The UFC that Georges St-Pierre returns to in 2017 isn’t the same place he left in 2013. The complexity of mixed martial arts as a sport, combining numerous fighting disciplines into one cohesive competition, evolves constantly.
Now that St-Pierre is officially making his comeback, questions swirl as he attempts to re-establish himself as a force in today’s UFC universe, at the elite level he previously achieved.
Can St-Pierre compete with the top fighters of today at 35 years old? Will he have any rust after four years away?
One question that has been answered: his opponent. UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping will welcome GSP back to the Octagon later this year in what instantly becomes the biggest fight of 2017.
If St-Pierre wins, he’ll become only the fourth fighter to capture titles in multiple weight classes.
In his prime, GSP was a treacherous matchup for any welterweight that stood across from him on fight night. His combination of top-level speed, power and wrestling made him almost unbeatable as a champion.
Toward the end of his magical run – 12 wins in a row (including nine welterweight title defenses) – St-Pierre’s dominance began to subside. Some believe he lost his final fight against Johny Hendricks despite getting the nod on a split decision.
St-Pierre is a founding father of MMA. He is always in the argument when it comes to greatest ever, and his accomplishments will forever stand up to any single fighter’s resume.
Click to read more at UFC.com>>
Thumbnail photo via Jason Silva/USA TODAY Sports Images