Guess who’s (almost) back. Guess who’s (almost) back again.
The long and winding saga that is Georges St-Pierre’s return to the UFC is seemingly reaching its finish line.
The former long-time UFC welterweight champion is close to signing on for a multi-fight deal with the UFC, according to a report by MMA Fighting.
Discussions between St-Pierre and his former employer had been ongoing for some time, with reports last year that negotiations were taking place to have ‘Rush’ return against either Michael Bisping or Robbie Lawler.
Towards the end of 2016, St-Pierre announced that his UFC contract was terminated and that he was a free agent. He also hired an attorney to represent him in the dialogue with the UFC but any disagreements that existed between the 170lbs great and the promotion seem to have been put to one side.
St-Pierre hasn’t fought in over three years, with his last defence of his 170lbs crown coming against Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, after which the Montreal native announced he would be vacating his title and spending some time away from the sport that he dominated for so many years.
All signs are pointing towards St-Pierre’s comeback fight taking place in the third quarter of 2017 so there is some time to wait yet but it’s a small price to pay to see one of the greatest of all time get back to what he does best.
There are no hints about who may be standing opposite St-Pierre when he makes his return, although reigning UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping has been told that GSP is interested in taking a bout at 185lbs against ‘The Count.’
“I’ve had no further dialogue with the UFC, but I know that Georges, his trainer (Jorge Blanco) told me recently that they’re pretty much at an agreement with the UFC,” Bisping said on the MMA Hour this week. “So the deal is almost done and he wants to fight me.”
In his time away from the sport, St-Pierre has also interestingly affiliated himself with the recently founded Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association, an attempt to unionise fighters which one would have thought might vex UFC president Dana White.
But there has been very little comment from the MMAAA since the evening of their launch and subsequent discussions between St-Pierre and the UFC seem to have gone well.
