Michael Bisping

By FCF Staff

Michael Bisping is taking heat for agreeing to fight Georges St-Pierre next, rather than number one, middleweight contender Yoel Romero, but the champ is defending his decision.

Yesterday Dana White announced that Bisping will fight St-Pierre sometime later this year. Since the bout will mark the first time the latter has fought since 2013, and because GSP hasn’t fought at 185, the decision has been met with some criticism.

Bisping appeared on the latest “UFC Tonight” on Wednesday, and the British star had this to say in his defense (quote via MMA Fighting):

“I know there are people out there who are criticizing me,” Bisping said. “Saying I should fight the number one contender, guys like Yoel Romero, and they’re absolutely right. But, put the question right back to you: If you are Yoel Romero, or Luke Rockhold, or Jacare [Souza] or any of these guys. If you were offered a fight with GSP, I know for a fact you’re going to take that fight. So why shouldn’t I do the same? I deserve this payoff, I deserve this fight, not only for the payday, I want this fight for my legacy.”

The Bisping – St-Pierre fight has yet to receive a date, but it’s expected to take place in the second half of 2017.  In Bisping’s first title defense, he earned a decision win over Dan Henderson this past October, who at the time was not ranked in the top ten.