Chris Weidman not sold he’ll ever get to settle the score with Michael Bisping
Chris Weidman has engaged in a war of words with middleweight champion Michael Bisping for several years already but the two fighters have never been able to settle their differences inside the Octagon.
When Weidman was reigning as champion, Bisping failed to climb the contender’s ladder to get a shot at the belt. The same exact scenario has unfolded with Bisping as champion as Weidman just recent broke a three fight losing streak with a submission victory over Kelvin Gastelum.
Afterwards, Weidman immediately turned his attention to Bisping before the fighters once again exchanged more than a few harsh words that could have easily set up a grudge match down the road.
Unfortunately, Bisping is now otherwise preoccupied with a title defense against former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre in November and if he’s successful in that matchup, the Brit will then move forward to face interim title holder Robert Whittaker in 2018.
Add to that, Bisping has hinted that his career may not have much time left on the clock with a limited amount of fights left before he retires from the sport.
That’s part of the reason why Weidman is nearly convinced that as much as he would like to punch Bisping in the mouth for all the trash he’s talked over the years, he’s just not sure the fight will ever actually happen.
“Probably low,” Weidman answered when asked about the chances he’ll ever fight Bisping. “Because he doesn’t have a big shot at holding the belt if he actually fights somebody and if the opportunity was there to fight me, at the end of the day, I think he’ll find a way out of that fight. I’d say it’s probably a low percentage on fighting Bisping.
“I don’t think he’s interested in fighting me.”
WEIDMAN STAYING READY JUST IN CASE HE’S NEEDED AT UFC 217
While Bisping may not have much interest in the matchup, Weidman would love nothing more than to face him even if that means stepping into a fight on short notice.
Just in case something happens between now and November, Weidman is staying in shape so that he could potentially accept the call to face Bisping should St-Pierre be unable to perform at UFC 217.
It would almost be poetic for Weidman considering he’s from New York and the fight is being held at Madison Square Garden. Perhaps an even bigger factor according to Weidman is that Bisping would no longer be able to run from him if he was the last man standing and no one else was available to face him on short notice.
“I’ll be ready if either GSP or Bisping gets injured, if they need somebody for November in New York. I’ll be ready to go,” Weidman said. “Things happen and I’m just going to keep working hard. I’m not in this game to be a contender. I’m not in this game just to make fight money. I’m in this game to make millions and to win the belt.”
If the opportunity to fight in November doesn’t happen, Weidman will continue to nurse a minor injury he suffered in the matchup with Gastelum but there’s no doubt in his mind that if the UFC needs him to fight Bisping, he’ll be more than ready to go.
“I’ve got a little hand injury right now. If it’s for the title, I’m ready to go,” Weidman said. “I’m going to wait it out a little bit, take care of my body. I fought three times in eight months so I’m just going to wait and see what happens.”
