One of the most anticipated fights in 2017 is the bout between Georges St-Pierre and current middleweight champion Michael Bisping. GSP is making his return to the UFC after taking almost four years off. He is not working his way back slowly, as he will get back into action and fight for the middleweight title, as he takes on Bisping. It is expected that GSP will take on Bisping at UFC 213 on July 8, 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Let’s look at GSP vs. Bisping and also glance at the latest middleweight rankings.
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GSP vs. Bisping
Even though he has not fought since late in 2013, St-Pierre is going to be listed as the favorite against Bisping. The latest odds had St-Pierre as a -150 favorite for the bout against Bisping. St-Pierre is 25-2 in his career and he is considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all-time. He is not, however, getting much respect from Bisping.
“I know why you picked me,” Bisping, said, “You think I’m an easy fight, just like Luke Rockhold did … time and again, I proved them wrong. This is a guy – the greatest of all time – he thinks I’m an easier fight, that I’m easy pickings. He wants it to look like he’s stepping up in weight because he’s a legend. No, he’s [not].”
St-Pierre is excited to be back and he believes he will be even better than he was nearly four years ago saying. “I’m not going to be the old GSP. If I come back as the same person I used to be when I was successful, I’m going to have a very bad night. When I come back, my trainer, my partners and I are all convinced I’ll be a better version of the fighter I was. I’ve reached a perfect peak with more wisdom, knowledge and power than I’ve ever had.”
GSP had a lot of things to say after he retired a few years ago, especially in regards to cheating. He said that things are much better now than they were a few years back. “Nothing is ever perfect, but it’s much better – and much better than many sports,” St-Pierre said. “The reason I was so insistent on that is that we don’t play games. We fight. A win or a loss has an aspect on people’s lives. Sometimes they don’t come back the same. This was an important time for UFC to give USADA [the authority] to take care of the job.”
St-Pierre said that he isn’t going to fight that much longer, so he is picking and choosing his fights carefully. “I wanted to make a big move when I came back. Right now, the guy who has the highest stock is Michael Bisping,” St-Pierrre said. “I’m 36 years old. I don’t have a lot of time, but I’m going to do as big of a fight as I can.”
Middleweight Rankings (Without GSP)
- Michael Bisping – The current champion is Bisping, so he has to be at the top, but I think GSP will beat him and take over the top spot later this year.
- Yoel Romero – He got passed over by the UFC, as GSP is getting the title shot. The UFC has said that Romero should get a chance against the winner of GSP vs. Bisping.
- Luke Rockhold – He lost to Bisping but he is still 15-3 in his career and deserves the third spot.
- Ronaldo Souza – He took care of Tim Boetsch last time out to improve his record to 24-4.
- Chris Weidman – He is 13-2 in his career and facing a must-win fight against Gegard Mousasi next month.
- Gegard Mousasi – He is 41-6-2 in his career and gets a chance to move up the rankings with a bout against Weidman.
- Anderson Silva – He is 34-8 in his career and he is coming off a win against Derek Brunson
- Robert Whittaker – He is 17-4 and also coming off a win against Brunson.
- Vitor Belfort – He is 25-13 in his career but he has lost three of his last four fights. He takes on Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 106 on Saturday.
- Kelvin Gastelum – He is 13-2 and heavily favored to take out Belfort at UFC Fight Night 106.
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