While news that Michael Bisping will next defend his UFC middleweight title against returning welterweight great Georges St-Pierre generated excitement among some members of the MMA community, it was an undeniable bummer for Yoel Romero. Romero, after all, is the top contender in the middleweight division, and St-Pierre’s surprising middleweight title shot deprives him of the shot he’s worked so hard to earn.

Last night, however, the Cuban contender was given some cause for optimism, as Bisping suggested he was not willing to wait until the fall to fight St-Pierre, and that he is prepared to fight Romero in the meantime.

“So long story short it looks as if GSP is trying to push for a later date,” Bisping said on his Believe You Me podcast. “I have heard rumors of that a while ago from Ariel Helwani. I heard that he wanted like September or October and that is what the UFC told me as well. But I am just throwing it out there right now. If he wants to wait until September or October, then he can go find himself another opponent. Because I call the shots. Without sounding like an asshole, it is my belt. I am the champion, and I am not willing to sit around until September or October.

“If he’s not ready then I guess Yoel Romero gets his title shot,” he continued. “Listen I am not afraid of Yoel Romero. If GSP wants to fight then of course, there is a great storyline there. The fight would do great business. But I am not willing to sit around and he’s not calling the shots. I am the champ.”

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While this looks like good news for Romero, however, the streaking middleweight contender doesn’t seem to be buying it…

“I think [Michael Bisping] will do as [Georges St-Pierre] wants,” he said on Twitter. “He doesn’t have the heart nor the juevos to fight me. If he did, he would fight me in July.”

Do you think Yoel Romero will get his title shot before St-Pierre does? Sound off, PENN Nation!

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 3/28/2017.