Michael Bisping made it clear that he wanted to fight in July.
That will not be happening.
Bisping was thrilled to get the chance to welcome Georges St-Pierre back to the Octagon in what will come as the biggest guaranteed payday for the reigning UFC middleweight champion… when it eventually comes to fruition.
St-Pierre, the former longtime welterweight champion, hasn’t fought in almost four years but he was to get a title shot in an unfamiliar division upon his return, with confirmation from UFC president Dana White in February that GSP would compete for 185lbs gold in his comeback fight.
No date, card or venue was given for the bout and it didn’t take long for Bisping to lose his patience as he issued an ultimatum to St-Pierre last month, insisting he would be content to walk away from the fight if St-Pierre continued to push for a later date.
Could be good news for Yoel Romero https://t.co/BzPCeBaSEW
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 28, 2017
Well the latest update from the St-Pierre camp will only serve to frustrate the Manchester middleweight further as ‘Rush’ has suggested a later date than anyone could have possibly imagined.
“Mr. Bisping, I cleared my entire schedule to get ready for training camp after the summer,” St-Pierre said. “So I can fight you any time after October. Pick the date. Let’s get it on.”
A message to Michael @bisping. pic.twitter.com/PYEg3Q0osV
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) May 5, 2017
Bisping’s first defence of his middleweight crown came last October and with St-Pierre insisting that he won’t be ready until after this coming October, it would result in the longest period of time in UFC history in which the 185lbs title went undefended.
Fight fans already showered the situation with criticism, ridiculing Bisping for favouring a lucrative payday with St-Pierre over the most logical defence, against number one contender Yoel Romero.
And while we anxiously await a response from ‘The Count’, what this might do is set up an interim title fight between Romero and Anderson Silva, who has been crying out for just that.
Ultimatum delivered https://t.co/zbvceV6SZ8
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 2, 2017
Meanwhile, the responses to St-Pierre’s above video have not exactly been in favour of the Canadian’s proposition.
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping fights never gana happen…..
— Dan Hangman Hooker (@danthehangman) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping Thanks for coming out of retirement early and holding up the Middleweight division until “after October” really nice of you.
— Kyro (@Kyro7) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @arielhelwani @bisping Proper piss take. Was meant to be summer time.
— Luke (@_LukeEdwards_) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping After October? Lmao should’ve stayed retired
— Sam (@SamOKC94) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @arielhelwani @bisping Anytime after October?? Wtf. I could fight michael bisping at this point. Anyone else not give a single fuck about this now? October???
— Kevin Peterson (@KdubPeterson) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @arielhelwani @bisping October? Give over.
— Dominic (@Dibble75) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping ay dios mio … pic.twitter.com/d1OtFRaaRY
— dan shapiro (@dannyshap) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping Just retire again GSP. This is ridiculous. Either fight or not.
— “Mad Yeti” (@_MadYeti) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @arielhelwani @bisping You’re holding up a division. WTF was the point of making this fight official so soon then?
— Rayao’ (@UnRayao) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @arielhelwani @bisping You’re holding up a division. WTF was the point of making this fight official so soon then?
— Rayao’ (@UnRayao) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping October? Do one
— Wils (@fat_roadie) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping Call yourself a professional???? Why come back so early, why announce everything so early, why confirm the fight??? Bisping should cancel
— B E (@BigEvil2013) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @arielhelwani @bisping Much respect to you GSP but hey @bisping – go fight @YoelRomeroMMA instead man…no need to hold up the division
— rey_23 (@andy23reyes) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping This fight is quickly becoming the biggest UFC joke of a title fight in history.
— Kieran (@unfulfildestiny) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping The fuckkk… who cares, thanks for holding up the division. pic.twitter.com/KMnCQglHta
— Nick (@NickGreenThumb) May 5, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre @bisping why was this fight even announced if it’s gonna take a year to happen…
— Steven Torres (@StevenT14068795) May 5, 2017
