Back in November, streaking Cuban contender Yoel Romero knocked out former middleweight champion Chris Weidman with a third-round flying knee, earning himself a shot at the current middleweight champ Michael Bisping in the process.
Regrettably, however, Romero’s title shot still hasn’t been booked, and there seems to be increasing reason for him to worry it won’t happen, as Bisping flirts with the idea of super fights with Georges St-Pierre and Tyron Woodley.
According to Romero’s manager, Malki Kawa, this is a clear and simple case of Bisping doing everything he can to avoid the Cuban.
“The reality of it is that Dana agrees and so does every single person that owns the UFC, has a piece of the UFC,” Kawa said on the Luke Thomas Show. “From the celebrity owners to Ari Emanuel, Patrick Whitesell, every one of the employees at WME, every single person here at First Round Management, and probably the millions and millions of fans that watch the UFC agree that Yoel Romero deserves the next shot at Michael Bisping. I think the issue here is the following: Michael Bisping understands that his days are numbered when it comes to a guy like Yoel Romero. I think he understands the game very well from every opponent he’s picked.”
advertisement – continue reading below
Kawa then elaborated:
“Obviously, you’ve seen what he’s done,” he said. “He fought Dan Henderson. He wanted Dan Henderson in London. It made no sense whatsoever. The UFC didn’t want to do that fight. He kind of forced their hand because obviously he has the belt.”
“What I’ve seen from Mike is that he’s gonna call his shots and he’s gonna make smart moves, which I can’t blame him for. If you were managing Michael Bisping, or you were Michael Bisping, and you had your choice of waiting on a guy who’s been out for two and a half years, which might get you your largest payday, or fighting a guy who’s probably the scariest person in the UFC at this point – you’re talking about [Romero’s] 10 fights, nine of them are knockouts – I don’t know that you’d want to fight this guy either.”
“I don’t care what anybody says, he is absolutely ducking Yoel Romero right now. It’s been confirmed to me by everybody at the UFC. Michael Bisping wants no part of Yoel Romero at this point. None whatsoever.”
advertisement – continue reading below
Do you think Michael Bisping is ducking Yoel Romero? Sound off, PENN Nation!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/22/2017.