A few months ago, Georges St-Pierre was unsure if he’d ever fight again inside the Octagon.
Fast forward to present day, and “Rush” is more confident than ever that he can return to the eight-walled cage after putting his body through a rigorous training camp.
“I did a training camp to see where I was at. I’ve been training, being in shape and being in fighting shape is something different,” declared Georges on a recent appearance on The MMA Hour.
“I did the training camp to push myself and go back to the highest level of competition. I didn’t fight, but I put myself through a training camp and I sparred and did it successfully. Now I know for a fact that I could go back and fight if my management and UFC get to an agreement,” he confirmed.
After saying he more interested in big super fights as opposed to recapturing his welterweight strap, Michael Bisping has surfaced as a top option to welcome “GSP” back inside the cage.
That’s because “The Count” recently became the middleweight champion by knocking out Luke Rockhold in the very first round at UFC 199. Prior to that, Bisping defeated Anderson Silva, the greatest MMA fighter of all time, according to many.
In St-Pierre’s eyes. Bisping is now the man to beat. And though he denies ever contacting Bisping’s camp for a potential scrap, he confirmed he is open to the 185-pound title fight.
“There are two things that I am very proud of. My welterweight title and the record I hold for most wins in UFC history,” he said. “Now I have Michael Bisping challenging me for it. But I do not believe that if I fight him he will send me back to a movie set.”
“Yes he is bigger, but I have more skill, more athleticism, and higher fighting IQ. The world doesn’t turn around me, but if it’s a fight that fans and UFC want to make, they got my number, they can call my agent no problem. We can organize to make it happens and make an agreement.”
He continues.
“I always said I would come back for something big. Bisping is the man to beat right now. He beat Silva, he knockout Rockhold. Rockhold beat Jacare and Weidman,” declared the former champion.
“He’s bigger, but when I was fighting at welterweight, I never thought about going up and then back down, because I was welterweight champion. Now I’m retired I can make more experimentally. I could fight at lightweight, as well. I can fight at welterweight and middleweight. Even though he is bigger, if we fight, I believe I will beat him.”
Shit just got real!
And if you’re wondering why he is so quick to accept Bisping’s challenge and not that of Chael Sonnen or Anderson Silva’s, it’s simply because the brash Brit has never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) unlike the aforementioned stars.
Solid point.
In conclusion, Georges reiterated that he is indeed ready to return to action.
“I love my sport, I still feel that I am at my best right now. The clock is running and I am not getting any younger. I am at the peak of my career and if there is a shot at another goal, another run, I better do it quick and it’s time to do it now.”
There you have it; it seems what started out as a simple blog post may turn into one of the biggest title fights in UFC history.
But what are the chances that it will actually go down?