Chris Weidman forced out of UFC 199; Michael Bisping takes his place

Ray Slover

Chris Weidman forced out of UFC 199; Michael Bisping takes his place image

Michael Bisping was the man best positioned to replace Chris Weidman in UFC 199. And on Wednesday, Bisping got the call.

Word broke Tuesday that Weidman pulled out of the event's headline fight, for the middleweight championship, against Luke Rockhold. UFC 199 is scheduled for June 4.

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The date is part of the problem. Top contender Jacare Souza is fresh off UFC 198 and a first-round TKO of Vitor Belfort. Recovery time is the question for Souza. On Wednesday, UFC czar Dana White said Souza needs meniscus surgery and would not be able to make the June 4 card.

Bisping also has a time problem. His involves the short amount of prep time before the fight. But he believes it's not a problem.


Chris Weidman (Getty Images)

Weidman withdrew from the Rockhold fight because of an injury, according to ESPN. He would have been fighting a rematch of UFC 194, his first in under the mixed martial arts agency's banner. Rockhold is 15-2; Weidman, 13-1; Bisping, 28-7.

Among Bisping's losses is a submission to Rockhold in 2014. Bisping, known as "The Count" and fighting out of England, relishes a rematch.

Rockhold is waiting.

And then, there's this:

UFC 199 will be staged. A replacement likely will be named this week.

Ray Slover