Lawyer: GSP's UFC contract 'tying him up for life'

As far as Georges St-Pierre's legal counsel is concerned, the UFC can't insist he's under their purview forever.

GSP enlisted New York lawyer James Quinn's services after his comeback discussions with the UFC's new owners left him without a revamped deal or a fight to bookend his three-year hiatus. The welterweight legend believed the counselor had his 2011 contract terminated, thereby making him a free agent, but the pair could soon have a legal battle on their hands now that the promotion insists GSP is still under contract and intends to have him honor it. Quinn has since shed light on the particulars of the agreement, claiming he was flabbergasted by its terms at first glance.

"I've done a lot of work in sports. When I read that contract, I was blown away by how restrictive it is," Quinn said Wednesday, according to MMAFighting's Shaun Al-Shatti.

"They're basically tying him up for life. They have no rights and they own all of his licensing and all the other things. It's unheard of in the other professional sports. And they won't get away with it forever."

Quinn deemed the contract akin to "something out of the 1940s," and remains convinced the terms would not hold up in front of a judge. As for the UFC's conflicting stance, the counselor insists his client's contract was indeed terminated within its boundaries.

"He notified them earlier this year that he was ready to fight again. He wanted to arrange for the terms of the fight, and that did not happen in a timely fashion. They were required to actually schedule a fight, the time and place with a bout agreement, and we gave them - because there's a 10-day notice period in the contract, in the old contract - we gave them the 10 days to do that, and they didn't do it before the time period. And therefore we terminated the contract."

St-Pierre detailed Quinn's efforts in a Monday appearance on "The MMA Hour," where he broke the news of his assumed freedom. The former champion had grown frustrated at the change in dialogue once now-former co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta removed himself from the negotiating table. This prompted him to hire Quinn, who gave the promotion a window to offer GSP a fight. St-Pierre claimed the UFC responded with Robbie Lawler, who'd previously bowed out of a fight with Donald Cerrone at UFC 205. Quinn informed St-Pierre the contract was null and void shortly afterwards.

"They offered the fight at a time when Lawler had said he was unable to fight. We take the position that we believe the contract has been terminated. They have their hand, we have our hand, we'll see how it plays out. Georges still wants to fight and he's perfectly happy to fight under a new UFC contract, if we can negotiate one. Or if not, he'll look at other options."

The counselor named St-Pierre's deal with Under Armour as a major point of contention in the negotiations. The UFC's agreement with Reebok - enacted while St-Pierre was on hiatus, but still under contract - conflicts with his sponsorship deal, meaning he'd likely have to lighten his pockets if he were to return under the promotion's new conditions.

While a court date seems all but imminent, Quinn still hasn't ruled out a truce between the two factions.

"It's really up to the UFC, whether they're willing to negotiate another contract or not. We'll have to see. I can't really predict that."