With all of the talk lately regarding the potential Octagon return of legendary former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, who has called out a laundry list of champions and top stars in multiple weight-classes, there has been very little concrete evidence of him actually beginning the technical process of returning — until now.
St-Pierre was one of the more high-profile fighters to publicly speak out about the growing, out-of-control performance-enhancing drug epidemic in the sport of mixed-martial-arts, which many feel ultimately led to the UFC out-sourcing and implementing a brand new, zero-tolerance Anti-Doping Policy for all fighters on their active roster, including out-of-competition, random drug tests — anywhere, any place, anytime.
Coincidentally enough, Nick Diaz, whom GSP spoke of in the aforementioned interview, just finished serving an 18-month suspension handed down by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) for a failed drug test (marijuana metabolites), which was actually initially a five-year sentence that was eventually reduced after an overwhelming showing of support from the MMA community.
During the same interview, “Rush” announced that he has enrolled in the mandatory USADA testing program that all fighters coming out of retirement must take part in, which thus far only former UFC Heavyweight Champion and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) crossover athlete Brock Lesnar has received an exemption from when he came out of MMA retirement as an active WWE-contracted star who was given permission by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to make a surprise return against Mark Hunt at the landmark UFC 200 pay-per-view event last month.
Ironically enough, Lesnar, as the first person to receive special consideration regarding the new USADA policy in the UFC, would go on to fail both his out-of-competition and day-of, in-competition drug tests for banned substances, as the mandatory two-year suspension wouldn’t exactly matter to him once he returns back to his “day job” in WWE, which goes down one day after the big UFC 202 event with Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2, as he faces Randy Orton at WWE’s annual SummerSlam pay-per-view at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
GSP, who does plan to stay around, told Bloody Elbow’s Ram Gilboa this week that he absolutely wants no special consideration regarding the new Anti-Doping Policy, and has submitted a formal request to enter the USADA drug testing pool so he can be cleared and eligible to return to the Octagon, possibly as soon as later this year.
I don’t want to be an exception, because I was very outspoken about performance-enhancing drugs,” St-Pierre told Gilboa. “It would be bad for my reputation if I would have an exemption — I don’t want to have a free pass, I want to be like everybody else. That’s why I’ll be starting the process Aug 10. I don’t have any fight yet, but it’s gonna happen now, because I’m getting tested, if I’m getting tested it’s for a reason.”
St-Pierre last fought at UFC 167 back on November 16, 2013, where he successfully defended his UFC Welterweight Championship against dangerous knockout artist and powerhouse wrestler Johny Hendricks, earning a widely contested split decision after five closely fought rounds.
With all of the talk lately regarding the potential Octagon return of legendary former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, who has called out a laundry list of champions and top stars in multiple weight-classes, there has been very little concrete evidence of him actually beginning the technical process of returning — until now.
St-Pierre was one of the more high-profile fighters to publicly speak out about the growing, out-of-control performance-enhancing drug epidemic in the sport of mixed-martial-arts, which many feel ultimately led to the UFC out-sourcing and implementing a brand new, zero-tolerance Anti-Doping Policy for all fighters on their active roster, including out-of-competition, random drug tests — anywhere, any place, anytime.
Coincidentally enough, Nick Diaz, whom GSP spoke of in the aforementioned interview, just finished serving an 18-month suspension handed down by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) for a failed drug test (marijuana metabolites), which was actually initially a five-year sentence that was eventually reduced after an overwhelming showing of support from the MMA community.
During the same interview, “Rush” announced that he has enrolled in the mandatory USADA testing program that all fighters coming out of retirement must take part in, which thus far only former UFC Heavyweight Champion and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) crossover athlete Brock Lesnar has received an exemption from when he came out of MMA retirement as an active WWE-contracted star who was given permission by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to make a surprise return against Mark Hunt at the landmark UFC 200 pay-per-view event last month.
Ironically enough, Lesnar, as the first person to receive special consideration regarding the new USADA policy in the UFC, would go on to fail both his out-of-competition and day-of, in-competition drug tests for banned substances, as the mandatory two-year suspension wouldn’t exactly matter to him once he returns back to his “day job” in WWE, which goes down one day after the big UFC 202 event with Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2, as he faces Randy Orton at WWE’s annual SummerSlam pay-per-view at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
GSP, who does plan to stay around, told Bloody Elbow’s Ram Gilboa this week that he absolutely wants no special consideration regarding the new Anti-Doping Policy, and has submitted a formal request to enter the USADA drug testing pool so he can be cleared and eligible to return to the Octagon, possibly as soon as later this year.
I don’t want to be an exception, because I was very outspoken about performance-enhancing drugs,” St-Pierre told Gilboa. “It would be bad for my reputation if I would have an exemption — I don’t want to have a free pass, I want to be like everybody else. That’s why I’ll be starting the process Aug 10. I don’t have any fight yet, but it’s gonna happen now, because I’m getting tested, if I’m getting tested it’s for a reason.”
St-Pierre last fought at UFC 167 back on November 16, 2013, where he successfully defended his UFC Welterweight Championship against dangerous knockout artist and powerhouse wrestler Johny Hendricks, earning a widely contested split decision after five closely fought rounds.
While nothing is official regarding the rumored Octagon return of Georges St-Pierre, if he does come back, he’ll be a betting favorite — even against the top dog in his former weight class of 170-pounds.
Respected MMA oddsmakers Bovada.lv set their…
While nothing is official regarding the rumored Octagon return of Georges St-Pierre, if he does come back, he’ll be a betting favorite — even against the top dog in his former weight class of 170-pounds.
Respected MMA oddsmakers Bovada.lv set their opening lines for the rumored GSP vs. Tyron Woodley UFC Welterweight Championship match this week.
