UFC middleweight champ Bisping: GSP thinks he can beat me

Michael Bisping (left) says his next opponent Georges St. Pierre looks down on him.  AP

UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping has hit the so-called “George St. Pierre sweepstakes,” as he will reportedly face the longtime Welterweight champion at the latter part of 2017.

READ: Georges St. Pierre books UFC comeback fight vs. champ Bisping

After a three-and-a-half-year hiatus, the Canadian superstar has drawn interest from several high-profile fighters upon his return to the octagon.

As expected, Bisping was livid upon knowing he’d be the one to welcome the the 35-year-old legend back, but insisted that GSP was looking down on him.

“He chose me because he thinks he can beat me,” Bisping said in the latest episode of UFC Tonight, as relayed by MMAFighting.

“I trained with him 11 years ago and he outwrestled me. Now back then I was a kickboxer from England, I didn’t know a double leg from a double decker bus.”

Bisping’s remarks are aligned with St. Pierre’s decision to move above a weight class, instead of returning to the 170-lb. division, which he dominated up until his abrupt retirement in 2013.

“He thinks I’m an easy opponent, an easy pick. He picked me to come out of retirement, moving up a weight class, it’s almost like he has nothing to lose, but if he moves up a weight class, he beats me, he becomes a legend,” the 38-year-old English fighter explained.

Before seizing the title in surprising fashion against Luke Rockhold in June, Bisping was considered a “gate keeper” in the division for his failure to win big fights against high-profile opponents.

Fortunes changed for the Ultimate Fighter Season 3 winner, as he currently holds a 5-fight win streak, with notable victories over certified Hall of Famers Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson.

Despite his recent comments, Bisping is aware of the wonders of beating the UFC’s most dominant welterweight ever, and looks forward to adding yet another feather to his growing legacy.

“I have nothing but respect for Georges,” said Bisping. “For me, beating Georges St-Pierre, beating Anderson Silva, beating Dan Henderson, beating Luke Rockhold, for me, it really puts an exclamation point on my career.”  Khristian Ibarrola /ra