It looks like we’ll have to wait until 2017 for Georges St-Pierre’s return to the Octagon after he put the kaibosh on any potential fight with Michael Bisping at UFC 206.
Following a twitter onslaught by UFC middleweight champion Bisping earlier this week calling for St-Pierre to sign the contract and fight him in Toronto, Canada, the former welterweight king took to social media and gave him an answer – of sorts.
“Nothing would make me more happy in the world than to fight you in Toronto, Michael,” St-Pierre says in the social media video. “Last week, I met with Ari (Emanuel, UFC owner) and I made peace with Dana (White). I tried to resolve things, but unfortunately right now it’s not happening. Hopefully, things will change soon. Thank you.”
There is a lot to unpack here. The fact St-Pierre has met with the head of WME-IMG is a rarity in itself as many UFC fighters and employees have yet to speak to the new head honcho. Clearing the air with White is also a step in the right direction.
In recent months the UFC president has made his feelings clear on St-Pierre, insisting that he didn’t feel the former champion had the fire inside him to want to even fight again. Last but not least it appears, according to St-Pierre’s statement that he tried to resolve things at the 11th hour to still try and get on to the UFC 206 card, but that train has now left the station.
Meanwhile, Bisping replied on Twitter to send his best wishes to St-Pierre and hopes the two can meet somewhere down the road.
“Georges St-Pierre, hope you guys figure it out,” tweeted Bisping. “It’s a shame for Canadians not to have you on the card. I’m here, keep me posted!”
While we may not be getting Bisping vs. St-Pierre anytime soon the back and forth on social media this week certainly seems to have given the fight some traction. With the top contenders in the middleweight division scheduled to fight each other there may yet be an opportunity for the Brit and Canadian to get it on in the interim without disrupting the 185lb chasing pack.
