UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping taken to hospital after Dan Henderson fight

Michael Bisping was battered man when he was announced the winner (Picture: Getty)

Michael Bisping missed his post-title defence press conference because the champion was taken to hospital after UFC 204.

The 37-year-old successfully defended his middleweight belt in the early hours of Sunday morning against Dan Henderson.

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However, Bisping and Henderson went the full distance in the bout with the Brit narrowly taking victory in the judges decision.

Henderson knocked Bisping down twice in the opening two rounds and opened up a serious cut below his opponent’s right eye.

Henderson caught the champion with two big hits in the fight (Picture: Getty)

The American retired after the epic encouncter (Picture: Getty)

Blood was pouring from Bisping’s eye for most of the match and was extremely swollen by the time the champion left the octagon.

Henderson’s massive right hand punished Bisping early on and then again in the second round with the American raining down punches onto the fighter’s face when he had him on the floor.

All in a day's work.

A photo posted by Mikebisping (@mikebisping) on Oct 8, 2016 at 10:22pm PDT

It is unclear just how much Bisping could see by the end of the fight with his right eye almost shut due to the swelling.

It is standard procedure for the UFC to insist their fighters attend hospital after the type of gruelling bout that went down in the Manchester Arena between the two men and by the looks of Bisping’s face when he left the cage, it was entirely necessary.