Those waiting for the long-awaited return of former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre (GSP)…will have to wait a little longer.
UFC President Dana White just broke the news to Fox Sports Australia’s UFC Fight Week that the fight between GSP and reigning middleweight kingpin “The Count” Michael Bisping has been called off.
White told UFC Fight Week that the promotion was unwilling to wait for GSP:
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 continued:
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.
Instead, #1 middleweight contender Yoel Romero will face Bisping for the strap:
(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.
White and the UFC have come under harsh criticism from former middleweight champs Anderson “The Spider” Silva and Luke Rockhold for letting GSP leap frog the entire division for the middleweight championship without giving the rest of the division a shot at the title or an interim title. No word on whether or not this criticism had any impact on Dana White’s decision.
