Bisping ‘officially’ calls out Nick Diaz

UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has abandoned his campaign to fight former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, and has now ‘formally’ and ‘officially’ called out welterweight Nick Diaz.

The top contenders are all fighting each other with an eye towards a title shot. #2 Chris Weidman fights #4 Yoel Romero at UFC 205 on November 12, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Then #3 Jacare Souza fights #1 Luke Rockhold at UFC Fight Night 101 on Nov. 26, 2016, in Melbourne, Australia.

But ‘The Count’ wants to fight at UFC 206 on December 10, 2016, in Toronto, Ontario, too close in time to the contender fights for one of them to be scheduled. So during the latest episode of his SiriusXM show The Countdown,” The Count called out Diaz.

If it’s not ‘GSP,’ I don’t mind being on the card against somebody else, and Nick Diaz would be somebody else that moves the needle, said Bisping as transcribed by MMAjunkie. Now, again, I know I’m going to open myself to criticism saying that, but there’s been talk of us having a fight before. His last fight was against Anderson Silva, so he’s fought at 185, and if Nick Diaz wants to do it, I’ll fight Nick Diaz.

I’m down to fight ASAP because [UFC President Dana White], the UFC put this in my mind, fighting at 206. Now in my mind, I want to fight at 206. I was ready to take the rest of the year off and do nothing and enjoy being the champion and have some time with my kids and go away for Thanksgiving. Then this was put in my mind again, and now I want to fight in Toronto. I got friends in Toronto. I spent six weeks there this year [filming the ‘XxX’ sequel]. I love that place.

If anybody wants to do it, as long as it’s not some new pup that just signed with the UFC, I’m down to fight anyone. I’ll say it again, and I’m not trying to be a tough-ass: I’ll fight anybody as long as it makes sense business-wise. I’m not going to risk my reputation and my title against some chump, but if there’s money on the line, then I’ll do it. And if Nick Diaz wants to go at UFC 206, formally, officially, I invite you to sign the bout agreement.

Bisping also addressed the top contenders.

Whoever wins more impressively … I’ll fight whoever that is after this, he said. That will happen, 100 percent. Believe you me, I want to fight Chris Weidman. Out of the four of them, I’ve already beat Rockhold. Weidman is the one I want to fight. So I ain’t ducking anybody.

If Bisping does get a title defense at UFC 205, it would mean four fights in one year. If he won that one, it would be one of the great runs in the sport’s history. He decisioned the UFC G.O.A.T Anderson Silva in February in the fight of the night. Then he crushed Luke Rockhold in the very first round to take the title in June. Then he defended the title successfully despite eating three full Dan Henderson H-Bombs in October. And he wants to do it one more time in December.

UFC 206, headlined by light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson, was looking a little little in comparison with UFC 205, the greatest event in MMA history, and the return of Ronda Rousey at UFC 207. Add Bisping vs. Diaz to UFC 206, and suddenly it stands up nicely.

The new UFC owners want 13 great pay-per-views per year. That is three right there.