GSP-Bisping scrapped, Romero to get title shot
Bovada opened Yoel Romero as a -300 favorite vs. Michael Bisping, but the number was quickly adjusted to -260.
Former welterweight kingpin Georges ‘Rush’ St. Pierre will not face Michael Bisping for the UFC middleweight title. Instead, No. 1 contender Yoel Romero will take on Bisping for his 185-pound belt.
Dana White broke the news in an interview Wednesday night with FOX Sports Australia.
Since winning the middleweight strap with a shocking upset win over Luke Rockhold on short notice at UFC 199, Bisping has defended his title once with a controversial unanimous-decision win over Dan Henderson at UFC 204 in Manchester, England.
After more than three years on the sidelines, GSP informed the promotion earlier this year that he was ready to make a comeback. The UFC announced plans for Bisping and GSP to collide at a to-be-determined date sometime late in the summer or the fall. The delay was based on GSP getting into the USADA program for four months before being able to compete.
“We’re not waiting around for GSP,” White told FOX Sports Australia last night.
Bovada opened Romero as a -300 ‘chalk’ versus Bisping, who was +230 on the comeback (risk $100 to win $230). However, shortly after noon Eastern on Thursday, the number was adjusted to -260. Bisping is now the +200 underdog.
The 38-year-old Bisping has won five straight fights while bagging three fight-night bonuses.
Romero owns a 13-1 career record and is 8-0 in the UFC. The former Olympic wrestler from Cuba has victories over the likes of Jacare Souza and a pair of former UFC champs in Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida.
