Michael Bisping is getting antsy waiting for an official date for his next UFC middleweight title defense against Georges St-Pierre to be set. Apparently, he’s not willing to wait much longer.

Bisping (30-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC) has been one of the UFC’s most consistently active fighters during his more than 10 years with the promotion. He’s made a record-tying 27 octagon appearances, and he didn’t get there by spending large portions of time on the sidelines. “The Count” hasn’t fought since a UFC 204 victory over Dan Henderson this past October, and he wants to return to action in the summer.

That doesn’t seem to mesh with St-Pierre’s (25-2 MMA, 19-2 UFC) timetable, which from all indications would line up the fight for early fall.

“July 8 in Las Vegas, International Fight Week, is the date and the event that we are targeting, but (UFC President) Dana (White) wouldn’t confirm the date at the press conference,” Bisping said on the fourth episode of his “Believe You Me” podcast. “But then I saw Dana a couple of weeks later while I was working at FOX and Dana said, ‘Yeah we’re still hoping for July 8.’

“Long story short, it looks like ‘GSP’ is trying to push for a later date. I heard rumors of that a while ago from (MMA reporter) Ariel Helwani. I heard that they wanted September (or) October, and that’s what the UFC told me, as well.”

Although the matchup with former longtime UFC welterweight champ St-Pierre is one that Bisping has been pursuing for the better part of a year, he said he’s not willing to chase it forever. A showdown with “Rush” would almost certainly result in the biggest payday of Bisping’s career, but that doesn’t appear to be his greatest priority.

Waiting until September or October is not an option in Bisping’s mind, he said. An injury could push the date back even farther, so if St-Pierre isn’t willing to compete earlier, Bisping said his chance to fight for the belt will go up in smoke.

“I’m just throwing it out there right now: If he wants to wait until September or October, then he can go find himself another opponent, because I call the shots,” Bisping said. “Without sounding like an (expletive)hole, it’s my belt. I’m the champion and I’m not willing to sit around until September or October.

“This fight was discussed in January. A fight camp only takes eight weeks or six weeks. Fighting in September or October is ridiculous. July 8 is the date. I will be a little bit flexible and maybe go past that a little bit, but I want to fight at International Fight Week, July 8. So Georges St-Pierre, get it together. Stop doing your (expletive) gymnastics, stop doing your backflips and whatever it is and let’s do this.”

Part of the delay in confirming a date for Bisping vs. St-Pierre stems from the fact St-Pierre still has to go through the proper channels to completely allow his return. He must clear a four-month drug testing window with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) ahead of what will be his first fight since he vacated the UFC’s 170-pound belt following a title defense against Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 in November 2013.

St-Pierre’s return to competition and decision to move up a division and fight Bisping threw a real wrench into the clarity of the 185-pound title picture. That significantly impacted the career of fighters such as top contender Yoel Romero (12-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC), who was promised a title shot prior to St-Pierre’s comeback from the extended hiatus.

Romero has won eight fights in a row, but was skipped over for the next title shot. Bisping said if St-Pierre doesn’t get his act together soon, “The Solider of God” might be in luck, after all.

“If (St-Pierre is) not ready, then I guess Yoel Romero gets his title shot,” Bisping said. “I’m not afraid of Yoel Romero. If ‘GSP’ wants to fight, of course – there’s a great story there. I’m not willing to sit around, and he doesn’t get to call the shots. It’s my belt and I’m not some little (expletive) waiting in the wings for my title shot. I’ve got the belt and I want to fight. I’m in my prime. I don’t want to sit around for a year. If we don’t fight until September or October, that would be a year and I’m not willing to wait a year for Georges St-Pierre.”

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