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How Bisping could crown Whittaker undisputed UFC champ

English fighter Michael Bisping could hold the key to Robert Whittaker becoming undisputed UFC middleweight champion - without the Aussie even stepping into the Octagon.

Current middleweight champion Bisping will take on legendary Canadian fighter Georges St-Pierre in the UFC 217 main event at Madison Square Garden on November 4.

The fight will be the biggest of Bisping's career and could take him to uncharted heights, but it also may be his last inside the Octagon.

That could be music to the ears of Whittaker - the interim champion who has been sidelined for the rest of the year due to injury.

If Bisping beats St-Pierre and then decides to retire, it would open the door for the Aussie to be elevated to full champion.

A similar precedent saw Jose Aldo elevated from interim featherweight champ to full champion after Conor McGregor beat Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in November last year, before vacating his featherweight belt.

And Bisping has strongly hinted that his time inside the Octagon is coming to an end, with a win against St-Pierre at Madison Square Garden seen by many, including the man himself, as the perfect way to bow out of the sport.

"It's an iconic arena, it's a big fight," Bisping said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour.

Bisping could hold the key to Whittaker becoming full champion. Pic: Getty
Bisping could hold the key to Whittaker becoming full champion. Pic: Getty

"It's Georges St-Pierre. Everybody knows who Georges St-Pierre is. There's not many people who have crossed over from the MMA fanbase into the mainstream, and Georges, I'd say he’s there.

"Maybe not as much as, say, a Conor (McGregor) or a Ronda (Rousey), but he's not far behind, so it's a big fight.

"And Georges brings a lot to the table. He's a tough challenge, and as I said, it's a big fight. I think this is going to be the biggest MMA fight of the year. There’s three title fights on the event, so it's a huge event.

GSP has come out of retirement to fight Bisping. Pic: Getty
GSP has come out of retirement to fight Bisping. Pic: Getty

"And yeah, I think the career I've had, the years I've been in the UFC, the injuries I've had, the ups and downs, getting close to title fights and all of this, there's a possibility this might be my last ever fight.

"I don't know if I'll fight again after this. What a way to go out if it is."

"I've done it for so long now, and there's other things to do in life. I still love this, don’t get me wrong, but you can't do it forever.

"Georges should have stayed retired. He should have retired as a champion. I'm going to beat Georges and I'll retire as a champion, maybe. I haven't made my mind up on that yet."

If Bisping beats GSP and chooses not to retire, a blockbuster showdown with Whittaker undoubtedly awaits in 2018.

However, a GSP win against Bisping would set up a dream unification bout between the Canadian and Whittaker some time next year.

Regardless of which scenario plays out, it's hard to see how Whittaker can lose.