GSP: I’ll fight Woodley or Diaz, not BJ Penn

Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre took an extended break from mixed martial arts competition after defeating Johny Hendricks via split decision at UFC 167 on November 16, 2013. His team is negotiating for a return to the Octagon, and the fighter is currently subject to drug testing by the US Anti-Doping Agency for four months, a condition of his return.

GSP will be elegible to fight on December 10, perhaps not coincidentally the date of UFC 206 at Air Canada Centre Toronto in Ontario, Canada. The fighter set the UFC’s all time gate record of 55,724 spectators for $12,075,000 on April 30, 2011 at UFC 129 in Toronto. It is believed to the the largest live gate in Canadian history, beating the Olympics, the Rolling Stones, the Stanley Cup, and, well, everything.

In an interview with Jason Nawara for UpRoxx, the welterweight G.O.A.T. discussed whether he wants a title fight or big fights.

“I take one fight at a time,” said St-Pierre. “Yeah, I had the belt for a long time, but it doesn’t matter if it’s for the belt or not. I want a fight that’s going to elevate myself. There are fights that will help elevate me and there are fights that does not. For example, some people challenge me to a fight and I would not accept it.

“Fighting Tyron Woodley would elevate myself because he’s the champion now and if I win, it would elevate me and make my situation better. I have to consider the risks in fighting him, but yeah, a win would elevate me. Same thing with Nick Diaz — a win would elevate me. Even though I beat him already, I feel like I didn’t beat him the way I should’ve and then he came back with a bunch of excuses about why he lost the fight. So, if you wanna do it again, no problem!

“Some other guys have challenged me, and I’m not really positive about taking a fight with them because it doesn’t elevate me. Some of them are very dangerous, they challenge me, but I don’t really have much to gain by fighting them. Like, BJ Penn is an incredibly dangerous fighter. He has an incredible set of skills. He goes on Twitter and challenges me, but it’s not a fight that will elevate me. He’s incredible, but it’s an unnecessary risk for my legacy and I’ve already beat him twice. He’s incredibly dangerous if he puts his mind to it, he’s very dangerous. Not that I chicken out on anything, or you could call it chickening out, but some guys I will not fight.”

“It’s not an issue with fighting, I’m 35 years old. I want to choose the best fight, the most exciting fight and the fight that elevates me that will make people remember me forever. The guys I need to fight for that, I need to take into consideration.”