“I think it certainly puts me right up there at the top of the list,” said Bisping as transcribed by Sherdog. “Obviously Vitor … I’m not sure what’s going on with the Nevada commission, but I think Vitor’s out for a little while, so forget about him. Obviously Machida is fighting for the belt and then after that, who is there? I think Jacare’s got an injury as well at the moment.

“As I said, I’ve won seven of my last nine. I’ve been a perennial top-10 fighter ever since I was in the middleweight division. I bring a lot of excitement to the division. I think if I put on a good performance, I think I certainly deserve a title shot. It’s up to the UFC whether or not I’m worthy. I’ll certainly be pleading my case, but who knows? Maybe after Tim Kennedy, maybe one more win, but I certainly think I’m up there.”

“The way the situation is at the moment, Anderson Silva’s out for a while, Vitor’s out for a while, Machida’s fighting for the belt. Once [Machida and champion Chris Weidman] settle that, I think there may be a possibility for me to get my title shot.”

In a recent interview with Bruce Buffer on ‘It’s Time’ Radio, Michael ‘The Count’ Bisping discussed the repercussions of next week’s fight against Tim Kennedy.

Should Bisping get a title shot with a finish over Kennedy?