St-Pierre opened as a -150 betting favorite for the potential fight, while the current champion Woodley is set as a +120 underdog.
After Woodley knocked out Robbie Lawler at UFC 201 this past Saturday to claim the 170-pound title, he made it clear that he wants “money” fights. GSP was later contacted by MMAFighting.com reporter Ariel Helwani, and told him that he was, in fact, interested in a title fight against Woodley.
Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is already lining himself up with some very interesting fights. After dispatching Robbie Lawler in the first round at UFC 201, ‘The Chosen One’ is now red-hot property in the UFC market. Challenges have come in left and right, but perhaps the most intriguing potential fights have come […]
Newly crowned UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is already lining himself up with some very interesting fights. After dispatching Robbie Lawler in the first round at UFC 201, ‘The Chosen One’ is now red-hot property in the UFC market. Challenges have come in left and right, but perhaps the most intriguing potential fights have come from Woodley’s post-fight interview with Stephen Thompson.
‘Wonderboy’ issued a challenge to the new 170-pound boss just moments after his devastating knockout against Lawler, but it wasn’t a bout with Thompson that Woodley would acknowledge. Calling out former champion Georges St-Pierre and also Nick Diaz, ‘The Chosen One’ admitted he’s looking for the ‘money fights’ now. In quite the common theme, Woodley joins champions such as Conor McGregor, Dominick Cruz and Michael Bisping who have all reached outside their divisional rankings recently in search of big fights.
In terms of Woodley wanting to fight ‘GSP,’ there are a lot of questions that arise. Will St-Pierre even return and, if so, should he receive an immediate title shot? His last fight, a narrow win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, was now three years ago. The time has passed quickly, and UFC president Dana White recently stated in an interview that ‘Rush’ would ‘never fight again.’
Of course the word of White is by no means gospel, and St-Pierre has pondered the idea of a comeback pretty much since the moment he vacated the belt. With USADA (United States Anti Doping Agency) now running the show, perhaps ‘GSP’ will be happy to compete again.
Responding to MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani, St-Pierre confirmed today that he wants to fight Woodley. Although no solid date has ever been nailed down for ‘Rush’ to return, the clock is ultimately ticking for the ex-poster boy of the UFC. Many consider the Canadian star as the greatest welterweight to ever live, and he is constantly in the top end of the pound-for-pound argument.
Would you be keen to see St-Pierre come back to the UFC, or has the game passed him by?
While Michael Bisping’s next dance partner is all set, apparently another UFC title-holder has former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre interested in making an Octagon comeback.
Ariel Helwani reported at MMAFighting.com on Monday morning that …
While Michael Bisping’s next dance partner is all set, apparently another UFC title-holder has former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre interested in making an Octagon comeback.
Ariel Helwani reported at MMAFighting.com on Monday morning that former longtime 170-pound king Georges St-Pierre is interested in fighting new 170-pound champion, Tyron Woodley.
Woodley knocked out Robbie Lawler in the first round at UFC 201 on Saturday night to become the new UFC Welterweight Champion. After the show, Woodley claimed that he has his sights set on either Nick Diaz or Georges St-Pierre as the guy he would like to defend the title against first.
St-Pierre apparently feels the same.
Helwani texted GSP to ask him if he’s interested in fighting “The Chosen One” in his first 170-pound title defense, to which “Rush” simply replied, “Yes.”
St-Pierre last fought inside the Octagon at UFC 167 in November of 2013, edging out Johny Hendricks via close decision victory to retain his UFC Welterweight crown and retire as champion.
Although former longtime 170-pound king Georges St-Pierre recently announced that he wants to make a return to the Octagon pending a deal being reached with UFC management, the current 170-pound king doesn’t think it’s going to happen.
Reigning UFC …
Although former longtime 170-pound king Georges St-Pierre recently announced that he wants to make a return to the Octagon pending a deal being reached with UFC management, the current 170-pound king doesn’t think it’s going to happen.
Reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler, who defends his title against Tyron Woodley at UFC 201 in Atlanta on July 30, was asked if he heard about the rumors of GSP returning to the fight game, and if the UFC had said anything to him about a potential fight with the former champion.
“Nope,” said Lawler. “They never asked me.” Lawler added, “I don’t think he’s coming back.”
By now, everyone has heard the announcement from Georges St-Pierre regarding his desire to return to the fighting world, where he specifically mentioned new UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping as someone that would interest him enough to get back…
By now, everyone has heard the announcement from Georges St-Pierre regarding his desire to return to the fighting world, where he specifically mentioned new UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping as someone that would interest him enough to get back in the Octagon.
“I do like that fight,” Roach said about his own interest in working with St-Pierre again to help him prepare for his long-awaited Octagon return. “But Bisping said no. I know that fight’s not going to happen.”
Never one to shy away from responding to criticism and/or rumors, “The Count” took to social media this week to react to Roach’s comments. While he made sure to point out that he respects the legendary boxing trainer, who has most famously worked with Manny Pacquiao in recent years, he also didn’t hesitate in saying his comments about turning down an offer to fight St-Pierre was the “funniest bullsh*t [he’s] ever heard.”
After the quick tweet about Roach’s comments being “funny bullsh*t,” the reigning UFC 185-pound champion also posted this reply to a fan who tweeted him about the story.
“I like Freddie Roach,” wrote Bisping. “He must be misinformed. He’s not the type to spread lies. I wasn’t even offered the fight.”
As noted by UFC President Dana White directly to Bisping on the official UFC 200 post-show on FOX Sports 1 this past weekend, UFC has apparently decided on giving the vocal majority of MMA fans the fight they have been asking for, Dan Henderson vs. Bisping 2, in Bisping’s hometown of Manchester, England.
