Middleweight champion Michael Bisping successfully defended his title for the first time at UFC 204, avenging a previous loss to Dan Henderson. He became the 185-pound champion four months earlier when he knocked out Luke Rockhold in June at UFC 199. Bisping is expected to face top contender Yoel Romero in the first quarter of 2017, and Rockhold believes Romero will become the new titleholder.

Romero, an Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling, is undefeated in the UFC. Although he has a world class background in grappling, six of Romero's eight UFC wins have been by knockout. Rockhold thinks that Romero will eventually impose his will on the champion.

“I think it’s a rare opportunity for Bisping to hold off Romero. I think Yoel pretty much goes in there, it might take a little while, but he’ll get to Bisping,” Rockhold told Submission Radio.

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Romero is a physical specimen. At 39 years old, the Cuban can still do a vertical-jumping backflip. He possesses devastating punching power, but Rockhold believes that Romero's wrestling will be the big difference in the fight.

“Bisping is a tough individual. He’s going to go in there; he’s the more technical striker,” he said. “Yoel’s pretty raw, but I think with the takedown opportunities that he can start throwing Bisping around and start changing the pace of the fight.”

Regardless of who ends up with the championship, Rockhold is hopeful to return from injury and get back to the belt in 2017.

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