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Though the last few weeks have been full of news, the biggest story recently in MMA is the return of former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who will fight middleweight champion Michael Bisping for the title sometime later this year. It’s a fight that has been met with a lot of dissatisfaction, but with lightweight champion Conor McGregor’s return nowhere in sight, it figures to be the dominant talking point for the foreseeable future. It doesn’t hurt that people close to the fight are also continuously giving sound bites about it.
Recently, the Las Vegas Review-Journal caught up with Bisping’s coach Jason Parillo who discussed the impending matchup and why he is so confident in Bisping to retain his title.
“We’re stoked. Not that it’s just a lottery with money. I know that people want to fight GSP because it’s a lottery of money and this is about money. It is. Once you’ve fought long enough you’ve got to get paid no matter which way you look at it and that’s where Michael Bisping kind of is at his career.
“Michael Bisping’s never ducked anybody in his whole career. He’s fought everybody. The last three fighters would kick GSP’s a** today. In a heartbeat. Do you understand what I’m saying? They would kick the s**t out of GSP. Are we concerned in fact that GSP can beat Michael Bisping? Of course. Anybody can beat anybody on any given day, especially a talented fighter like GSP. But we’ve been preparing for bigger beasts, badder beasts, stronger beasts and we’re gonna prepare for this guy. I promise you, Michael Bisping is gonna be good to go.”
Bisping’s last three opponents were Dan Henderson, Luke Rockhold, and Anderson Silva. Both Silva and Henderson have competed at light heavyweight previously and Rockhold is also a sizable middleweight. St-Pierre has fought his entire career as a welterweight and even made overtures about dropping to 155 pounds before accepting the middleweight title fight against Bisping. That being said, St-Pierre is widely regarded as one of the best fighters of all time, thus Parillo won’t count him out of the fight. In fact, St-Pierre’s greatness is what attracts him most to the matchup.
“I’ve had a fighter against Georges St-Pierre in the past and Georges St-Pierre is a very intelligent fighter. And very gifted and talented and strong. He really is well-rounded in all areas and that’s what makes the victory - when we win this fight - even that much sweeter.”
Bisping and St-Pierre will fight for the UFC middleweight title at a yet to be determined event, date, and venue later this year.
MUST-READ STORIES
USADA. Ben Rothwell has been flagged by USADA for a potential anti-doping violation.
More. Floyd Mayweather tells Conor McGregor to “sign the papers.”
Changes. Eddie Alvarez says he’s “shocked” Nate Diaz refused to fight him.
Cyborg. Amanda Nunes explains why she isn’t interested in a fight with Cris Cyborg.
Right leg. Alistair Overeem says he was hospitalized twice before bout with Mark Hunt.
MEDIA STEW
Promo.
Michael Bisping vs. GSPMichael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre for the middleweight belt!!
Posted by UFC on Monday, March 6, 2017
Mayweather telling Conor to sign the papers.
Skip Bayless being the worst yet again.
Jeff Monson handing out flowers to women in Moscow on International Women’s Day. (@zidansports)
Five years of TTTHS.
Nate with the correct take on McGregor’s chances against Mayweather.
Nick saying GSP and Bisping ducked him.
LISTEN UP
Jack Slack.
Beatdown.
TWEETS
Rothwell statement.
With the recent news received from USADA I would like to take this time to let everyone know, I have been under the care...
Posted by Ben Rothwell on Tuesday, March 7, 2017
And out come the wolves.
Like I said before https://t.co/M7QJ6qu7iV
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) March 8, 2017
All these fighters in ufc getting popped for banned substances. Keep the fukin sport clean!!
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) March 8, 2017
Conor coming for welterweight.
Happy Wednesday to all my fans I love you all ❤️ pic.twitter.com/78G05c5VUi
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 8, 2017
Pickin’ a fight.
Stop fuckin playin and sign the contract @RenanBaraoUFC. Let's put on a show in Nashville. pic.twitter.com/u3jQ3DgT13
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) March 8, 2017
Nah. It’s battery.
Nope that's the proper way to handle a snake!! https://t.co/YxuIlVSjhG
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) March 7, 2017
Congrats.
AKA moving up in the world.
Ricardo Lamas is for the birds.
Here's an updated video of our Congo Africa Grey "Cilantro" and her improving vocabulary. This isn't her entire vocabulary but it's a good portion of it. I finally got her doing her Scarface impression on camera. #africangrey #talking #lamaszoo #ufcpets #parrot
Posted by Ricardo "The Bully" Lamas on Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Beef.
@EllenbergerMMA practiced for his stand up career (after he lays down 1 more time) on the podcast with @ChaelSonnen
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) March 7, 2017
Worked out.
He already ducked and dodged and talked himself out of the fight! Don't let his fake twitter talk fool you. He didn't want it weeks ago! https://t.co/TUu1kuRDLk
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) March 7, 2017
Lol shut up https://t.co/yjuoudffa6
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) March 7, 2017
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bekbulat Magomedov (17-1) vs. Donavon Frelow (6-1); WSOF 35, March 18.
Anastasia Yankova (4-0) vs. Elina Kallionidou (5-1); Bellator 176, April 8.
Eddie Alvarez (28-5) vs. Dustin Poirier (21-5); UFC 211, May 13.
Henry Cejudo (10-2) vs. Sergio Pettis (15-2); UFC 211, May 13.
Dave Branch (20-3) vs. Krzysztof Jotko (19-1); UFC 211, May 13.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2003: Nate Marquardt knocked out Izuru Takeuchi to defend his Pancrase middleweight championship at Pancrase: Hybrid 3.
2014: Alexander Gustafson stopped Jimi Manuwa in the main event of UFC Fight Night 37.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you didn’t watch the video from the main, at the end Parillo says B.J. Penn is “1000%” coming back. So we all have that tragedy to look forward to later in 2017. Ugh.
That’s it for today y’all. Have a good one and I’ll see y’all tomorrow.
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.
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