CAGE fighting champion Michael Bisping refused to sign a new contact after claiming his management threatened to kill him, the High Court has been told.
The claims come as the current world UFC Middleweight title holder Bisping is being sued for more than £270,000 in unpaid fees and expenses, dating back ten years, by former manager Anthony McGann.
Michael Bisping has denied he ever signed a new contract with his management
But Bisping told the High Court he refused to sign a renew his deal claiming years of threats and bullying were “a breach of contract.”
He said he split with the Wolfslair MMA Gym in 2012 after seven years, claiming they were “violent people” and decided to move to the US train full-time with different management.
But Mr McGann has claimed the former fighter now owes him thousands of pounds in unpaid fees for representing him for six years.
The cage fighter is being sued for £270,000 in unpaid fees and expenses dating back ten years
Mr Nigel Lawrence QC, representing Mr McGann, asked why in 2011 did Bisping not bring up any of the problems he had with his management with Mr McGann before leaving.
Mr Bisping said: “There was no point in bringing it up. I thought I was moving on. The six years were up.
“They were violent people and there had been threats over the years and I was trying to make it a smooth transition.”
Mr Bisping also accused his former management of breaching the terms of the contract and said: “When they get the sponsorship money and didn’t give it to me . When they threatened to kill you then that’s a reason to move on.
“There were threats over the years and I would say that was a breach of contract.”
He said they had been trying to “swindle” money out of him.
In the contract that was signed there was a clause for the McGann and Wolfslair to receive a 20 per cent commission which Bisping said he had paid fully.
But Bisping denied he ever signed a contract with Mr McGann and he understood the agreement was with the Wolfslair gym.
Giving evidence at the High Court today Mr Bisping denied he had signed the contract when he was shown a copy of the document in court.
He admitted he didn’t fully read the whole contact when he signed it, but said the document put before him in court was several pages longer than the one he signed in 2005.
They were violent people and there had been threats over the years and I was trying to make it a smooth transition
Mr Bisping said it was not the contract he had signed, saying: “At the time he said to me ‘sign it, if its not fair then it won’t stand up in court’. That was his advice.”
He said he had always believed there was “skullduggery” going on, and addressing the judge, Mr Richard Salter, QC, he added: “It’s all a fabrication your Lordship. I have never seen any of them in my life.
“They’ve talked about time sheets. I have never in my life heard of an MMA gym that uses time sheets. It’s all lies and a fabrication.”
The trial, which is in its eighth day, continues.
