Former two division champion Georges St. Pierre came back after a four-plus year hiatus to defeat Michael Bisping and win the UFC Middleweight Title at UFC 217.
GSP is currently on the shelf battling ulcerative colitis, but has some potential opponents in mind if he chooses to compete again.
“The fight with Nate Diaz doesn’t really interest me, because I beat Nick Diaz,” St. Pierre said on The MMA Hour. “And logically, it’s not a risk worth taking for me, because if I beat Nate Diaz, it’s like normal for me. You know what I mean? It’s like, people expect me to win. But if I lose, I lose a big part of my legacy, I lose my name. I think it’s not worth it for me. Logically, it’s not worth it. Tyron Woodley, in the beginning — before — I wanted to fight Tyron Woodley. A few years ago, I wanted to fight Tyron Woodley. We even texted each other. However the idea of coming back at 185 was put in my head, and then I thought it made more sense, so that’s why I chose to go at 185. Because I fought at 170 all of my life, and if I put my legacy against someone, it needs to be something great. Something that, the guy needs to be accomplishing something special. If I put my legacy at risk, I want it to be worth it. If I fight against a guy who fights at 170 — Tyron is a great champion, but I feel like he fought ‘Wonderboy,’ he won the fight, but his last fights were not fights that made history. He won the fights, it was great, but it feels like it was not like a special fight.”
Woodley has mentioned a potential bout with GSP in the past, even before the former two division champions return this past November.
Of all the opponents that GSP could still fight in the Octagon, it would be UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor that would provide the biggest money fight.
“The thing is, Conor McGregor, money-wise, I believe is the one that can put the most money on the table,” St. Pierre said. “However, I think legacy-wise, I don’t think he’s the guy that legacy-wise (helps me much). I mean, money-wise, for people who are not huge fans of MMA, they know who Conor McGregor is. He’s the main guy. He’s the guy who brought the sport to a different level. He’s, I would say, the most charismatic guy. He sells, the biggest seller in the sport. But talk about legacy. If I come back for legacy, that’s what interests me the most, more than the money. Money, yes, it’s good, but if I come back, it would be more for a legacy match.”
There is no word as to when GSP could fight again, but none of the three opponents he mentioned are booked for a fight at the moment either.
