement, former WWE superstar and 0-1 MMA welterweight C.M. Punk.

And while there is almost no chance this bout will actually happen, the idea that Belfort would want to fight an MMA neophyte for his farewell bout appears to have a struck a nerve with current UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. On the most recent episode of his podcast Believe You Me, Bisping went in on Belfort for calling out Punk, calling him a coward and saying this is a sign of the low character one should expect from a “steroid abuser.”

“This is a sign of the p**sy that Vitor Belfort is. This is the sign of a p**sy that takes f**king steroids his entire career. If you take steroids, you are a f**king p**sy because you’re so mentally weak that you feel that you can’t go out there and fight these people on a level playing field because you’re gonna get your ass kicked. So you worry, and you look, and you look for shortcuts, and you look how you can cheat, and you think, ‘Oh I’m gonna take these steroids and they’re gonna build my muscle and make me recover better’ and all this type of stuff.

“And they do give you advantages. They give you physical and psychological advantages. But if you need those advantages then you are a coward, you’re a f**king p**sy, and you are a cheat, and the very fact that somebody would take steroids their entire career, then get their ass kicked, then call out CM Punk, I’m not surprised motherf**kers. It’s a simple as that and that just speaks volumes to the character and the level of a man that Vitor Belfort is. I wouldn’t f**king p*** on him if he was on fire.”

Bisping and Belfort have history dating back to when Belfort knocked out Bisping with a head kick in January of 2013. At the time, Belfort was taking TRT, a substance which was later disallowed for competitors and one which Bisping considers cheating. Belfort also has a history of failing drug tests dating back to his Pride days where he once tested positive for elevated testosterone after facing Dan Henderson at Pride 32.

Bisping, on the other hand, has never once failed a drug test and has been one of MMA’s most vocal advocates against the use of performance enhancers in the sport. Even so though, Bisping said he didn’t intend to rail on Belfort because he has done so so many times before in the past, but when his co-host brought the subject of Belfort up, he couldn’t help but speak his mind.

“If you put me in this environment and you tell me that former light heavyweight champion - former heavyweight champion - middleweight contender, longtime steroid abuser, cheat, fraud, wants to fight a one and fighter in the UFC that lost in the worst way possible, who is a 170 [pound] guy that’s never really done any kind of MMA training, you tell me that’s who Vitor wants to fight, of course you’re gonna get a strong reaction.”

I think it’s safe to say Michael Bisping won’t be sending Belfort any well wishes when he retires.

MUST-READ STORIES

Backtrack. Jimi Manuwa clarifies that Jon Jones is one of the names on his list of future opponents.

Huh? The NAC has denied Alex Oliveira’s appeal for Tim Means’ illegal knee at UFC 207.

Respect. Lorenz Larkin says “respect” was a big factor in his decision to sign with Bellator.

Two years. Viscardi Andrade has been suspended two years after testing positive for PEDs.

VIDEO STEW

Bas Rutten is doing this thing now.

TTTHS.

Promoter Dana.

Your next UFC main event isn’t for awhile but here’s a throwback to Cormier wrestling arguably the greatest American wrestler of all time for a national title.

And since I went down this rabbit hole, here’s Sanderson wrestling Yoel Romero for a spot in the Olympic finals.

And since I made you watch all that non-MMA content, here’s the best of McGregor’s appearances on The MMA Hour. The dude really has been the same since day one.

LISTEN UP

Jordan Breen Show.

TFATK.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Staying mad.

That boy got twitter fingers but when confronted in real life he is a coward!! — Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) March 21, 2017

He knows there's more to the story! how about ending one of your teammates career you cheap shottin mother fucker! https://t.co/LZ4JgavTWR — Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) March 21, 2017

Wonderboy’s surgery statement.

Super successful surgery today! I want to thank Dr. Folk, @callahalla, and the Hillcrest hospital staff for taking care of me and for the tattoos lol!! #feelinggood #success #backatitsoon #loveyall Posted by Stephen Wonderboy Thompson on Tuesday, March 21, 2017

#wouldwatch.

