Jacare Souza: Michael Bisping doesn’t give fans - who pay the ‘jerk’s’ salary - fights they want

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Michael Bisping is in everyone’s crosshairs, as "The Count" has a target on his back as big as the state of Texas.

Two men who are most eager to throw down against the brash Brit are Yoel Romero and Ronaldo Souza. While "Soldier of God" has already been pegged as the next challenger for the 185-pound crown, Souza is confident that bout won’t happen.

Which leaves the door wide open for a rematch between he and Romero.

"This fight will happen because Bisping is afraid," Souza said via MMA Fighting. "Bisping is running. (The Romero) fight will happen. I believe that after my fight, Romero is next. My focus is the belt, I’d rather right Bisping next, of course, but I believe I’ll end up fighting Romero. We have unfinished business."

Souza came up on the wrong end of a split decision loss to Yoel at UFC 194 back in 2015 (see it). Though the win was not overturned, "Jacare" feels it’s somewhat tainted as Romero was notified of a potential anti-doping violation form USADA a few weeks after the fight.

As for Bisping, he is currently on the mend after undergoing knee surgery (details). But, at the end of the day, Souza is disappointed in Bisping’s quest for "big money" fights instead of defending his title, or fighting for his family’s honor.

"The reality is he doesn't fight for his honor nor his family’s. He doesn't even fight for himself. He just wants to fight for money," he said. "He doesn't give a damn about the fans, what fans want. Fans pay this jerk’s salary, so he better respect the fans."

Of course, "Jacare" is referring to Bisping's last bout, which came against Dan Henderson at UFC 204 last October, a "crappy fight" Souza says no one cared about. The jiu-jitsu ace will look to stay in the title hunt when he faces off against Tim Boetsch at this weekend’s (Sat., Feb. 11, 2017) UFC 208 pay-per-view (PPV) event in Brooklyn, New York.

For more on that upcoming event click here.