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Michael Bisping Says He Turned Down $500,000 RAF Offer to Wrestle Tito Ortiz

RAF's large purses are prompting comeback offers that many veterans must decline for health reasons.

Overview

  • Bisping disclosed on his Believe You Me podcast that he was offered $500,000 to wrestle Tito Ortiz and that he turned the offer down because of chronic neck problems.
  • He said the approach came through someone with an association to Real American Freestyle rather than directly from the promotion and that he would be more open to a boxing match than wrestling.
  • Tito Ortiz announced he will undergo C3–C4 disc replacement surgery after a recent boating accident, a development that makes a near‑term meeting between the two unlikely.
  • RAF has been recruiting well‑known MMA names and paying large purses to attract retired and active fighters, a strategy that has already drawn returns like Frankie Edgar and influenced retirements.
  • RAF continues to build momentum with marquee cards such as RAF 10 in St. Louis on June 13 and a roster that mixes ex‑UFC stars and Olympic‑caliber wrestlers, reshaping pay and career options for combat athletes.