Former undisputed UFC welterweight champion St Pierre stepped away from the sport nearly three years ago after nine successful defences of his title but he may now be tempted to make a return at middleweight against newly crowned champion Bisping. “There’s my title – my welterweight title that I won – and there’s another record that I hold for the most wins in UFC history. I know [McGregor] is a big draw”, St-Pierre said.
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The former (but still lineal) UFC welterweight champion spoke with MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of the MMA Hour (Warning, NSFW Language ahead), and indicated that, mentally and physically, he is completely ready to return to the Octagon. The clock is running and I’m not getting any younger.
When asked if he wanted to return to active competition, St-Pierre responded, “yes”. “I’m in the peak of my career, and if there is another shot, another go, another run, I better do it and do it quick”.
At age 35, the Canadian fighter says that his return is far from a done deal, and admits he was advised to keep quiet until things could be sorted out with the UFC. However, it has not been determined which weight class the two men will be fighting at. But aside from the rumors regarding a possible, and somewhat unlikely matchup with newly-crowned UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping, St. Pierre could find several big-name opponents in his own back yard.
While the clash may not necessarily make sense at first glance, the two men are now tied for the most victories in UFC history, a title each man is looking to take sole possession of.
But if the Bisping fight can’t be done, he’s also interested in going up against superstars Conor McGregor or Nate Diaz. “Being in shape and being in fighting shape is something different”.
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When he left the UFC back in 2013 after his controversial win over Johny Hendricks, St Pierre cited lax drug testing procedures and PED usage as his main reasons for quitting, along with the promotion’s exclusive contract with Reebok. “Now I have Michael Bisping challenging me for it. There are a lot of guys hunting him, but if it’s a fight that the UFC wants and the fans want, if it creates a buzz and the money is there, because we’re in a business, I’m down for it”. I can beat both of these guys [McGregor and Diaz] too. Yes, he’s bigger than me, but I believe I have more skills, more athleticism, and a higher fighting IQ than he does.
