After brutally knocking out former champion Chris Weidman at last November’s UFC 205 from New York City, No. 1-ranked middleweight contender Yoel Romero will likely receive the next shot at reigning champion Michael Bisping this spring. Many feel as if Romero will present a difficult challenge for Bisping, but No. 5-ranked Gegard Mousasi recently told
After brutally knocking out former champion Chris Weidman at last November’s UFC 205 from New York City, No. 1-ranked middleweight contender Yoel Romero will likely receive the next shot at reigning champion Michael Bisping this spring.
Many feel as if Romero will present a difficult challenge for Bisping, but No. 5-ranked Gegard Mousasi recently told MMAJunkie that he’s giving “The Count” a ‘good chance’ of beating “The Solider of God”:
“You have to make Yoel Romero the favorite, but I think Michael Bisping, his style can give Yoel Romero difficulties,” Mousasi said. “Obviously, Yoel Romero is going to be favored, but I give Michael Bisping a good chance of winning.”
“Yoel Romero should be the favorite, but Bisping is the champion for a reason,” he added.
Bisping is riding a five fight win streak that includes victories over C.B. Dolloway, Thales Leites, Anderson Silva, Luke Rockhold and Dan Henderson, whom he defended his title against last October. The Brit recently underwent a minor knee surgery, however, and will be sidelined for some time.
Romero, on the other hand, has been on a tear as of late, winning eight straight UFC bouts, with six of those victories coming by way of stoppage. The former Olympian has taken out Derek Brunson, Tim Kennedy, Lyoto Machida, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza and Weidman on his way to the top.
Mousasi is also on a hot streak, as he’s won four straight with three consecutive finishes, and he will next meet Weidman at UFC 210 in April.
Do you agree with “The Dreamcatcher’s” comments, or will Bisping have a hard time against Romero?
Strange times have been experienced at middleweight recently. Right about the time that Chris Weidman defeated Anderson Silva, things started down a new path, leading us to a highly unexpected 2016 in the 185-pound division. As ‘The All-American’ planted that left hook on Silva way back in 2013, we knew for sure anything was possible.
Strange times have been experienced at middleweight recently. Right about the time that Chris Weidman defeated Anderson Silva, things started down a new path, leading us to a highly unexpected 2016 in the 185-pound division. As ‘The All-American’ planted that left hook on Silva way back in 2013, we knew for sure anything was possible. Who would have predicted, though, that three years later Michael Bisping would hold the title.
Taking nothing away from ‘The Count,’ but prior to his title win, the British slugger had fallen at the final hurdle before the title shot. Crushing losses to Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort saw the long-serving Brit come up short, but his fortunes really changed in 2015. Victories over CB Dollaway, Thales Leites and Anderson Silva led Bisping to a UFC 199 rematch with Luke Rockhold. His KO victory was equal parts entertaining and unexpected.
Unexpected Rematch
Although ageing veteran Dan Henderson was miles outside the title picture, he was paired with Michael Bisping in an unlikely rematch at UFC 204. ‘The Count’ would win the battle of attrition after five rounds, but the strange occurrences at middleweight weren’t over yet. Bisping went on record as saying he would not fight Yoel Romero if he beat Chris Weidman at UFC 205. Referencing Romero’s USADA pop, ‘The Count’ caught more backlash from ‘Soldier of God’ on social media.
With the rivalry building, Romero left no questions in New York. Typically explosive, the Cuban blasted the former champion, and today Bisping had a change of heart. Claiming he’d agreed to fight Yoel Romero at a yet-to-be determined event next spring, Michael Bisping was strangely complimentary of his next opponent. This leads us nicely to the topic of who will win this 185-pound title tilt.
Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Sprint vs. Marathon
Looking at the first round of both men’s recent fights, it’s clear to see how they implement their striking game. Romero, against Weidman at UFC 205, threw just 40 strikes over the course of ten minutes & 24 seconds of action. although ‘Soldier of God’ only needed that one knee to finish the fight, he landed a total of 18 strikes at an accuracy of 66%. Bisping’s last fight, against ‘Hendo,’ saw the champ throw 335 strikes over five rounds, landing 119 at an accuracy of 35%.
