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Michael Bisping is getting ready to shuffle off this MMA coil.
The UFC middleweight champion has had one of the most storied careers in the history of the organization. Bisping, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 3, has been competing for the UFC for over a decade, racking up five Fight of the Night bonuses and two Performance of the Night bonuses along with setting the record for most UFC wins and tying the record for most UFC fights. But all of that looks like it will be coming to an end sometime next year.
In a recent interview with ODDSbible, Bisping announced that he will likely only fight two more times before calling it a career, the proposed title defense against Georges St-Pierre and then once more in his home country.
“If that fight [with St-Pierre] happens in November or December then after I beat him, one more fight in England. My last fight would have to be here, the fans have always got behind me, every step of the way. I'm not saying 100 percent it'll be my final fight, but I can't fight forever. I'm in a good place right now but who knows!”
The fight with St-Pierre is no longer a certainty, but Bisping is hopeful that the UFC still intends for that to be his next title defense. St-Pierre himself has said that he’s “positive” the fight will still happen later in the year when both men recover from minor injuries. In the meantime, the middleweight division is finally set to move on. Bisping last defended his belt at UFC 204 in October of 2016 and with his knee injury preventing him from fighting until November an interim title fight between Yoel Romero and Robert Whittaker is taking place at UFC 213. The undisputed middleweight champion doesn’t begrudge the UFC for making the fight but he does think the interim title they’ll be fighting for is worthless.
“It doesn't mean anything; interim belts aren't worth the leather they're printed on. An interim belt is a joke, I defended the belt in October and I've had a bit of a knee issue, but it's the UFC's decision, and if they want to do that, then good for them! All it does is solidify who the number one contender is. They've got to sell pay-per-views. Dana asked me to fight in July, which I said I couldn't as I'd had two knee surgeries at the start of the year and the recovery time hasn't gone to plan. It's taking longer than expected so he asked did I mind an interim title fight so I said do what you've got to do. It doesn't bother me.”
Assuming everything goes according to Bisping’s plans, “The Count” will be fighting the winner of that interim title for his farewell bout. Bisping has stated publicly that he’d prefer to fight Whittaker due to the failed drug test in Romero’s history and with Whittaker fighting Romero first, Bisping thinks his wish will come true.
“I think Whittaker will pull it off. I know everyone hypes about Romero but he's a juicehead. He tested positive not too long ago so I'd assume he's not on anything now as he doesn't want to get suspended again so the more time that passes, the advantages of those steroids will wear off. Whittaker is young, he's got good footwork and boxing, and I think he knocks him out in Round 4 or 5.”
Bisping is currently rehabbing a knee injury and is expected to be out of competition until the fall.
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VIDEO STEW
Monday Morning Analyst. Learn you something.
TTTHS.
Kendrick bringing people together.
Since she’s fighting this weekend, check out some of Holly’s best work.
LISTEN UP
The Fighter and the Kid. TFATK doing their usual thing.
Anik and Florian. Brian Stann joins and says he doesn’t think Derrick Lewis retires.
Severe MMA. UFC Singapore and DJ beef are the topics.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Solid.
Man, much respect to Floyd Senior still getting a few rounds in at the gym. I hope I can still train at that age.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 13, 2017
Respect. pic.twitter.com/Q2jv4Lffgd
Out of the game but still the best in the game.
Travis Browne waking up from the dead saying he wants a rematch and Francis learning how to use google translator talking shit ♂️ ♂️
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) June 12, 2017
I feel like Cub is building himself up for a real brutal let down here.
Then let's do it You ain't scary Me lol https://t.co/hKLOrdaHj9
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) June 13, 2017
Would watch.
If i could only forget about my last year of sickness and get back to me beating up @tazmexufc like I was originally supposed to do. https://t.co/Jw9g3FwNVj
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) June 12, 2017
You wanna fight? How about you stick your head up my butt and fight for air.
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) June 12, 2017
Wow so this is what trash talk has come to? Well thanks for the let down haha have fun being even less marketable than @MightyMouseUFC https://t.co/uqaeTYUzAI
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) June 13, 2017
lol it's a classic joe dirt quote. And take care of your health issues and we can run it back. When ever that may be
— Ray Borg (@tazmexufc) June 13, 2017
Next time we see Rose, she may well look like that.
Rough.
Dying @TeciaTorres had a rough moment trying to surf, think everyone one the boat was crying from laughing so hard haha #lakelife pic.twitter.com/4cyxqrsvmp
— Raquel Pennington (@RockyPMMA) June 12, 2017
Congrats to the newlyweds.
Shogun seems to think he got a fight for UFC Japan.
He’s not wrong.
Shows how much those @ufc media rankings mean. #easymoney https://t.co/zM1by5UkWF
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) June 13, 2017
Stop the damn match!
3 former UFC champions, 1 PRIDE FC champion, 1 Strikeforce champion, 1 former UFC title challenger. #RainingFacts #UFCSingapore https://t.co/7QJx2sY9YI
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) June 13, 2017
All of whom are a combined 0-14-1 in their past 15 fights. #Facts4Days #UFCSingapore https://t.co/q5eNBTQSr1
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) June 13, 2017
Damn, Rich.
ON THIS DAY... 7 YEARS AGO... pic.twitter.com/erCyWvn64d
— Rich Franklin (@RichFranklin) June 12, 2017
Learn you something.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Johnny Case (22-5) vs. Tony Martin (11-3); UFC Fight Night: Oklahoma City, June 25.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2009: Rich Franklin won a unanimous decision over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99 in a 195 pound catchweight bout. UFC 99 was held in Cologne, Germany and was the first UFC event held in mainland Europe.
2015: At UFC 188, Fabricio Werdum submitted Cain Velasquez with a guillotine choke to become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. In the co-main event, Eddie Alvarez picked up his first UFC win, taking a split decision over Gilbert Melendez.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Rumors abound that MayGregor has actually been signed and set for August. My position has been and remains that this fight won’t happen, but just thought I’d let y’all know for those who don’t.
Take it easy y’all and Conor bless.
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 it.