Former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre became the new UFC Middleweight Champion when he submitted Michael Bisping in the main event of UFC 217.
UFC Interim Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker was in attendance that night and he says GSP looked slow in the Octagon.
“To be honest, he looked slower than he’s ever been,” Whittaker said to News.com.au. “He’s just as crafty. You can see the intelligence is still there. His fight IQ is still there. He obviously hits harder at middleweight. But I hit hard, and I hit fast — and much harder and faster than Bisping. And I have much better defense than Bisping. So it looks good.”
GSP was competing for the first time in over four years and the fight did mark the champions middleweight division debut.
There is no timetable for GSP to return to the Octagon at this time and the interim middleweight champion is happy to wait for him.
“I’m happy to wait,” Whittaker said. “Fighting a legend like that is worth the time. My wants have to go on the back seat a bit for him. He’s a living legend, and in respect I’ll do that. But if he’s going to hang around at middleweight we’ll touch gloves eventually. I’m confident.”
While the fight hasn’t been made official yet, the UFC President in Dana White did say GSP would face Whittaker in a title unification fight next.
