Georges St-Pierre, the ex-UFC titleholder, is returning to the fight scene after an absence of ten years.
The renowned fighter, who holds the record for the longest reign as welterweight champion in UFC history, is set to make a comeback of sorts. Unfortunately, fans won’t have the opportunity to witness GSP’s return to the Octagon, and there has been no mention of the potential boxing match against Oscar De La Hoya, which Dana White halted.
However, fans can look forward to seeing Georges St-Pierre compete in combat sports again this December through the UFC’s Fight Pass Invitational grappling series.
A UFC 290 Surprise
Georges St-Pierre surprised everyone during the UFC 290 media day on Thursday, July 6th, by announcing his return to competitive combat sports. This will mark his first appearance since retiring from the UFC in 2017.
For the past six years, fans have eagerly awaited GSP’s comeback. The long wait will finally come to an end in December. At 42 years old, GSP expressed his desire to feel the thrill of competition again.
During the media event, he shared: “I was training when I retired, but I needed that kick of competition. I want to experience the adrenaline rush once more. It also provides an opportunity for fighters who still want to compete, earn money, and enjoy the support of UFC fans and their families.”
Although St-Pierre’s opponent for the upcoming fight has not been announced, he is scheduled to return on December 14th at Fight Pass Invitational 6. Currently, GSP is the only athlete confirmed for the grappling card.
Could more MMA stars follow in GSP’s footsteps?
Demetrious Johnson, the current ONE flyweight world champion and former UFC flyweight king, has openly considered the idea of retiring from mixed martial arts.
DJ was born in Madisonville, Kentucky, and has publicly stated that he plans to compete in grappling once he retires from MMA. You can bet Kentucky Sportsbook promo codes will come in handy if you’re looking to support DJ throughout his remaining fight career.
After his decisive unanimous decision victory over Adriano Moraes at ONE Fight Night 10, Johnson expressed to the media that it could potentially mark the end of his fighting career.
However, during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Johnson elaborated on why he was experiencing nostalgia and contemplating retirement for the first time in his career. He also mentioned his intention to seek advice from his peers, particularly the renowned UFC fighter Georges St-Pierre, known as ‘GSP.’
“Like what I said, that’s why I wanna talk to GSP because I felt there’s a point where he could have kept continuing to fight but you know he started acting in the Marvel movie. He’s doing all other stuff, so I’m like, why you know.”
GSP vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov rumors
Following the announcement of GSP’s return to combat sports, numerous rumors and potential matchups for his opponent have been circulating. Various names, including Michael Bisping and Gordon Ryan, have been mentioned. Despite publicly denying these matches, GSP is still searching for a suitable partner for his comeback.
Discussions regarding potential opponents have mentioned Matt Serra, Nick Diaz, Philip Rowe, Gunnar Nelson, Leo Santos, and Demian Maia. But one name, mentioned by GSP himself, has fought fans in an uproar.
The former champion in two weight divisions has previously hinted at making an MMA comeback, even disclosing that he would have been tempted to fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2020 if “The Eagle” had called him out instead of retiring.
While an official opponent for GSP’s return at Fight Pass Invitational 6 hasn’t been announced, GSP himself mentioned that potential opponents such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, Kamaru Usman, and Anderson Silva are all appealing options.
“I received a list from the UFC today, and we will assess the availability of fighters and make a decision in collaboration with the UFC and my team so that I face someone the fans want me to compete against,” GSP commented, per MMA Junkie.
