GSP: Deal not done, but 'stars are aligned' for comeback at UFC 206
The UFC's first trip to Toronto in over three years could involve the return of Canada's greatest fighter.
In a phone interview with MMA Fighting on Thursday, Georges St-Pierre confirmed that he is still in the midst of negotiations with the promotion and USADA drug testing in the hopes of returning to the Octagon.
St-Pierre submitted himself to USADA testing in August, entering a four-month preliminary phase required of fighters coming out of retirement. That phase will end the week of UFC 206, which takes place at the Air Canada Centre on Dec. 10.
The former champ thinks that competing again in a building packed with thousands of Canadian fans makes a lot of sense.
"All the stars are aligned, my friend," St-Pierre said. "I'm not lying to you, it's not done yet. It's not done at this point. We still have to talk to the new owners soon, see what they've gotta say."
St-Pierre has not competed since a split decision win over Johny Hendricks in November 2013. He defended his welterweight title for the ninth consecutive time by the narrowest of margins, and afterwards he announced that he was stepping away from the sport without committing to full retirement.
The 35-year-old fighter has flirted with a comeback several times in the years since the Hendricks fight, though recent months have seen those rumors become more substantial with him officially entering talks with the UFC and placing himself back in the USADA testing pool.
This will also be the first time that St-Pierre deals with the UFC since the promotion was purchased by WME-IMG in July. What effect that will have on their negotiations remains to be seen, but St-Pierre is confident that his team is only asking for what is deserved.
"It's something fair and we have to wait," St-Pierre said. "I'm very well represented. I'm very confident and trusting in the people that work for me. I'm very well taken care of for that. I want to go back to fighting. I don't have to.
"I would like to, because I feel I'm in my prime right now. I'm the best I've ever been at 35. Right now. I don't want to wait any longer, because if I wait too long I'm gonna be past that prime and I don't want that. This is a good time to be back right now. That's why I want to go back."