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

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Solid.

Out of the game but still the best in the game.

I feel like Cub is building himself up for a real brutal let down here.

Would watch.

Next time we see Rose, she may well look like that.

Rough.

Congrats to the newlyweds.

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He’s not wrong.

Stop the damn match!

Damn, Rich.

Learn you something.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Johnny Case (22-5) vs. Tony Martin (11-3); UFC Fight Night: Oklahoma City, June 25.

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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.

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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.

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