Former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre returned after a four year hiatus to defeat Michael Bisping to win the UFC Middleweight Title at UFC 217.
The champion was recently diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and he decided to issue a statement through Facebook on the medical condition:
Due to the recently diagnosed medical condition, there is no time frame as to when the middleweight champion will return to action.
Upon receiving word of the middleweight champion’s condition, the UFC President said the following to MMA Junkie:
“They called me yesterday, and I think it’s out that he has colitis,” White said. “So he’s out for a minute.”
For those who have never heard of or been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, the symptoms those who have the condition will deal with include abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea and occasional blood in the stool.
If GSP is unable to return to competition due to his condition, then UFC Interim Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker would become the new UFC Middleweight Champion.