Bisping’s stand up has improved massively, and his power is consistently overlooked, but he is outmatched in terms of KO ability against Romero. Obviously this isn’t the ‘be all & end all’ of this fight, but a big factor nonetheless. If the past year at middleweight has taught us anything, though, it’s that anything’s possible with the current crop of 185-pounders.
Anderson, Chris, Luke, Michael
If you thought the title championship timeline would go like this, well then you shoulda put money on it. The odds of the belt going through the hands of Anderson Silva to Chris Weidman were long enough, but for Michael Bisping to finally reach UFC gold was just insane. The brash Brit hit everyone for a six when he cold-cocked ‘Rocky,’ so what’s to say he can’t do the same against Romero?
The biggest difference aside from physicality is wrestling. If Romero is getting lit up by Bisping, which is possible, he has the wrestling base to control even the elite of the division. Interesting times at middleweight, and surely a few more spots up the pound-for-pound rankings if Bisping wins.
Taking out Chris Weidman at UFC 205 was a huge moment for Yoel Romero. After coming unstuck with some USADA controversy, Romero was eventually sat for just six months. With that mess behind him, ‘Soldier of God’ entered the octagon in the Madison Square Garden on a mission. ‘The All-American’ was put away with a
Taking out Chris Weidman at UFC 205 was a huge moment for Yoel Romero. After coming unstuck with some USADA controversy, Romero was eventually sat for just six months. With that mess behind him, ‘Soldier of God’ entered the octagon in the Madison Square Garden on a mission. ‘The All-American’ was put away with a trademark flying knee, and Romero instantly called out middleweight champion Michael Bisping. From the FOX commentating position, ‘The Count’ showed the top contender the middle fingers.
Having previously stated he would not fight Yoel Romero due to his drug test blunder, Michael Bisping was left with little choice now. The former Olympic wrestler had taken out Weidman in such brutal fashion that he was surely next in line. ‘The Count’ had voiced his support for ‘The All-American’ to beat ‘Soldier of God,’ so he could face another ‘clean fighter’ in his next bout. Given Bisping’s past of fighting steroid cheats, his comments were somewhat expected, if not understandable.
Change of Heart
Speaking with Sirius XM Rush, Michael Bisping is now changing his tune. The middleweight champion says he’s now willing to face Romero, and has agreed to take on the number one contender in Spring of 2017:
“Notice he doesn’t speak English, until I started talking sh*t, then all of a sudden he is recollecting stories from Germany. I don’t know what that’s about. I’ve always said this, I’ve never ducked anyone in my life. A couple of days Dana (White) called me up, he said ‘Mike, January 20, Aneheim you vs. Yoel Romero.’ To be honest, I said, ‘I’ve been getting some injections on my knee.’ I’m not saying no to Yoel, because believe it or not, I do fancy it. I was hoping Weidman would win, more out of respect really. That said, Yoel beat him. Although he failed the drug test before, he did beat Jacare, he beat Weidman.”
“I’ve had three fights this year, it was only four weeks ago I had a war with Dan Henderson. I want to spend Christmas with my family. I’d have to start training next week, and do training camp all the way through Christmas. I’m planning on having some down time, I’ve got some injuries too. I’m not physically or mentally ready to go in to camp right now. (Dana) said ‘OK, when can you fight?’ I told him Spring (2017). He said he’ll get some dates and venues, but that’s the next, me vs. Yoel in the spring.”
Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Bisping vs. Romero!
There you have it, outside of some catastrophic injury or, dare we say it, some more USADA issues, Michael Bisping vs. Yoel Romero will go down in spring 2017. Just to point out, January 20 in Anaheim would have been UFC 208. Also for those interested, UFC 209 will not take place in Stockton, but rather in Brooklyn, New York. Here’s that interview with ‘The Countdown’ and Michael Bisping:
![458bisping[1]](http://cdn.lowkickmma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/458bisping1.jpg)