Things have not been going Michael Bisping’s way as of late, as the fighter is coming off of a two fight losing streak. With that in mind, newly crowned UFC middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre has come forward to reveal that he thinks the UFC perhaps should not have allowed “The Count” inside the octagon so soon after their MMA brawl.
Georges St-Pierre earned the UFC middleweight belt at UFC 217, marking the MMA veteran’s return to the sport after nearly four years away. For the fight, “Rush” went toe-to-toe with Michael Bisping. The two fighters out on a bloody way, but St-Pierre came out on top with a submission victory over “The Count.”
Just three weeks after his title ending defeat, Bisping was once again inside the octagon. Having accepted a short notice fight, Bisping headlined UFC Fight Night 122 in Shanghai, China in a match up against Kelvin Gastelum. However the fighter once again suffered a tough loss, as Gastelum finished Bisping in the first round for a knockout victory.
Speaking to TSN, Georges St-Pierre offered his thoughts on Michael Bisping facing off inside the octagon on such short notice after a devastating defeat to the Canadian phenom.
“Medically, that was not the right thing to do. However, if he would have succeeded – you know, he took a big risk and me, I can accept that because he took a big risk – if he would have succeeded he would have been like a hero. It’s like, ‘Oh my God, he just lose the title and then he come back with no preparation, boom, wins a fight.’ I think he tried to do something that was very, very risky, but at the same time if he would have achieved it, it would have been a big reward for him. So I can respect that. For him, I can respect the idea that he had, the goal that he had doing it.
Speaking on the UFC, St-Pierre revealed that he does not exactly agree with the promotion’s decision to permit Bisping to fight three weeks after their octagon war.
“However, I believe for the UFC, that was not good to let an athlete fight after getting concussed in a fight for the world title and then getting choked out. I don’t think it was medically a good thing for the UFC. But for Michael, as a fighter, I understand his point of view. He wanted to turn around the table and he wanted to do something that was special and I can understand that because coming back after four years myself, it was a lot of risk, and I wanted to do something special and I succeeded, I’m happy I did it. Unfortunately for Michael, it failed. But I can respect that from a man.”
