According to Michael Bisping, Daniel Cormier has been calling him out for a fight at light heavyweight.
Michael Bisping is gearing up to defend his middleweight title against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 217, but after that, the Brit could sail off into the sunset and call it a career.
Bisping, who has been competing under the UFC banner since 2006, hinted at retirement the other week but the British champion could be lured into the Octagon to challenge Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title.
The 38-year-old UFC veteran revealed on his latest podcast that ‘DC’ has been calling him out behind closed doors.
“Speaking of guys that think they can take me - which of course when I say this, most people are gonna think he can take me - I was working with Daniel Cormier at the weekend and. . . all he kept talking about all weekend was, ‘Mike, I want to fight you next. I want to fight you.’ On air, off air, at the hotel, constantly. He was like, ‘Mike, I will break you within five minutes.’ Dude, are you crazy? Do you really believe that?” Bisping said on Believe You Me on Monday, per MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew.
“I don’t know if he’s joking or if he’s serious, but if he is serious, I’ll fight him next even though I said last week I’m gonna retire. I would fight Daniel Cormier because that would be a huge fight. DC is a great guy, he’s hilarious, hell of a fighter and he seems to be targeting a fight with me. So DC, if you’re serious, which I kind of think you are, then yeah, screw it, if only to annoy everyone in the world I will, again, fight somebody who doesn’t fight at middleweight.”
Cormier, 38, was knocked out by arch rival Jon Jones at UFC 214 but the result was overturned to a No Contest after ‘Bones’ tested positive for steroids. The American Kickboxing Academy standout has been reinstated as the light heavyweight champ but hasn’t revealed who he plans to fight next.
If Cormier does want to fight Bisping, ‘The Count’ wants him to know that he’s no stranger to the light heavyweight division.
Bisping started off his UFC career at 205 lbs. but made the switch to middleweight in 2008.
“I used to fight at 205, Dan. I was 15-0 so be careful what you wish for.”
Bisping will defend his 185-pound title against St-Pierre at the upcoming UFC 217 pay-per-view. The highly anticipated event takes place on Nov. 4 at Madison Square Garden, New York.
