Following Yoel Romero’s UFC 205 win over Chris Weidman in 2016, UFC President Dana White confirmed that Yoel Romero would be getting the next middleweight title shot against Michael Bisping when the champ is ready to return from a knee surgery.
Bisping of course, in his time off, has been pushing for a superfight with welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, who recently was booked for a UFC 209 fight with Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. Despite that, Bisping has maintained that a fight with Romero isn’t at the top of his wish-list, but maintained that he would fight the Cuban Olympian.
Romero believes otherwise, calling for the champ to be stripped of the middleweight title if he turns down the fight in a social media post saying:
Then he should be stripped of the title. #ufc champion is not just a title but a responsibility to the fans and to the people to compete
Middleweight contender @JacareMMA doesn't think @bisping will accept a fight with @YoelRomeroMMA #UFC208 #UFChttps://t.co/J6tvNel1hU
— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) February 8, 2017
Then he should be stripped of the title. #ufc champion is not just a title but a responsibility to the fans and to the people to compete https://t.co/h8KdOTDmuq
— Peoples Champ (@YoelRomeroMMA) February 8, 2017
Romero then began posting the link to a GoFundMe that he created for Bisping, where fight fans can donate to Bisping’s medical expenses following their fight.
“He (Bisping) will be needing money to survive after me and him meet in the octagon approximately May of 2017. He is happy in this picture after defending his title against another fighter and the devastation he went through has caused him to have surgery on his knee where all the visible damage was on his face. This surgery has prevented him from competing in a timely manner. After his fight with me, I am convinced he will need this money to rebuild his life, he has a family and I am deeply concerned for him. Please help any way that you can as all funds will be used for medical expenses and his retirement party. Thank you for your time and #ynuevo”
If we can bet on one thing, it is the champ responding!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/9/2017.