@mikedyce @SFLCPodcast @RaphaAssuncao all he has to do is call Sean & say yea. I'll be waiting for him.I'll give him that challenge he wants — Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) March 22, 2017

@JimmieRivera135 @mikedyce @SFLCPodcast whassup twitters y'all talking about me, you ready good man. I don't pick opp is whatever partner — Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) March 22, 2017

Diakiese is flying up the charts of favorite fighters.

reddit: still fucking bad



Marc Diakiese: fucking rad pic.twitter.com/SPiXIsVez8 — Jessica Hudnall (@LegKickTKO) March 21, 2017

And getting into some beef.

I say @felderpaul vs @Marc_Diakiese for the main event of that @ufc Glasgow card.. Who wouldn't wanna see that as a 5 rounder?! — Shane Burgos (@HurricaneShaneB) March 21, 2017

.@felderpaul It shows how much of a coward you are, instead off calling me out yourself, your asking for somebody else to do it #firstrndko — Marc Diakiese (@Marc_Diakiese) March 21, 2017

I'm about action not shit talk. U can talk all that shit u want. Sign a contract and I'll be there. #putuporshutup #justletmeknowwhen https://t.co/wj8vaj0BFt — Paul Felder (@felderpaul) March 21, 2017

@felderpaul I see you want abit of attention dude, don't worry I'll bring it to you, you've put yourself on my radar. — Marc Diakiese (@Marc_Diakiese) March 21, 2017

Let's do it then https://t.co/xA1UpBPkvh — Paul Felder (@felderpaul) March 21, 2017

@felderpaul you cowboy wannabe, I'm working on it and I'll see you very shortly. — Marc Diakiese (@Marc_Diakiese) March 21, 2017

Lotta anger on Twitter yesterday.

Shes a lying ass little bitch. Remember she said she had a fight & it wasnt me? She didn't have a fight or opponent. Shes a scared lil bitch https://t.co/3KpIMtLs4O — Lauren Murphy (@LaurenMurphyMMA) March 21, 2017

Iconic.

Moved into my new house today. While moving, found the infamous brown shirt I wore when I defeated @JonnyBones. Sending it to UFC HOF. pic.twitter.com/iDFfQHQgPs — Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) March 21, 2017

Big Pigmy.

Bobby Law sparring at Hooft’s place.

Three back-elbows landed. Unreal.

Knock out of the year? This was Marco Ruas black belt @rajashippen from Korea's Battlefield FC event Saturday night in Seoul. O KO do ano? Esse é @rajashippen faixa preta do Marco Ruas grande vitória na Corea no evento #battlefieldfc em Seoul. A post shared by CRISTIANE V JUSTINO ★ (@criscyborg) on Mar 20, 2017 at 4:49pm PDT

Cejudo doing technique.

Technique of the week: Under-hook counter offense. When opponent under hooks you, switch inside with the right arm and pull with the opposite arm as you trip with the right leg you fall to your right glute for the takedown. #enjoy #usawrestling #olympuswrestling @adriancordova3 A post shared by Henry Cejudo (@henry_cejudo) on Mar 21, 2017 at 9:40pm PDT

Groovy Lando wrote you a novel.

Respect.

We love our homies with extra chromies . Thanks for helping celebrate World Down Syndrome Day @HollyHolm @raztweets shirts from Reeves Tees pic.twitter.com/Gh6H6s6GCB — Devin Clark (@brownbearC) March 21, 2017

Just move it up a week and boom. Call me Sean Shelby.

I need a courageous man to fight with me on May 28. Who want the money fight? @seanshelby @danawhite @ufc — Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 21, 2017

I want to fight on the NZ card book me up @seanshelby @danawhite https://t.co/Vb9gx6pRNG — Ross Pearson (@RossTheRealDeal) March 22, 2017

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

N/A.

TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2002: Josh Barnett defeated Randy Couture to become the UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 36. Also at this event, Matt Hughes successfully defended his welterweight title, stopping Hayato Sakurai in the fourth round.

FINAL THOUGHTS

After getting sucked into a YouTube vortex of wrestling videos, I now want Yoel to get the next light heavyweight title shot against Cormier. They never competed in wrestling so let them fight. It would be awesome.

Take it easy everybody and see y’all tomorrow.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.