https://youtu.be/GZ2248yGrUk
Last November, on the main card of UFC 205, Chris Weidman and Yoel Romero fought in what was quite clearly a number one contender fight at middleweight. In advance of this fight, however, UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping suggested that he had no interest in fighting Romero, even if he beat Weidman, citing the Cuban’s recent brush with USADA as a reason.
In the end, Romero won this fight with a blistering, flying knee KO. To the elation of every fan that wants to see champions to take on the best challengers possible, Bisping eventually back-tracked on his previous claim, conceding that he was willing to fight Romero in the new year. Since then, however, he has flipped-flopped again, and is now say he’s happy to snub Romero if a more lucrative bout presents itself.
Bisping made this point in an interview with champions.co.
“First and foremost, I am still UFC middleweight champion of the world,” Bisping said. “I have to defend that belt, simple as that. Dana actually- Dana White, UFC president- actually contacted me and spoke about a fight recently but I’ve been having a lot of issues with my knee so I’ve got to have a knee surgery. Maybe around end of April, May something like that, I’ll take a fight.”
“I want the biggest fight I can get,” he continued. “I don’t mind facing No. 1 contenders, but at this stage of my career I’ve fought the best guys forever. I want the biggest fight it can possibly be. By biggest, I mean the biggest money-generating fight I can possibly have. I feel I deserve that. I’ve earned that. So whether that’s Yoel Romero, then great. But if it ain’t Yoel Romero, if it’s Anderson Silva, great. I know he’s piped up again lately. If it’s GSP [Georges St-Pierre]- I don’t care who the opponent is. I’m not bothered by any opponent. I am the champion of the world and I will take on all comers, but I want the biggest fight possible.”
Who do you want to see Michael Bisping fight next? Sound off, PENN Nation!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 1/25/2017.