For as long as fans can remember, Joe Rogan has been the definitive voice of the Octagon. Since 2006 (first commentating gig in 1997), Rogan has been a fixture of the sport, calling fights and interviewing fighters inside the Octagon. However, with Mike Goldberg’s exit from the promotion, the UFC began to place figures with actual Octagon experience in the commentary booth. Names like Dominick Cruz and Daniel Cormier make for the A-Side, often calling fights alongside Rogan and Jon Anik. For overseas bouts, there’s Paul Felder and Michael Bisping, alongside John Gooden. However, with some of these veteran names, it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing.

Daniel Cormier has come under fire from both fans and fighters in the Octagon for his commentary. He’s been targeted by fighters like Joaquin Buckley, Bo Nickal, and even Jack Della Maddalena for his ‘biased’ commentary. But being accused of having a bias between fighters isn’t exactly the worst infraction by a commentator. Sometimes, it’s the wrong call during fights, or exaggerated moments that come across as antics for viewers that don’t sit well with fans. And one fixture who has come under fire from fans is none other than England’s first UFC champion, Michael Bisping.

Michael Bisping and John Gooden were at the helm of the UFC Rio commentary, calling the fight between Vitor Petrino and Thomas Petersen. This time, ‘The Count’ didn’t receive flak for an exaggerated reaction, biased commentary, or a wrong move being called. He kept mispronouncing a fighter’s name. Petrino ended up knocking Petersen out with a sharp counter hook. Worse for Peterson, Bisping kept referring to him as ‘Steven’ instead of ‘Thomas.’

A user named Jerry Luiza highlighted the moment with the comment on X that read, “My fav tradition is Bisping saying Steven Petersen instead of Thomas every single card he’s on.”

Commentators (ex-fighters) making mistakes is nothing novel. It’s the kind of thing that humanizes even the most prominent and accomplished sports figures. But that’s the thing. When you’re in the public eye (and ears), the margin for error is very low. You might be a master technician inside the cage, but skills on the mic — unless you’re Conor McGregor (or Joe Rogan) — can only be developed in time. Moreover, things like these don’t escape keen-observing fans, who didn’t waste any time tearing into the former UFC middleweight champion.

Fans slam Michael Bisping on X after repeatedly misidentifying Thomas Petersen at UFC Rio

The World MMA Awards recognize Bisping’s contributions, honoring him with multiple ‘Analyst of the Year’ awards in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, cementing his status as a respected voice in the broadcasting arena. Yet even the sharpest analysts can falter. For instance, ‘The Count’ occasionally frustrates fans when he misremembers fighter names. One fan captured the moment perfectly: “‘Steven’ Peterson double whammy. Knocked out, and Bisping still doesn’t know his name #UFCRio.”

This isn’t the first slip. Back in May, during the UFC card in Des Moines headlined by Cory Sandhagen vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Michael Bisping repeatedly called Thomas Petersen “Steven Peterson” during his prelims bout against Don’Tale Mayes. Then, at UFC Rio, he repeated the same mistake. One fan wrote, “Jokes that Bisping kept calling Thomas Peterson, Steven. Biggest MMA stage in the world and the hired commentators can’t get your name right lol fuckin brutal.” Another joked: “I guess the @ufc feels the count @bisping talks enough for two, therefore sent him to Rio solo at the desk today OOLLL.”

Meanwhile, YouTube personality MMA Guru highlighted another issue with Michael Bisping’s style: “Michael Bisping ‘LET ME FINISH’ to John Gooden in round 2, very snappy on the mic today. All due to Gooden trying to chime in as he yapped for minutes straight about Round 1 & got interrupted as Alvarez landed a flush flying knee on Luque.” Overall, this moment underscores ongoing concerns about Bisping’s approach in the booth.

Where do you stand on Michael Bisping’s commentary? Should a simple misstep like this overshadow his entire legacy? Let us know your thoughts.