SAN JOSE, Calif. — UFC President Dana White noted on Thursday’s UFC on Fox 7 media day that he was going to call his biggest drawing card, welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, later that day to discuss what is next for him. White said he’d given St-Pierre time to heal up after his March 16 win at UFC 158 over Nick Diaz before bringing up a new fight.
He noted St-Pierre would have to option to choose whether he would rather take a superfight with Anderson Silva, which would probably be the more lucrative option, or a welterweight title defense against Johny Hendricks. No matter what St-Pierre wants to do, the trigger isn’t going to be pulled until July, since Silva first has to defend his middleweight title against Chris Weidman.
Weidman and Silva are set to face one another at UFC 162 on July 6th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“If Georges wants to fight Anderson Silva, we’re not going to tell him `No, you have to fight Johny Hendricks,'” White said.
White seemed to indicate if it was up to him and he could make the St-Pierre vs. Silva fight, St-Pierre would not vacate the title. He also noted win or lose against Silva, GSP would then go back to defending the welterweight belt.
It had long been speculated the UFC was hoping for a Jon Jones vs. Silva superfight for the 20th anniversary show if it was held at Madison Square Garden. If Jones beats Chael Sonnen on April 27 and Silva beats Weidman, White didn’t tip his hat on whether he’d rather go in the Jones vs. Silva direction.
“It’s a good problem to have,” he joked, when asked about and if both options were open, which one he’d rather do.