White makes return of GSP official, discusses opponents and divisions
UFC president Dana White named three fighters that could face GSP in his return.
Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre retired in 2013, citing the need to rest. He later expanded that to include concerns about doping in the league, among other points.
On July 1, 2015, the UFC instituted what is arguably the toughest anti-doping program in the sports world. And it time negotiations for the return of GSP commenced but apparently broke down over apparel sponsorship. The UFC is wedded to Reebok, and GSP has a deal with UnderArmor. At one point things got so bad St-Pierre reported that he was a free agent, which the UFC firmly denied. By October, UFC president Dana White said the relationship between the two had never been better.
But there was no contract.
Now UFC President Dana White has told Lance Pugmire for the LA Times that it is official, and discussed potential opponents.
He’s back. I’m excited, said White. We worked at it for a long time and finally got it done.
It could be the winner between Tyron Woodley and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, or it could be Michael Bisping. Georges has also talked about fighting at 155 pounds. He says he can make the weight.
But I have no idea when he’s going to fight right now. We don’t have anything booked and literally haven’t talked to anybody about it.
Two guys who care about Georges came to me and said, ‘Do you want to a deal?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I want to a deal.’ We got it done.”
Although White declined to name the two, Pugmire learned through other sources that the two individuals who played a key role in brokering an agreement to bring St-Pierre back are Freddie Roach and CAA agent Nick Khan.
Khan has been described as the most powerful person in sports media you’ve never heard of. Now we have, and thanks!