Morning Report: Michael Bisping thinks if Georges St-Pierre wins, he vacates 185 belt to chase Conor McGregor
Earlier this week, Michael Bisping came out with an ultimatum for middleweight title challenger Georges St-Pierre: fight me in July or Yoel Romero gets the title shot. It was a shocking development considering the financial incentives for facing St-Pierre instead of Romero. However, as Bisping told listeners of his SiriusXM radio show The Countdown, on Thursday, it was more an outburst of frustration at the lack of a definitive timeline for the fight than it was an actual ultimatum.
“Since the press conference, I haven’t heard a thing. It’s been radio silence. So I’m just getting a little frustrated with the whole situation. I’ve had no bout agreement. If you’re training for a fight, you’ve got to target your weight you’ve got to structure other things in your life, other opportunities that might come your way that you have to turn down. You’ve got to start planning it all, and July really isn’t that far away.”
Bisping vs. St-Pierre was announced at the beginning of this month, but without a set date or venue. A few days later, a press conference was held with the two fighters but since then nothing has been announced. Rumors have circulated about the UFC targeting July 8th for UFC 213 in Las Vegas for the fight but nothing has come to fruition, and Bisping has said that St-Pierre wants to wait to fight until September. Some fans have speculated that St-Pierre’s seeming delay might be to bulk up for his middleweight debut, something he often discussed back during his title reign when talks of an Anderson Silva superfight were rampant.
But Bisping doesn’t think that’s the reason. The middleweight champion thinks that win or lose, St-Pierre isn’t long for the 185-pound division.
“Here’s what I think GSP’s plan is. He comes back, he fights me, he beats me. In the time that takes, Demian Maia beats Jorge Masvidal then he fights Tyron Woodley. [St-Pierre] believes - because he said this - that Maia beats Woodley. Then, from him fighting me, he fights Maia, relinquishes the 185-pound belt, then he goes for the 170 belt. He fights Maia because stylistically it’s a good fight for him because Georges is a great wrestler and he’s very, very accomplished at jiu-jitsu. I think he can do what I’m going to do to GSP, stop his takedowns and win the fight on the feet.
“Then from there - he’s spoke about this - then he’s gonna relinquish that and then fight Conor McGregor for the lightweight belt. That is his master plan, I guarantee it. And if he can pull it off, then he would definitely go down as the greatest mixed martial arts fighter in history.
“I do think that after that, he’s gonna fight at his weight class - 170 - and then go for the big, big money fight against Conor, which would be almost as big as, maybe, Conor vs. Floyd. That would do bigger numbers than Conor vs. Nate Diaz. It would be massive.”
St-Pierre’s coaches have made statements to suggest that a fight with McGregor is certainly on their radar and St-Pierre even said that he could make lightweight when he was discussing his return to fighting a year ago. If McGregor remains lightweight champion for long enough, McGregor vs. St-Pierre would likely be the biggest event in UFC history.
Bisping sees all this and believes the UFC is likely on board for St-Pierre’s speculative “master plan” because of the financial implications of it, but he says there’s one major problem, he has no intention of letting any of this happen.
“You’ve gotta look at the dollars and cents. That, for [the UFC] - because me and Conor are never going to fight. I’m way too big, I’d slap him around silly, let’s be honest. But GSP, that’s fathomable. That could very, very easily happen, and if I own the company, that’s what I want. But I’m gonna rain on the parade. I’m gonna take a big s**t on that bonfire.”
MUST-READ STORIES
Father Time. Daniel Cormier says Anderson Silva was the easiest fight of his career.
Lax. NYSAC remained vague on drug testing procedures for Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva.
Lit. Tonya Evinger says past UFC criticisms have “lit a fire under my ass.”
Conference call. UFC 210 had its conference call with the big timers.
VIDEO STEW
Weigh ins.
And in celebration of this weekend, here’s a Rampage highlight set to Roy Jones Jr. rapping.
Tommy actually did one every day this week.
So glad all boxers now have to start talking about MMA...
Alan Jouban on JBJ.
Hunto does a Q&A.
Live Q&A with Hunto while getting new ink fromMonarch Tattoo Studio in Sydney by Chris Showstoppr Tattoos!
Posted by Mark "Super Samoan" Hunt on Wednesday, March 29, 2017
LISTEN UP
MMA Mad.
Three Amigos.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
C’mon Joe. Be better.
#Littleman @JoeWarrenMMA must b insecure of his own manhood @nobu_sakakibara why does your guy @JerryMillen talk so much? @gabijiu nohespect pic.twitter.com/03GMUor51D
— #UFC214 #LetsGoChamp (@criscyborg) March 30, 2017
Still don’t want to see it.
I walk around at 146 lbs https://t.co/SqMUgkhACE
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) March 30, 2017
10 weeks later.....
@tarecfighter let's do it
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) March 30, 2017
And of course that got Colby mad.
Is he challenging RDA to a fight or asking him to spring formal? @ufc better hire extra security at weigh ins to keep them off eachother. https://t.co/ZhxgwRFsBn
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 31, 2017
You are so full of shit, your eyes are brown. https://t.co/xqJEcA2eOU
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 31, 2017
Just want to take this time to say F U to all the ranked @ufc welterweights dodging me and robbing me of a brighter future!
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) March 30, 2017
Airing grievances.
FYI, don't get injured if you fight on a @VictoryFighting event. They'll do anything they can to avoid paying the medical bill.
— Rick Glenn (@Gladiatorglenn) March 30, 2017
@VictoryFighting I didn't want to go here, but this has been an ongoing issue for some time now.
— Rick Glenn (@Gladiatorglenn) March 30, 2017
@Gladiatorglenn Iowa Commissioner @JosephLWalsh was informed of the situation as soon as we were informed of the claim (5 months after the fight)
— Victory Fighting (@VictoryFighting) March 30, 2017
@VictoryFighting @JosephLWalsh.he's the gentleman that gave me the medical policy form, after having to track some1 down to get medical care
— Rick Glenn (@Gladiatorglenn) March 30, 2017
I'm still owed 163 in ticket money https://t.co/wFR1hsCEcI
— Mike "Biggie" Rhodes (@TeamRocBiggie) March 30, 2017
@TeamRocBiggie @VictoryFighting You can't trust a man that doesn't look you in the eyes and shake your hand.
— Rick Glenn (@Gladiatorglenn) March 30, 2017
Paul is popular these days.
Hello @seanshelby I know @felderpaul don't want to fight with me but I will fight anybody you give me. Let's go Sweden may 28
— Makhachev Islam (@MAKHACHEVMMA) March 30, 2017
Quality branding goals.
@TWooodley you're already bigger than Bisping, but we've got you covered if extra #gainz are needed for 185! 4 packs are now available: pic.twitter.com/nMrJw3YZCO
— Metabolic Meals (@MetabolicMeals) March 31, 2017
I'll send @bisping he will need all the advantage he can get! https://t.co/M8Agf62oAd
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) March 31, 2017
Hunto’s new tattoo.
Congrats Master Torres.
When your in the 5ft club hahahha #cap&gown pic.twitter.com/xfrKtWo3BZ
— Tecia Torres (@TeciaTorres) March 30, 2017
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vinc Pichel (9-1) vs. Damien Brown (17-9); UFC Fight Night: Auckland, June 10.
Michael Chiesa (14-2) vs. Kevin Lee (15-2); UFC Fight Night: OKC, June 25.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2010: Takanori Gomi made his UFC debut, getting submitted by Kenny Florian in the main event of UFC Fight Night 21.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Enjoy heavy Rampage and see y’all on Monday.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.