Georges St. Pierre returned after a four-year hiatus to defeat Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 217 to become the UFC Middleweight Champion.
GSP has since relinquished the title due to medical concerns, but it was a move UFC President Dana White had expected all along.
“I thought I would be (super pissed), but I’m not. I expected it,” White said after UFC Fight Night Fresno. “Listen, I had him sign a contract that said he would defend against Whittaker for a reason — because I knew he wouldn’t. He doesn’t want to fight anybody at welterweight,” White continued. “That’s why he fought Bisping. He didn’t want to fight (Tyron) Woodley, he didn’t want to fight (Stephen) ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. He didn’t want to fight any of those guys. He wanted to fight Michael Bisping, and he did, and now he’s off again. So, listen, I’m not shocked, I’m not mad. It is what it is.”
The former middleweight champion stated that he wants to continue working with the UFC, but wants to deal with the medical issues first.
White also had a feeling something like this could happen and that is why he put special clauses in GSP’s contract.
“At the end of the day, there’s a reason I put that stuff in the contract for him to sign,” White said. “There’s a reason. And am I shocked? I don’t think anybody is shocked. He came out, he hand-picked Bisping and then went away again. So, whatever, it is what it is.”
Robert Whittaker is now the UFC Middleweight Champion and he defends the gold against Luke Rockhold at UFC 221.
