Bisping vs. St-Pierre plans scrapped, Yoel Romero now gets next middleweight title shot

Several months ago, we learned that Georges St-Pierre and the UFC had squashed their differences, and that the former welterweight champion would be receive an immediate middleweight title shot against Michael Bisping upon his return. While this news was somewhat controversial, as St-Pierre’s shot deprived many of the middleweight division’s top contenders of their deserved shots, it was also met with widespread excitement.

Unfortunately, the UFC could not seem to lock down a date for this Bisping vs. St-Pierre middleweight title fight. Though Bisping repeatedly said he hoped the fight would occur during International Fight Week in July, St-Pierre suggested he couldn’t fight until the fall, and ultimatately, until after October.

A message to Michael @bisping. pic.twitter.com/PYEg3Q0osV

— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) May 5, 2017

In the wake of St-Pierre’s announcement that he won’t be able to fight till after October, UFC President Dana White has apparently opted to pull the plug on the whole thing. The next middleweight title shot will go to Cuba’s Yoel Romero – a man who probably deserved it all along.

White broke the news in an interview with Fox Sports Australia.

“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. [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.”

“Georges St-Pierre was coming back. Bisping-St-Pierre – they both wanted that fight. We asked Yoel to step aside, he did. It doesn’t look like that fight is gonna happen now. 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. We’re moving on with the division, and Yoel Romero will get the next shot.”

Do you think giving Yoel Romero the next title shot is the right decision by the UFC?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/11/2017.