Pierre tells podcast he’s ready to return to UFC octagon

In December of 2013, St-Pierre officially announced that he would be taking a break from the sport and had vacated the welterweight title he had won from Matt Serra at UFC 83 and defended nine times thereafter.

Bisping has already said he likes the idea, and why wouldn’t he? He beat (Anderson) Silva, he knocked out (Luke) Rockhold. It sounds ridiculous, but this is what the last 12 months in MMA have been all about: the unfathomable. GSP state don the show that a new contract is being worked out between his agents and the UFC, he will return to action once the contracts are signed. There were no Reebok fight kits, Conor McGregor and Max Holloway were just a pair of prospects, Ronda Rousey was unbeatable, the women’s strawweight division didn’t exist, and Daniel Cormier had yet to debut as a light heavyweight. Who he fights largely doesn’t matter. Much has changed since then. No matter whom he matches up against (assuming the UFC front office gets this deal wrapped up), people will run to the nearest screen to see the return of the former champion. St.Pierre blamed the PED usage and lax in drug testing procedures in the UFC at the time as factors for leaving.

Both fighters hold the most wins in UFC history – equal on 19, meaning history is at stake for the victor. Does it really matter?

So, unless the UFC can’t come to financial terms with GSP, it certainly looks like we’re going to see the 35 year-old, former champ in the Octagon at least one more time. That he also thinks he can make up for the size difference with, in his words, “more skill, more athleticism, and a higher fighting IQ”, that probably doesn’t hurt either. They know where to reach me. Now I know for a fact that I could go back and fight, if my management and the UFC get to an agreement.

Which is not to say that St-Pierre might have stayed gone had Bisping not shocked the world at UFC 199.

But you’ll notice he’s not talking about coming back to welterweight, where Robbie Lawler is now rearranging facial features as champ.

As for a potential opponent, St. Pierre has actually made headlines recently after he was called out by newly minted 185-pound title holder Michael Bisping. Of course people will care. Granted, Cerrone isn’t likely to leave the UFC under any circumstances, but he definitely deserves the opportunity to earn the type of money associated with a St. Pierre fight.

On Bisping’s status now compared to when GSP was around before: “It’s something big”.