MICHAEL Bisping almost doesn’t recognise himself.

He takes a second glance at a picture of him performing a fly kick in the middle of a Clitheroe terraced street taken from the Lancashire Telegraph’s Grassroots supplement 12 years ago and smiles.

“It is fantastic, it really is,” he says of the journey he has been on since the year of his first victory as a professional mixed martial artist.

Now he is back in town as the UFC middleweight champion of the world preparing to face Dan Henderson in front of a sell-out Manchester Arena crowd next month.

It’s quite a journey for the self-styled ‘Mick from Clitheroe’, as the man himself acknowledges.

“That was 2004,” he said looking at the picture. “That was when I turned pro and you are full of hopes and aspirations.

“I always saw myself making it but you have to be realistic as well which I am. It’s been a long journey but it has been fruitful.

“I said my desire was to bring this fight to England and they (UFC) said they wanted it in Cardiff and I said, ‘No, let’s go to Manchester, it is my home city.’

“I know I am from Clitheroe but in America no-one has heard of Clitheroe so I always say I am from Manchester.

“I have finally won the belt and to be able to bring it back to Manchester is a dream come true.”

Despite now living in Orange County, being one of America’s most well-known sporting icons and enjoying plenty of success as an actor - he is filming the Lenny McLean biopic My Name is Lenny for three weeks ahead of the Henderson bout alongside Sir Michael Gambon - Bisping hasn’t forgotten his East Lancashire roots.

He returned home after winning the world title with a knockout win over Luke Rockhold in June.

“I went back to Clitheroe with the belt,” he added. “I used to run up the steps to Clitheroe Castle as part of my training when I was a kid.

“It sounds very Rocky-esque but that is what I used to do.

“I went down and saw my mum who still lives in Clitheroe.

“I am still just the same old lad. I am Mick from Clitheroe and that is what my mates call me. In America they call me Mike or Michael and my mates will always say, ‘Who the hell is Mike? You’ve changed’.

“I love going back to Clitheroe, it hasn’t changed and I love it.”

Bisping is delighted to be flying the flag for UFC in this country. His career trajectory almost mirrors the growth of the sport. His last two fights on these shores having sold out in a total of 37 minutes, while the Henderson bout sold out in just six as UFC continues to increase in popularity, particularly in Britain.

And the 37-year-old is hopeful his increased fame will help the sport’s growth filter down to grassroots level.

“I am the first ever British champion and I am proud of that and I am hoping that it inspires some children,” he added.

“It is a fantastic thing for children to get involved with. Not everyone has to be a professional fighter.

“The sport is mixed martial arts (MMA), it is a combination of boxing, wrestling and judo which are all Olympics sports.

“I can dress it up all I want, but it is a contact sport and it is a tough sport - but not everybody that starts MMA has to do what I do.

“It teaches discipline and education and lots of other things.”

Bisping himself, now a resident of California, is experiencing the price of fame.

He was mobbed by fans while eating out in Manchester earlier this year.

His acting career is only going to bring him more attention, but he is happy to roll with the punches.

“I came back here recently and went to a restaurant and it was insane the amount of people who recognised me,” he said.

“It was nuts and I couldn’t believe it.

“That is a clear sign that this sport is growing massively. Even up until quite recently you didn’t see that much on social media but now I go on and whereas it used to be all about football now it is all about UFC, it is massive.”

The profile of next month’s fight with Henderson, who knocked out Bisping the last time they met in 2009, is apparent.

So is taking a break to join a Hollywood film set really the best preparation?

“I understand what people will be saying,” said Bisping of his decision to spend three weeks in the capital on set.

“But I do have my coach coming with me. The movie will be a bit of a distraction but it will give my body a chance to rest.

“I will do my weights in the morning, film in the day and then do my training at night. I will be burning the candle at both ends but I am relishing the opportunity.

“I will come back to Manchester a few days before the fight and will be ready to hopefully get the win.

“At the end of the day I am a lad from Clitheroe so I never thought any of this would happen. I have to take my opportunities.”

n UFC 204: Bisping v Hen-derson 2 is on Saturday, October 8 at Manchester Arena from 11pm.