Midnight Mania! Michael Bisping sets deadline for Georges St-Pierre fight ... or else! - ‘I call the shots’

Welcome to Midnight Mania! Tonight, we’ve got Michael Bisping telling Georges St-Pierre who the real UFC shot caller is, Justin Gaethje now a free agent, Stipe Miocic in jail, Derrick Lewis petting a deer, Valentina Shevchenko as a 1930s gangster lady, Ali Baugatinov threatening Gollum with a pistol, knockouts, podcasts, and much more.

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Winter Is Coming!

Summer isn’t even here yet, but Bisping is already making heated threats. He says if St-Pierre won’t push up the date of their Middleweight title fight, he might just fight Yoel Romero instead.

Transcription (via BJPenn.com):

“So long story short it looks as if GSP is trying to push for a later date (then July 8). I have heard rumors of that a while ago from Ariel Helwani. I heard that he wanted like September or October and that is what the UFC told me as well. But I am just throwing it out there right now. If he (GSP) wants to wait until September or October, then he can go find himself another opponent. Because I call the shots. Without sounding like an asshole, it is my belt. I am the champion, and I am not willing to sit around until September or October. This fight was discussed in January. You know a fight camp only takes 8 weeks. Or six weeks. So fighting in September or October is ridiculous. July 8 is the date. I may be a little bit flexible and be willing to go a little past that date if needed. But I want to fight international fight week July 8. So Georges St-Pierre, get it together. Stop doing your f*cking gymnastics. Stop doing your backflips and whatever it is. Let’s do this buddy. Sign the paper work. You want it. You sat there at the press conference. You talked big. So sign the god damn paperwork. It is as simple as that!”

International Fight Week, of course, means a bigger promotional push and more money for “The Count.” Which, of course, is what the 185-pound kingpin wants.

“If he’s not ready then I guess Yoel Romero gets his title shot! Listen I am not afraid of Yoel Romero. If GSP wants to fight then of course, there is a great storyline there. The fight would do great business. But I am not willing to sit around and he’s not calling the shots. I am the champ.”

Big talk from the champion, and he ends on strong note.

“I am not willing to wait a year for Georges St-Pierre to fight me. I might as well do two fights in that one year and still make the same money.”

This sounds like a bluff. Romero is a much bigger risk for Bisping in terms of both finishing threat and a proven Middleweight record. “The Count” talks about taking two fights in that time, but each fight is a risk. If he loses the belt, the big money goes away, too. GSP represents by far the biggest reward for the least risk. However, his point about International Fight Week makes sense -- St-Pierre would make more money fighting on the big summer card as well.

We will see what response Bisping’s threat provokes from the Canadian Welterweight great.

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Bobs and Weaves

Speaking of Bisping and controversy, here he is again, drawn like a moth to the flame:

World Series of Fighting (WSOF) Lightweight champion Justin Gaethje is a free agent! I would be okay with him challenging for a title in Bellator, or getting a crack at UFC’s Top 10. He’s insanely entertaining.

Wow ... didn’t even recognize her!

HeadMovement Restaurant sounds like my kind of joint.

Tommy Toehold’s take on Sage Northcutt’s trash talking advice:

No idea, either:

Stipe in jail for a cause:

Who knew Derrick Lewis had a gentle side?

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Slips. Rips. KO Clips.

There wasn’t UFC action this weekend, but that didn’t mean combat sports weren’t happening the world over:

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Quick Hits

• Gunnar Nelson is very interested in the Stephen Thompson match up.
• The road not taken: Rampage says his biggest regret is ... becoming an MMA fighter?
• Wanna see someone make Sage Northcutt look small?
• One month after throwing himself into traffic, Terry Etim has been released from the hospital.

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Podcasts and Video

“The MMA Hour,” which lasted four hours and 28 minutes

Fights Gone By:

The Co-Main Event podcast:

Stay woke, Maniacs!