UFC 129 Pre-Fight Press Conference on April 27, 2011 in Toronto, Canada. (Photos from Tom SzczerbowskiZuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has revealed a tentative timeline for his return to action. The injured champion told Inside MMA that he is planning on resuming hard training in July, and is looking to return to the Octagon in late October or early November of this year.
Hard training will [resume] in July, and fighting again... for the timing to get back I would say the beginning of November. I can come back in November.
You think you will fight before this year is up?
Oh yeah, of course. I hope so, please, give it to me... Late October, beginning of November. That would be good.
St. Pierre was scheduled to defend his title at UFC 137, and then at UFC 143, but was sidelined due to an ACL injury. If he does return at the end of October, it will be roughly 18 months since his last fight, an April 2011 title defense against Jake Shields at UFC 129.
The question for the UFC will be what to do with the Welterweight title in the meantime. Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz fight for the interim belt on February 4, leaving a full 9 months before a possible title unification bout with GSP. That's a tough timeline. Do you gamble on GSP returning as scheduled and put the belt on hold for 9 months, potentially leaving a hot Condit or Diaz out of action for the bulk of the year? Or do you schedule an interim title defense - a move that could lead to another title change and potentially weaken interest in the unification match? And if you do schedule another defense, who is the challenger? It's a tough call, and I imagine depends in part on how Condit vs. Diaz plays out.
But either way, it's good to hear that GSP is on his way back. Whatever you think of his style, his absence from the division is notable, and I'd rather see him fight than fade away due to injury.
Full video, including some advice from Phil Davis, in the complete entry.
0 recs | 55 comments
so...
It’s like he was never hurt! He can still fight once a year.
TheDreadedMarco - January 17, 2012
cause in the last 2 years he was never injured right?
he fought twice and 2009 and 2010, so i don’t know what ur talking about.
Rampage01 - January 17, 2012
TheDreadedMarco - January 17, 2012
Damn, I'd totally hit that
Reminds me of an ex actualy, that lisp, I bet she’s a freak
warren305 - January 17, 2012
I think you just committed treason.
Damnatio Memoriae - January 17, 2012
Pasting an overused image macro doesn’t change the fact that you were wrong.
Kenya_MMA - January 17, 2012
hey everyone
I’m wrong! GSP fought twice in……..2010.
TheDreadedMarco - January 17, 2012
Yes. It. Does. So.
warren305 - January 18, 2012
ready? set? revisionist history go!
3 in 2002
2 in 2003
3 in 2004
4 in 2005
2 in 2006 injured preparing for Hughes II fight
3 in 2007
2 in 2008
2 in 2009. torn abductor muscle suffered in Alves fight
2 in 2010. filmed TUF
1 in 2010. schedlued for september. Knee injury.
0 in 2011. scheduled for february. major knee injury.
Kevin Jennison J. Zametov-St Pierre - January 17, 2012
1 in 2011.
4/30/2011 in Toronto
vs. Jake Sheilds
Clay Davis - January 17, 2012
oops typo lol. i put 2010 twice.
but yeah he was scheduled for a fight in November (more opps) but got hurt. he gets a bad inactivity rap even though he doesnt deseve it
Kevin Jennison J. Zametov-St Pierre - January 17, 2012
I agree he gets a bad rap
it just feels like he never fights and when he does all I can think is “I am not impressed by your performanceeee.”
TheDreadedMarco - January 17, 2012
Was Brendan Schaub there to keep the chair warm or something?
menckenstein - January 17, 2012
This!
SentientAndroid - January 17, 2012
That means it’ll be a pretty short reign for whoever wins between Diaz and Condit. Welcome back GSP, you’ll notice that people have become pretty crazy thinking the division was somehow catchup up to you since you were gone.
Shnak - January 17, 2012
More like,
people don’t expect GSP to be 100% when he comes back.
If this were boxing, he would get a tune-up fight (or 2!) before taking on top-competition. For once, boxing is smarter!
jhf884 - January 17, 2012
and if he loses the tune up fight?
Figure that one out please cuz then the ufc is completely screwed.
benten20 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
There's a reason for tune-up fights,
and if a fighter doesn’t look like he could win one of those—the camp should be able to tell—then they shouldn’t have him fight.
But yes, this is (one of) the reason(s) that the UFC doesn’t do tune-up fights.
Good for the UFC? Sure.
Good for the fighter? No way!
jhf884 - January 17, 2012
except the fighter also wouldnt want to run the risk of losing the tune up fight
If GSP loses the title he will be one win away tops from a rematch and if he wins then well, he wins. It’s better for an injured champ to come back without a tune up fight imo in mma
benten20 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
One of the reasons why I hate boxing. Either you’re good, or you’re not. Tune-up fights are a waste of everyone’s time.
Shnak - January 17, 2012
If its looking like he'll be unable to make that schedule
and fight this year, I think they should just strip him of title.
