Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping joins The Culture Collective to discuss stepping into his first leading role as Atlas King in the new MMA action thriller ATLAS KING, working opposite Cuba Gooding Jr., bringing authentic fight choreography to the screen, and returning to The Ultimate Fighter 20 years after the show helped launch his UFC career.
Bisping opens up about making the transition from professional fighter to actor, the preparation required to carry a feature film, and how elements of Atlas King's past allowed him to pull from experiences in his own life. He also explains how his competitive nature continues to drive him now that his fighting career is over.
We also discuss George Finn's transformation for the film, including months of fight training, and why Bisping was determined to make the action feel authentic enough to satisfy MMA fans. He breaks down working with the stunt team to adjust choreography, add techniques that would actually work in a street fight, and make the violence feel different from competition inside the Octagon.
Bisping also reflects on working with Cuba Gooding Jr. as Clay Emerson, their eventual showdown, and what he learned acting opposite an Academy Award winner. The conversation then turns back to the UFC as Bisping discusses The Ultimate Fighter 34, Xavier Franklin's controversial fight, the accidental eye poke, Herb Dean, and why he still sees championship potential in Franklin.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Michael Bisping reacts to the Xavier Franklin eye poke
00:42 Michael Bisping joins The Culture Collective
01:49 Going from MMA fighter to actor
02:48 Becoming the lead and producer of ATLAS KING
04:42 George Finn's fight training and transformation
06:42 Making ATLAS KING's fight scenes feel authentic
08:19 Could Michael Bisping direct a movie next?
09:30 Returning to The Ultimate Fighter 20 years later
11:00 Xavier Franklin, Herb Dean and the controversial fight
13:33 Atlas, Tommy and the film's family themes
14:57 Working with Cuba Gooding Jr.
16:04 Building the Bisping vs. Cuba Gooding Jr. showdown
18:18 Making an independent film look bigger than its budget
18:59 Could ATLAS KING get a sequel?
Synopsis:
Atlas King returns home to find the city's fight game controlled by ruthless crime boss Clay Emerson. When Atlas discovers that the people closest to him are being pulled into the same dangerous world he escaped, savage fights, a high-stakes heist and an explosive showdown force him into a final battle for control.
ATLAS KING stars Michael Bisping, Cuba Gooding Jr., George Finn, Anne Winters, Sarah Wayne Callies, Lara Wolf, John Edward Lee, Tetiana Dar, Jeff Perkins and François Chau.
Written and directed by Nika Agiashvili.
ATLAS KING is available On Digital and On-Demand August 21, 2026 from Saban Films.
#MichaelBisping #AtlasKing #UFC
UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping joins The Culture Collective to discuss stepping into his first leading role as Atlas King in the new MMA action thriller ATLAS KING, working opposite Cuba Gooding Jr., bringing authentic fight choreography to the screen, and returning to The Ultimate Fighter 20 years after the show helped launch his UFC career.
Bisping opens up about making the transition from professional fighter to actor, the preparation required to carry a feature film, and how elements of Atlas King's past allowed him to pull from experiences in his own life. He also explains how his competitive nature continues to drive him now that his fighting career is over.
We also discuss George Finn's transformation for the film, including months of fight training, and why Bisping was determined to make the action feel authentic enough to satisfy MMA fans. He breaks down working with the stunt team to adjust choreography, add techniques that would actually work in a street fight, and make the violence feel different from competition inside the Octagon.
Bisping also reflects on working with Cuba Gooding Jr. as Clay Emerson, their eventual showdown, and what he learned acting opposite an Academy Award winner. The conversation then turns back to the UFC as Bisping discusses The Ultimate Fighter 34, Xavier Franklin's controversial fight, the accidental eye poke, Herb Dean, and why he still sees championship potential in Franklin.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Michael Bisping reacts to the Xavier Franklin eye poke
00:42 Michael Bisping joins The Culture Collective
01:49 Going from MMA fighter to actor
02:48 Becoming the lead and producer of ATLAS KING
04:42 George Finn's fight training and transformation
06:42 Making ATLAS KING's fight scenes feel authentic
08:19 Could Michael Bisping direct a movie next?
09:30 Returning to The Ultimate Fighter 20 years later
11:00 Xavier Franklin, Herb Dean and the controversial fight
13:33 Atlas, Tommy and the film's family themes
14:57 Working with Cuba Gooding Jr.
16:04 Building the Bisping vs. Cuba Gooding Jr. showdown
18:18 Making an independent film look bigger than its budget
18:59 Could ATLAS KING get a sequel?
Synopsis:
Atlas King returns home to find the city's fight game controlled by ruthless crime boss Clay Emerson. When Atlas discovers that the people closest to him are being pulled into the same dangerous world he escaped, savage fights, a high-stakes heist and an explosive showdown force him into a final battle for control.
ATLAS KING stars Michael Bisping, Cuba Gooding Jr., George Finn, Anne Winters, Sarah Wayne Callies, Lara Wolf, John Edward Lee, Tetiana Dar, Jeff Perkins and François Chau.
Written and directed by Nika Agiashvili.
ATLAS KING is available On Digital and On-Demand August 21, 2026 from Saban Films.
#MichaelBisping #AtlasKing #UFC
