Former UFC superstar Georges St-Pierre, who decisively retired from MMA in 2017, has remained a significant figure in the sport. The ex-champion of two divisions was a pivotal part of UFC’s PPV business from 2006-13. After a four-year break, he made a brief comeback in UFC 217, defeating Michael Bisping for the middleweight title.
Since then, St-Pierre hasn’t competed professionally in MMA. However, recent news suggested that he would debut in professional grappling at the Fight Pass Invitational 6, a UFC-hosted event that has been spotlighting top-tier grappling and MMA talents since its 2021 inception.
During International Fight Week in July, when St-Pierre announced his return, speculation arose about his potential opponent. Names like Anderson Silva, Matt Serra, and Khabib Nurmagomedov were floated. For a time, Demian Maia seemed the likely choice. However, in a chat with TSN, St-Pierre disclosed that no bout has been finalized. He had hoped to face Nick Diaz, but injuries to both fighters have put that matchup in doubt.
St-Pierre indicated that his December debut might be postponed or canceled if his injury recovery doesn’t progress as expected. He mentioned potential matchups with fighters like Kamaru Usman, Demian Maia, and Gilbert Burns, but emphasized that Diaz was the primary choice.
However, St-Pierre disclosed that both fighters got injured, so this match is unlikely to happen for the foreseeable future. “Unfortnately, he’s hurt, he has a neck injury and I just got hurt myself, I have a shoulder injury. So, I have to wait a few weeks to see if it will require surgery because some of the things are wear and tear and it will heal by itself. But, when I got hurt, maybe the problem is mechanical. So, I have to wait a few weeks to see if it will require surgery and unfortunately, it will be canceled and perhaps postponed in the future.”
St-Pierre’s recent inactivity can be attributed to his binding UFC contract. Even after his 2019 retirement announcement, UFC retained control over his career. When he tried to arrange a boxing match with ex-champion Oscar De La Hoya, UFC President Dana White intervened, preventing the bout. De La Hoya and Triller’s Ryan Kavanaugh expressed their frustrations publicly.
St-Pierre confirmed these reports, sharing details of his conversation with White. He suggested that White’s offer for him to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov was a strategic move, expecting St-Pierre to decline and thus providing White with a justification for not allowing the De La Hoya bout.
Ultimately, St-Pierre managed to exit his UFC contract, giving him more freedom in his career choices, even if he hasn’t been in a rush to return to the ring.
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