Take off any pressure for him to return, let him sort out this injuries and then give him a title shot when hes back.
Tats16 - January 17, 2012
That is essentially what they have done by having an interim title. Plus, a unification fight would be more marketable than a straight title shot.
alxn - January 17, 2012
yeah
but if they have to wait until 2013 to have that unifcation fight, then It would be better to promote Diaz or Condit to the full champ so they can actually defend the belt instead of defending the interim belt.
Tats16 - January 17, 2012
at least thats how I see it
Interim title defense is kinda weird.
Tats16 - January 17, 2012
i think people need to take "interim" titles at face value
stripping the champ is disrespectful in my opinion. we all know gsp is #1 but why hold up title shots for an entire year. both condit and diaz deserve them
“let them just fight for #1 contender spots” people fail to realize that in MMA people lose, alot. if you deserve a shot at gold you shouldnt have to be forced to Rashad it for a year or enter a fight you have a good chance to lose with no belt implications. Take Shane Carwin, everyone knows he was an interim champ but he still deserved the accomplishment of having said he won it.
Kevin Jennison J. Zametov-St Pierre - January 17, 2012
not to argue but an interim belt kinda causes the just that to happen. at least thats what it sounds like to me.
PeopleWatching - January 17, 2012
GSP, great guy, wish him nothing but the best, but i wouldn’t be devastated if i never saw him fight again. I find his safety first style against vastly inferior opposition mindnumbing, and it’s accentuated by the fact that a guy in the same weight class called Nick Diaz thrills the fans fight in fight out.
sheikybaby - January 17, 2012
hes not just called nick diaz
thats actually his name.
gspmademegay - January 17, 2012
no offense to your opinion whatsoever because i know your a big diaz fan
But GSP would grind Nick badly to a unanimous decision.
benten20 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
I hope he doesn't "Rush" things...
(runs and hides in shame)
Machiel Van - January 17, 2012
YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
Paulo Filho's Psychiatrist - January 17, 2012
GSP at 75% is still better then your favorite fighter
The truth hurts…
RECE ROCK - January 17, 2012 via mobile
what if your favourite fighter
is Anderson Silva?
Tats16 - January 17, 2012
Or Nick Diaz?
McEwen - January 17, 2012
Yep.
bmilo - January 17, 2012
I don't think so
If GSP doesn’t come back 100% and tires out into the third or fourth, Diaz is going to whip up on him. He should take his time.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
I disgree
Diaz’s will shall be broken in no more than two rounds of takedowns. That’s what GSP does.
bmilo - January 17, 2012
As much as I like to watch Nick, and his style, GSP is going to maul him with takedowns
And he’ll never be the same again. Thats what GSP does. He breaks people. Which is why they suck afterwards and we laughingly say “GSP is exposed”.
Diaz is gettin GSPee’d on
warren305 - January 17, 2012
We aren't talking about a normal person
We’re talking about Nick Diaz, who is a honey badger.
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
When does Nick ever stop attacking?
discoandherpes - January 17, 2012
Exactly ... Leaps & bounds my friend...leaps and bounds.
RECE ROCK - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Touché... I should have said WW
RECE ROCK - January 17, 2012 via mobile
If Condit wins, I can see them doing a title fight in the summer prior to a unification fight with GSP late fall. If Diaz wins though, I can see them sitting him so they can guarantee themselves a huge buyrate when GSP returns.
All that being said, I’d bet GSP won’t fight before New Year’s at best. That seems like an ambitious time line right now.
McEwen - January 17, 2012
The UFC likes to build title fights up for long periods
I would be shocked if Condit/Diaz defends in summer and faces GSP in the fall
Stiff Jab - January 17, 2012
They should just have the next person challenge for the interim belt
That is the point of it.
HaterSlayer - January 17, 2012
Holy crap....
Just chill the heck out and heal up completely before going back hard in training….
This guy’s going to be confined to a wheel chair when his career ends
jack knight starman - January 17, 2012
I just NEED to see GSP knock somebody out
That is all
warren305 - January 17, 2012
not happening.
Tats16 - January 17, 2012
Man, Phil Davis is so cool...I really hope he beats Evans
Chris Groves - January 17, 2012
That was my thought exactly.
NickRingp4pGOAT - January 18, 2012
too bad
this probably means that we will only get to see the condit/diaz winner fight twice this year. I say let him heal a little longer and in the meantime squeeze in an interim-belt-defense
the guy with the big nose - January 17, 2012
GSP vs Diaz on TUF.
Kenya_MMA - January 17, 2012
Good luck getting Diaz to agree to that!
GreyedOut - January 17, 2012
Holy shit he has hair!
Still, I wish the man a good recovery. Does this mean Diaz will get to defend the interim belt in the meantime?.
dajulzta - January 17, 2012
Take your time Georges
I’m cool with you sitting as long as you need to.
RolloTomasi - January 17, 2012
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