http://www.foxsports.com.au/ufc/ufc...k=f13839b7bf8e812ff4a17b32508b2572-1494481266
UFC Dana White: Georges St-Pierre vs Michael Bisping off, Yoel Romero gets title shot - UFC Fight Week
- May 11, 2017 1:14pm
- by STAFF WRITERS
- Source: FOX SPORTS
DANA White has dropped a UFC bombshell, declaring Georges St-Pierre’s comeback title fight against Michael Bisping is dead.
With GSP saying he would not fight until “after October”, the stacked middleweight division had been put into gridlock and top contenders were taking angry potshots at the UFC.
White has now seemingly taken the extraordinary of killing the GSP vs Bisping match - planned as a blockbuster comeback for the Canadian icon after more than three years out of the Octagon, and a deserved big payday for the English journeyman.
White said Bisping would now fight No.1 contender Yoel Romero, as was originally planned.
“I made this GSP fight, we did a press conference. The thing was supposed to happen in July. Michael Bisping is going to have to defend his title now. We’re not waiting for GSP,” White told FOX Sports Australia’s
UFC Fight Week in an exclusive interview.
“(Yoel) doesn’t need to voice his opinion on why he needs a title shot. He definitely deserves a title shot. He’s next in line, he’s the No.1 ranked guy in the world.
WATCH DANA WHITE’S FULL INTERVIEW TONIGHT AT 7PM (AEST) ON UFC FIGHT WEEK, EXCLUSIVELY ON FOX SPORTS 501!
“Georges St-Pierre was coming back. Bisping-St-Pierre - they both wanted that fight. We asked Yoel to step aside, he did. It doesn’t look like that fight is gonna happen now.
“Georges St-Pierre is saying he will not be ready to compete now until November. Who knows if that’s even the case. It could be next year.
“So we’re not waiting for Georges St-Pierre anymore. We’re moving on with the division, and Yoel Romero will get the next shot.”
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Georges St-Pierre
✔@GeorgesStPierre
A message to Michael
@bisping.
4:28 AM - 6 May 2017
St-Pierre sent the above message to Bisping just days ago - a callout that has now been slapped down by White.
DANA’S WHITTAKER-AUSTRALIA TITLE FIGHT TEASE
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White’s bombshell decision, should it be carried through, is massive news for the middleweight division - including for Australia’s soaring contender Robert Whittaker. ‘The Reaper’ is now ranked No.3 after his sensational recent defeat of Jacare Souza and harbours hopes of a title shot in the near future, while former champion Luke Rockhold has also been agitating for another shot at the belt - which he lost to Bisping in a Round 1 KO boilover at UFC 199 in June last year.
Bisping had actually named Whittaker as his preferred opponent, having launched regular outspoken assaults on Romero’s chequered doping record.
Michael Bisping reacts after defeating Luke Rockhold for the UFC middleweight title.Source: AFP
In the same interview with UFC Fight Week, White declared that he was excited aboutt he prospect of Whittaker
fighting for the middleweight title in Australia one day.
“Let me tell you what: I’d love to be doing the middleweight world title back in Australia. How crazy you think that would be?” White said.
“Australia’s been very good to the UFC and to the sport of mixed martial arts. Now, it looks like you guys could potentially have a world champion.”
