British UFC champ Michael Bisping celebrates title win at Manchester United

Michael Bisping is living the high life. Since winning the middleweight championship after a stunning knockout over Luke Rockhold at UFC 199, Bisping has been treated with a level of respect only champions receive.

“I’m certainly enjoying it so far,” Bisping said in a recent interview with the BBC. “The treatment you get from the people, the treatment you get from the UFC, the influence you have in your next steps moving forward. There are lots of offers and deals and sponsorships – there are all kinds of things coming in. It’s very, very nice.”

The Brit received a hero’s welcome at FOX Sports and recently made a trip to Old Trafford football stadium to pose with his newly acquired 185-pound title.

Bisping, who grew up in Clitheroe, England and used to train out of Wolfslair MMA Academy in Liverpool, relocated to the US but still considers Manchester his hometown. The 37-year-old was recently featured as a guest on ITV’s Granada Reports and looks set to star on Manchester United’s upcoming ‘Celebrity Reds’ MUTV program.

The former Cage Rage light heavyweight champ became the first British champion in UFC history on June 4 at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif and has long been considered the figurehead of British MMA. Bisping was instrumental in the UFC’s expansion into the UK and will look to bolster the market even more with his new-found success.

The Count is likely to defend the belt against Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza in England and will look to solidify himself as a top pound-for-pound talent with a win.