Morning Report: Michael Bisping reacts to Yoel Romero’s $27 million judgment against supplement company

MMAfighting.com

Michael Bisping has rarely had nice things to say about Yoel Romero. But even he had to be impressed by Romero’s latest victory.

Earlier this week, Romero won his lawsuit against Gold Star Performance Products. Romero sued the supplement company in December of 2017 for damages stemming from a tainted product they provided that resulted in his failing an out-of-competition USADA drug test. When Gold Star failed to respond to any of the court contacts, a default judgment was rendered against them to the tune of $27.45 million. It was such an enormous number that even Romero’s most ardent detractor, former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, had to congratulate him.

“I’m like, there’s no way f*cking the Soldier of Steroids has got $27.5 million,” Bisping said on his Believe You Me podcast recently. “Anyway, it’s true. Yoel Romero sued whatever the company’s called and got $27.4 million, and ya know, red panty night for Yoel Romero. There must be a god. That’s all I’ve got to say on this.

“He got $27 million, which is incredible. And I’ll say this, me and Yoel we had a little thing over the years. Congratulations. If you’re listening to this, well done. That’s awesome. It really is.”

Bisping and Romero had more than “a little thing.” During Bisping’s reign as middleweight champion, Romero was the top contender who was passed over for a title shot in favor of Dan Henderson and then Georges St-Pierre. During this time, Bisping was also quick to decry Romero for cheating in the cage and for his failed drug test. Even when Romero lost his interim title fight to Robert Whittaker at UFC 213, Bisping was sitting cageside and ripped up a Cuban flag, continuing their beef. However, with Bisping’s fighting career now behind him, it appears the former middleweight champion harbors no hard feelings for the Cuban fighter.

“I’ve never been to Cuba but I reckon $27 million goes a f*cking long way in Cuba,,” Bisping said. “I don’t care where you convert it – yen, dollars, pesos, pounds – whichever way you f*cking slice it, that man is a rich man and he never has to work a day again in his life. Well done. I salute that. I’m happy for the man.”

Of course, it’s easy to be magnanimous when you have the last laugh, and at the end of the day, Bisping still does, at least in the MMA world which he was quick to point out.

“My god, $27 million. It’s incredible,” Bisping said. “The guy could never fight again. I guess the interesting question is, will he still fight? I honestly believe he will, because you know what $27 million can do for you? It can do anything. You can buy whatever you want. You can buy houses. You can buy cars. You can buy businesses, you can start businesses. You can start your own brand of ‘I luv you’ shoes or whatever you want. Do you know what you can’t buy? The UFC middleweight championship of the f*cking world.”

Bisping was quick to say that he was only kidding around but it’s actually an interesting question. At 42 years of age, Romero could find his competitive spirit waning. Bisping doesn’t think so though.

“I’m joking but in all honesty, I think he will still carry on fighting because that’s his identity, that’s who he is. He’s a true competitor.”

At least for now, Romero will continue fighting. He’s currently scheduled to face Paulo Costa on August 17 at UFC 241 in Anaheim, Calif.