Report: Michael Bisping turned down Jacare Souza fight with Yoel Romero hurt

Did Michael Bisping choose the path of least resistance?

The UFC on FOX 15 fight card suffered a major hit last week when Yoel Romero was injured and forced to withdraw from his Ronaldo Souza fight, scheduled for this Saturday night (April 18, 2015) inside Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.

In his place, "Jacare" wanted to fight Michael Bisping.

Unfortunately, the feeling was not mutual, according to the Brazilian's manager, Gilberto Faria, who told Combate (via Bloody Elbow) that Bisping was content to stay right where he was, in a middleweight showdown opposite No. 11-ranked CB Dollaway.

His words:

"I think Chris Camozzi showed he is a warrior to take on Jacare like that. I'm actually surprised with his attitude, because he's getting in trouble. I asked for Michael Bisping, because he's fighting on the same week as Jacare, but Bisping doesn't want any of it. He is always talking about how he wants to get to the top and fight for the belt, but when the opportunity presented itself, he didn't want to fight. If he beats Jacare, he fights for the belt next, but he didn't want to take the risk, he prefers to fight C.B. Dollaway."

As the "dummies" found out a few days later, Chris Camozzi stepped in for "The Soldier of God" and in fairness to "The Count," he prepared his entire camp for "The Doberman" at UFC 186, not a world-class submission fighter who can bench-press a Volkswagen.

The situation stinks, any way you slice it.

Particularly because the Souza vs. Romero fight could have also produced the next 185-pound No. 1 contender, had either one of the streaking middleweights scored a sensational finish or perhaps out-performed Lyoto Machida and Luke Rockhold in the main event.

And Bisping has a big enough name to satisfy the co-headlining duties, but alas, it was not meant to be.