Yoel Romero not buying Michael Bisping's title shot tease: He doesn't have the heart to fight me

Yoel Romero isn’t sold on Michael Bisping’s threat to take away Georges St-Pierre’s UFC middleweight title shot if “Rush” isn’t ready to fight before the fall.

Bisping (30-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC) made bold claims this week that St-Pierre’s (25-2 MMA, 19-2 UFC) desired timeframe of September or October for their 185-pound title clash was too far away. So far away, in fact, “The Count” said he would be willing to fight Romero (12-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) first if a date isn’t set soon.

Romero was promised the next crack at Bisping’s title before former longtime welterweight champ St-Pierre ended a more than three-year hiatus from competition and was granted an immediate 185-pound title shot despite never having competed in the division.

Bisping isn’t one to spend large amounts of time on the sidelines, and at 38, wants to keep active. He said he “calls the shots,” and if details of the St-Pierre fight aren’t confirmed in short order, he will apparently revert back to Romero as his next foe.

Whether he’s serious or simply bluffing to push things along remains to be seen, but it’s clear Romero isn’t getting his hopes up (via Twitter).

Romero, No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA middleweight rankings, is riding a divisional-best eight-fight UFC winning streak. UFC President Dana White said he would “take care of” Romero while he waits for the title shot picture to clear, but what that means exactly is unknown.

“The Solider of God” hasn’t competed since a third-round knockout of Chris Weidman at UFC 205 in November. If the fight between No. 1-ranked Bisping and ex-UFC champ St-Pierre does in fact materialize as currently planned, Romero could be out of action for more than a year.

Regardless of Bisping’s comments, it’s clear he’s planning for as much.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.