Yoel Romero praises Georges St-Pierre.

At UFC 213, UFC Middleweight contender Yoel Romero lost a close Interim title bout to now undisputed champ Robert Whittaker. Between rounds, then-champion Michael Bisping tore up a replica of the Cuban flag and tossed it at Yoel’s corner between rounds. Since then Yoel he has been salivating for a chance to get back to the top.

Bisping had knocked out Luke Rockhold to win the title, a victory which Yoel claimed on The MMA Hour was enabled by arrogance.

“The problem Luke made a big mistake, like he put down his hands. It’s not good when you don’t respect the people, you know. I never do this, it’s no good. Everybody is human, you know? You have two hands, he have two hands and you need to respect. Luke had no respect, easy money.”

However, Bisping opted not to face Whittaker when the Aussie won the interim strap, preferring to fight returning champion Georges St. Pierre. Bisping lost via submission at UFC 217, and on The MMA Hour Yoel said he was far from surprised.

“It’s not a surprise for anybody, it’s not a surprise, it’s not a surprise. I knew that Michael Bisping didn’t have good wrestling or grappling, I knew this guy had nothing for St-Pierre. And I knew St-Pierre would beat him and go out again.”

However, after the fight GSP promptly vacated the Middleweight belt, an action which surprised few but angered many in the Middleweight division. Ostensibly it cheapens the belt and robbed Whittaker the chance to win it off an undisputed champion. But Yoel has nothing negative to say about GSP:

“For sure, (I knew St-Pierre would vacate the middleweight belt), because 185 pounds is a very dangerous category, many people have good quality,” Romero said. “I clap for Georges St-Pierre because he’s smart, ‘ok, I have another belt, very easy with this guy. I kill him and I have a very good Christmas.’”

Bisping went on to take a short notice fight against Kelvin Gastelum, which he lost by knockout.

Whittaker will face Luke Rockhold for the belt at UFC 221 in Perth, and Yoel says he’s available for a contender bout. His manager posted that Gastelum had rejected the fight, however, that seems the logical one to determine the next top contender at Middleweight.

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