Following the recently announced match-up of former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and current middleweight champion Michael “The Count” Bisping, fighters and fans alike have begun sharing their opinions on the incipient match.
UFC commentating veteran Joe Rogan recently had somewhat harsh words for the upcoming match-up.
Rogan explained that setting up a title fight with anyone other than the champion and the No. 1 contender is not doing the championship any favors. The value of the championship title is lessened by these unorthodox match-ups, according to Rogan.
“The Count” has decided to fire back at the commentating veteran with some opinions of his own on the matter.
In an interview on Sirius XM Rush, Bisping said
“I respect Joe. Joe is a very smart man and he is very learned on the subject of mixed martial arts and the UFC. He’s been around forever. He knows the sport. But, as I said, he kind of contradicted himself. He’s like, ‘Well, why have title fights?’ Then he says, ‘Oh, I for sure would get the popcorn and buy this pay-per-view.’ See, to become a champion, you have to pay your dues, which I did for a long time. When you become the champion, it changes. Now, it’s a small portion, but you get a portion of the pay-per-view. You don’t get that when you are not the champion.”
After explaining that he now has the opportunity to profit from the pay-per-views, Bisping said
“Now, every fight that you have, there is a possibility that you are going to lose that fight. You want to maximize that potential. You want the fights to be as big as possible.”
While Bisping said that he is looking for the exciting pa-per-view fights, he is not trying to push No. 1 contender Yoel Romero to the back of the line.
“I am not trying to avoid Yoel Romero, that is not my intention here.”
While an official date and location for “The Count” vs. Georges St-Pierre has not been confirmed, it is rumored that the fight will fit alongside the Cody Garbrandt vs. T.J. Dillashaw fight card this summer.
