After defeating Jake Shields at UFC 129, it was unknown who the next fighter would be to challenge for Georges St-Pierre’s welterweight title.
The 30-year-old has six straight successful title defenses and the division was running out of potential challengers.
The UFC decided to bring over Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz to create a matchup many fight fans had been begging for.
After an October bout fell through due to Diaz being a no-show at a mandatory press conference and St-Pierre later suffering a knee injury, the two were set up for the main event on the promotion’s Super Bowl weekend card.
However, once again St-Pierre suffered yet another injury as he tore his ACL during training and required surgery that would keep him out of the Octagon for six to 10 months.
St-Pierre has no plans of waiting the full 10 months, as he revealed to ESPN.com that he has plans for a July return,
“Hard training will be in July, and fighting again for the timing to get back I would say in November, I can come back in November,” St-Pierre stated.
The Canadian is determined to defend his belt at least once in 2012, pleading with the UFC to make a November return happen,
“I hope so. Please give it to me,” St-Pierre said.
“Rush” will have to be careful in his rehabilitation after the surgery so that he doesn’t suffer a recurrence.
If St-Pierre gets back to training too early, a setback could push his return back into 2013 if he does not take it slow.
With his extended absence, an interim welterweight title fight between Diaz and fellow contender Carlos Condit will take place during Super Bowl weekend to see who will be next in line when St-Pierre is ready to go.
The winner of the fight will have to wait for St-Pierre to return to 100 percent and if the champ does not do the same, both parties could be waiting longer than anticipated.
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