UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre arrives at Spike TV's 4th Annual 'Guys Choice Awards' held at Sony Studios on June 5, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo : Getty Images/Frazer Harrison)
After being away from the Ultimate Fighting Championship since last gracing the Octagon in November 2013, former welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is back in the mixed martial arts promotion as he reportedly is on the way into signing a multi-fight contract that will put him back into fighting late this year.
The 35-year-old Canadian, according to MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, has agreed to terms with the UFC in a new deal that underwent "on-and-off negotiations." St. Pierre's comeback fight still has no dates yet but the new deal suggests that the former champ will be back in the Octagon in the third quarter of 2017.
If the reports are true, the return of St. Pierre could be a big boost for the UFC which seems to have lost their biggest stars at the end of 2016. Conor McGregor, UFC's ultimate cash cow, might not return to MMA fighting as he might pursue a megafight against boxing legend Floyd Mayweather while Ronda Rousey, the face of the women's division, might already hang up the gloves following a brutal loss against Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December 2016. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is still facing suspension while Nate Diaz, who is pivotal in the UFC's recent pay per view success, is demanding $20 million to return.
Despite being undefeated in the welterweight division since August 2007, St. Pierre, according to oddmakers, have a 5/4 odds of facing reigning middleweight champion Michael Bisping in his return, Sherdog reported. Also, St. Pierre might finally face Anderson Silva, considered the greatest mixed martial artists, with a 3/1 odds.
St. Pierre still has one of the best records in the UFC with a 20-2 card, having only lost to Matt Hughes in 2004 and Matt Serra in 2007. He is currently riding on an 12-fight winning streak, having defended the welterweight championship against Johny Hendricks in 2013 before retiring temporarily.
Watch the video below for other details of St. Pierre's comeback:
