Rumor: GSP vs. Anderson Silva Targeted For UFC 206

Decorated former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been rumored to finally be making his UFC return at December 10’s UFC 206 from Toronto in his native Canada, and tonight (Fri., October 7, 2016) another potential opponent for that proposed fight has surfaced. And this time, it’s one MMA fans have wanted to see “Rush”

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Decorated former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been rumored to finally be making his UFC return at December 10’s UFC 206 from Toronto in his native Canada, and tonight (Fri., October 7, 2016) another potential opponent for that proposed fight has surfaced.

And this time, it’s one MMA fans have wanted to see “Rush” meet in the Octagon for many years.

Welterweight Patrick Cote tweeted he heard the rumor about St-Pierre vs. Anderson Silva at UFC 206, comparing the fight to last year’s boxing ‘Fight of the Century’ between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao that most believe happened far too late:

It’s hard to argue with Cote’s statement there, as the formerly dominant Silva has certainly seen better days. The MMA great has lost his last four official bouts to Daniel Cormier, Michael Bisping, and Chris Weidman, while having his only win, a UFC 183 decision over Nick Diaz, overturned due to multiple failed drug tests for anabolic steroids and other banned substances.

Still, the once-revered Silva nearly knocked out Bisping back in February, and he almost did the same to Cormier when he rocked him with a body kick at the end of their UFC 200 meeting, a fight “The Spider” filled in for Jon Jones on an incredible three days’ notice.

St-Pierre, meanwhile, as been out of fighting for almost three years, vacating his long-held title after beating Johny Hendricks with a controversial split decision at UFC 167 in November 2013. The nine-time defending champion had been rumored to be returning to face Bisping at UFC 206, and was even linked to a possible bout with Conor McGregor. “Rush” reportedly asked for the hefty price tag of $10 million for the bout, however, and was balked at by UFC brass.

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But St-Pierre vs. Silva is a champion vs. champion bout that MMA fans have wanted to see for years, and even though Cote was right in saying it’s taking place years out of both men’s respective primes, there would be no bigger splash (other than a fight against McGregor) for St-Pierre to return to in his backyard.

A blockbuster light heavyweight title bout between Daniel Cormier and Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson was scheduled for the event this week, but the card was still left without a big-name main event to bring mainstream MMA back to Canada in a big way. Obviously St-Pierre was and still is by far the top name to fit the bill.

Will the UFC finally be able to put together the fight that has evaded them for years?

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Daniel Cormier Announces Date, Opponent For Title Fight

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Daniel Cormier revealed his next fight Wednesday night while serving as co-host of “UFC Tonight,” declaring that he will defend his light heavyweight title opposite Anthony Johnson at UFC …

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Daniel Cormier revealed his next fight Wednesday night while serving as co-host of “UFC Tonight,” declaring that he will defend his light heavyweight title opposite Anthony Johnson at UFC 206.

The bout will take place December 10 from Toronto, though it was not mentioned as the headliner for the card. That leaves a possibility of Georges St-Pierre still returning to the UFC and competing in his home country.

Cormier defeated Johnson back in 2015 when they first met for the then-vacant UFC title. “DC” locked up a late submission to win, successfully defending the belt later that year vs. Alexander Gustafsson.

Johnson has not lost since that fight, claiming three straight – all via knockout.

Daniel Cormier Confirms He’ll Fight ‘Rumble’ At UFC 206

It looks like the drama surrounding the next UFC light heavyweight title fight is over. Champion Daniel Cormier announced on this evening’s episode of “UFC Tonight” that he will be facing top contender Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson at December’s UFC 206 from Toronto. Dana White had speculated that Johnson could fight interim champion Jon Jones, but

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It looks like the drama surrounding the next UFC light heavyweight title fight is over.

Champion Daniel Cormier announced on this evening’s episode of “UFC Tonight” that he will be facing top contender Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson at December’s UFC 206 from Toronto. Dana White had speculated that Johnson could fight interim champion Jon Jones, but with “Bones” uncertain suspension status still up in the air, it appears the promotion went with what many felt was the clear consensus choice.

The decision is hard to argue with from a pure fighting standpoint, as “Rumble” has knocked out three straight top contenders in Glover Teixeira, Ryan Bader, and Jimi Manuwa after Cormier submitted him in the third round of their impromptu light heavyweight championship bout in the main event of May 2015’s UFC 187. That fight only came about when Cormier, who had lost to Jones by unanimous decision earlier in the year, filled in after the dominant but troubled MMA legend was arrested for a disturbing hit-and-run in his adopted home of Albuquerque.

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Cormier was set to finally rematch Jones at April’s UFC 197 but was injured, and their long-held rivalry took yet another turn for the strange when Jones tested positive for estrogen blockers just three days prior to their rescheduled main event at July 9’s anticipated UFC 200. “Bones” still awaits his punishment and his hearing was postponed today, but the former champ believes he’ll receive a lighter sentence due to having failed the tests because of sexual performance drug Cialis.

Cormier fought all-time great former middle champ Anderson Silva as a late replacement, and was thrust into a rock and a hard place when he used his Olympic-level wrestling to win a safe, uninspired unanimous decision over “The Spider.” Prior to his latest back-and-forth with Jones, Cormier defended his title in one of the best fights of last year against Alexander Gustafsson five months after he originally beat ‘Rumble’ for the belt.

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It remains unknown whether or not Cormier vs. Johnson II will headline the event, which takes place on December 10, from the Air Canada Centre, as longtime former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been rumored to be making his long-awaited return at the event, although nothing has been made official.

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Georges St. Pierre Not “Necessarily” Needed To Headline UFC 206

Former longtime UFC welterweight champion and Canadian superstar Georges “Rush” St. Pierre has made it clear in recent months that he’s ready to return to fighting after nearly three years away from the cage. He also said on a previous edition of UFC Tonight that fighting at December 10, 2016’s UFC 206 from Toronto, Canada

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Former longtime UFC welterweight champion and Canadian superstar Georges “Rush” St. Pierre has made it clear in recent months that he’s ready to return to fighting after nearly three years away from the cage. He also said on a previous edition of UFC Tonight that fighting at December 10, 2016’s UFC 206 from Toronto, Canada would be ideal.

St. Pierre competing at this event is far from a done deal, however.

Tom Wright, General Manager of Operations in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, recently said that the promotion doesn’t ‘necessarily’ need a Canadian to headline the event. He also said that the a main event for November 12’s UFC 205 from New York must be secured before the focus shifts to UFC 206:

“We don’t need a Canadian necessarily to headline the event,” Wright told Submission Radio. “The last event that we had in Canada did not feature around a Canadian, so frankly it’s no different than here (in Australia). Our fans are sophisticated fans in Canada and they’re knowledgeable and sophisticated here in Australia. They want to see great fights, they want to see great competition and they’ll see it in Toronto.”

“It’s still a little bit early. We’re trying to figure out the main event for UFC 205, obviously that’s going to be a seminal event in Madison Square Garden in New York. So once that’s sort of cleared up, and that will happen in the next week or so, then we’ll start to bring more closely into focus what’s going to happen in Toronto.” 

That doesn’t mean that the promotion wouldn’t like St. Pierre to headline the event as he’s obviously one of the promotion’s biggest-ever stars. Wright added that the two parties have been in talks, and that he would like to see GSP do ‘what he wants to do’:

“Well personally I’d love to see Georges come back, but I have been asked this question before and what I really want is for Georges to do what he wants to do. He made the decision to walk away from this sport back in 2013, and should he decide to come back, I’d be the first person to welcome him back with open arms. Should he decide to continue hanging them up, then I’ll salute that as well. It’s completely up to Georges. We’re trying to see if there’s a contract that can be pulled together and his team are talking with our team, and if it’s going to work out, it will work out.”

Do you still expect to see “Rush” make a return to fighting?

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Georges St-Pierre Admits He Wasn’t Trying To Finish Fights

Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is on the cusp of a massive comeback. The when and whereabouts are not yet known, although rumours surrounding UFC 206 in Toronto are rampant. An obvious rematch with Nick Diaz, title fight against Tyron Woodley or even a super fight with Conor McGregor are all on the table.

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Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is on the cusp of a massive comeback. The when and whereabouts are not yet known, although rumours surrounding UFC 206 in Toronto are rampant. An obvious rematch with Nick Diaz, title fight against Tyron Woodley or even a super fight with Conor McGregor are all on the table. Legends like St-Pierre are always going to have many options available, and just a glance at his record shows why.

Arguably the greatest welterweight to ever grace the octagon, ‘Rush’ left the sport behind in a highly unexpected moment back in 2013. Following a super-squeaky split decision win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, GSP declared he needed some time away. Relinquishing the title he’d held so firmly, St-Pierre simply walked away. Speculation over the Canadian’s return has raged on since that day. After three years, the stars are finally starting to align. There are doubters though.

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 The Fire

There’s been a lot of talk about GSP’s motivation to come back and fight again. UFC president Dana White recently said he doesn’t believe the former 170-pound king truly has the desire. ‘Rush’ responded by saying White knew nothing about him, and his motivation would be clear within one minute of his next fight starting.

Surely St-Pierre would not be foolish enough to come back to the UFC over pride or self conflict? You’d imagine so, but obviously anything is possible. One interesting clip was picked up by Toothless MMA, and it shows GSP being very truthful to himself. Recognizing his fire was gone back in 2013, St-Pierre admits he wasn’t even trying to finish fights toward the end of his championship reign:

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No Finish

“Critics said I was fighting more to win instead of finishing the fight and it’s true. Towards the end, I didn’t have the same anger, I didn’t have the same drive to hurt the guy and to finish it. And it’s a fact. I tried to get it back, but it is very hard and I think the best way to get it back for me is to step out, because it’s more an emotion thing.”

“I was fighting more for winning instead of for going through the guy. I needed to step out to let my hunger go up.”

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Motivation is Key

When the news of Georges St-Pierre’s comeback fight is finally made official, there will be plenty of time for debate. For now, ponder this–how would the current UFC crop fare against the motivated GSP that wreaked havoc on the division for eight years?

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Former UFC Champ: Conor McGregor Needs To Defend His Title Now

In the weeks following UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor’s close majority decision win over Nate Diaz at welterweight in the main event of August 20’s UFC 202, “The Notorious” has been linked to a variety of high-profile bouts for his next attraction. Those include potentially lucrative fights against supposedly returning former welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre

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In the weeks following UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor’s close majority decision win over Nate Diaz at welterweight in the main event of August 20’s UFC 202, “The Notorious” has been linked to a variety of high-profile bouts for his next attraction.

Those include potentially lucrative fights against supposedly returning former welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre and current lightweight champ Eddie Alvarez, but one MMA legend agrees with the many who think McGregor should finally defend his 145-pound title. Speaking during a recent interview with Submission Radio, former UFC heavyweight champion Bas Rutten revealed his stance that McGregor should finally give Jose Aldo, whom he knocked out in 13 seconds to win the belt, his long overdue rematch:

“No, they cannot do it – well they can do it if they want, but that’s not going to be well received. I would say what you said, give up the title, then step away from it and go for the title shot at 155. That I can see happening. But both? No. I think there’s going to be a backlash. I think people are gonna speak up.”

“He needs to defend his title now against Jose Aldo. That’s first. He should have done that before already, I believe. So now he’s going to have to go back to 145, defend his title, then decide.”

As for the rumored fight with GSP, Rutten was brutally honest in his assessment of how it would play out, which made the fight one he is not interesting in seeing. “El Guapo” would be more interested in seeing St-Pierre face top welterweight contender Stephen Thompson:

“Nah. I rather see GSP against somebody with better takedown defense, because we know what’s going to happen – and even if you have great takedown defense, it’s still going to be hard not to be taken down by GSP. We know what’s going to happen, he’s (Georges St-Pierre) going to take him down and then be on top of him. I don’t know if that’s going to be an exciting fight, you know, the whole time he’s on top. I don’t know if he can finish him once he has him on the ground, so I don’t know. Rather see him against Wonderboy or something like that. I think that would be a really good fight – GSP I’m talking about.”

It may be a bit blunt, yet it’s an honest assessment of the situation, as fans new to MMA may think McGregor owns a decided edge on the long-absent St-Pierre while in truth the all-time legend would have a huge edge on McGregor in the wrestling department – his main perceived area of weakness.

Many fans and media members are calling for McGregor to either give Aldo the second chance at redemption he earned by beating Frankie Edgar for the interim featherweight belt at UFC 200, or vacate that title to go on and contend for a second belt up a weight class.

The fight with St-Pierre will always be there, too, and it could truly contend for the title of the biggest fight in UFC history, at least in terms of pay-per-view sales and live gate. The outcome, however, may be a bit of a letdown if anything close to Rutten’s prediction were to come true.

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