Yoel Romero was given the opportunity to impress middleweight champion Michael Bisping and UFC officials at UFC 205.
And that is exactly what the 39-year-old Cuban did.
Romero, a former Olympic medalist in wrestling, remained unbeaten inside the Octagon with a third round knockout of former division kingpin Chris Weidman. After battling for two-plus rounds, Romero connected with a flying knee that knocked Weidman down and out.
“That’s the fight that makes sense,” UFC president Dana White said during the post-fight press conference. “I mean, he (Romero) beat Chris Weidman (Saturday night). I don’t know when, but yeah, that’s the fight.”
Bisping, who defended his belt vs. Dan Henderson in October, was standing high atop a stage in Madison Square Garden while watching and working the FOX Sports 1 desk. He taunted Romero from afar and the two exchanged words.
Previously, “The Count” had stated he did not want to fight Romero because of issues with a drug test that resulted in a brief suspension before the results were found to have been contaminated.