Michael Bisping is fat and bored, won't make UFC return until early summer

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Michael Bisping has lowered himself to the rank-and-file of the common mixed martial arts (MMA) fan, according to the definition handed down by promotion president Dana White.

That’s because "The Count" — inactive since last October — is unable to do much with himself following knee surgery (pic), a procedure that delayed his eventual title defense against division No. 1 contender Yoel Romero.

Bisping talks to UFC Unfiltered (via MMA Weekly):

"It was like eight or nine days after the surgery, I went in and did some boxing sparring and the next day my knee was killing. So I rested for a few days and then I went and did some bag work and then the next day it was killing. So I’ve been taking two steps forward, one step back. It’s been three and a half weeks and I’m just been sitting in my house getting fat, eating crappy foods because I’m bored. The pain is still there. It’s still kind of painful. Early summer, early summer I’ll be back in there for sure."

Depending on his opponent, I’m sure.

The middleweight division — like many weight classes in UFC — has been stuck in neutral thanks to an inactive champion. While the "Soldier of God" was slated for the next crack at the division crown, there are several other factors at play.

Like this.

How things shake out in the 185-pound division, remains to be seen.