UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping hasn’t been seen in the Octagon since defeating Dan Henderson at UFC 204.
According to UFC President Dana White, when the champion does make his return, it is going to be against the winner of the UFC Interim Middleweight Title bout at UFC 213.
“(Bisping) is in line for the winner,” White said to MMA Junkie. “Bisping’s never turned down a fight, this guy. Me and Bisping go back a long way from his season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and I’ve done a lot of things for Michael Bisping, and Michael Bisping’s done a lot of things for me. We have a really good relationship and we communicate a lot, even when we’re both not really happy with the situation and what’s going on. Me and Michael will get this done.”
The two fighters who are vying for the interim middleweight title at UFC 213 are #1 ranked Yoel Romero and #3 ranked Robert Whittaker.
White also admits that the reason there is an interim title fight is due to the fact that Bisping is dealing with an injury.
“I’m in this situation right now where Bisping’s hurt,” White said. “This should be Bisping vs. Romero right now. Whittaker just destroyed ‘Jacare’ and Romero has been beating everybody along the way, waiting for this title shot. Bisping’s not ready yet. And if there was ever an interim title fight, how is this one not worthy? This fight’s going to be ridiculous.”
UFC 213 takes place on Saturday, July 8 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
