You can put an end to the months of speculation, teasers, and cryptic tweets from sponsors because Georges St. Pierre isn’t announcing his return to an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Octagon in the coming days.
So says “Rush” himself, as well as his manager Rodolphe Beaulieu (via MMA Fighting), who denied claims made by a French reporter on Thursday (Jan. 28, 2016) that the Canadian mixed martial arts (MMA) superstar was set to announce his arrival on the scene shortly.
“[There are] still a lot of things that need to happen before he decides if he comes back or not,” Beaulieu said.
Like perhaps more boxing training, or the repair of his tense relationship with UFC President Dana White.
Maybe it’s the promotion’s oft-criticized partnership with apparel provider Reebok that’s still nagging the former welterweight champion.
Whatever the case may be, St. Pierre isn’t ready to dust off the four ounce gloves just yet, following a two-year hiatus from the sport he dominated for nearly a decade.
St. Pierre was last seen defending his 170-pound crown in a close bout with Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 in Nov. 2013, which then led to an awkward encounter with White at the post-fight press conference. UFC has since responded to the Tristar Gym product’s story.
Depending upon the associate you ask, some see a return by the former pound-for-pound great, while White thinks it’s all smoke and mirrors.
One thing is for sure and that’s if St. Pierre does opt to compete, there will be a hell of a lot more competition waiting to welcome him back.