Plans for the UFC middleweight champion’s next fight are on hold…
Dana White is insistent that Georges St. Pierre defend the middleweight championship. GSP’s camp, on the other hand, has suggested the 36-year-old is better suited to dropping back down to the welterweight division. Regardless of which weight class his next bout takes place in, however, plans will have to be put on hold for now.
Dana White recently revealed GSP is going to be on the shelf for an undisclosed amount of time.
While the likely next fight for GSP is seemingly against interim title holder, Robert Whittaker, the Quebec native has sounded hesitant to confirm the bout ever since defeating Bisping at UFC 217.
A lot of things can happen in MMA. You see things change all the time,” St-Pierre told media.
“It’s not my job to think about that, it’s (for) the UFC and my agent. They’re going to talk about it and see what the next move is.”
While GSP wouldn’t confirm he will defend the title, he did state he will vacate it if he doesn’t.
“I don’t plan to hold the title and not defend it … I know there’s other guys in line — (former champion) Luke Rockhold, Whittaker and all these guys. They have a family to feed.”
Get well soon champ! @GeorgesStPierre @danawhite @ufc Take your time and get healthy looking forward to sharing the octagon with you #unify #anywhere
— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) December 2, 2017
Georges St. Pierre vs. Robert Whittaker
Robert Whittaker has been nothing but respectful and patient with the new UFC middleweight champion since UFC 217. Whittaker defeated Yoel Romero at UFC 213 to win the interim title.
While Whittaker might be speaking respectively in regards to GSP, it’s clear Dana White is growing frustrated with his team’s delay in confirming a title unification bout.
GSP and the UFC came to an agreement before the Bisping fight that if Georges won the title he would defend it.
“[We included it in the contract] because he was jumping all over the map — 170 [pounds], 185 [pounds],” White said. “I said, ‘I’ll tell you what. You want to come in and take this shot against Bisping, I’m cool with that. But you’ve got to defend the title. You can’t drop the title after the fight and go somewhere else.’
Georges St. Pierre vs. Conor McGregor
Some have also speculated that GSP’s ultimate plan is for a super-fight with Conor at 170lbs.
While such a fight would be met with disapproval from those tired of the money-centric approach to fight booking, it would be one of the more lucrative bouts the promotion could promote.
Dana White Reveals GSP’s Injury
“They called me yesterday and I think it’s out that he has colitis,” White told reporters. “So he’s out for a minute.”
Colitis is an inflammation of the colon and a timetable for recovery is highly variable. All that can be said is GSP is out indefinitely.
When GSP does return, however, White will be pressing him hard to fight Whittaker.
“My thing is, to be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. When a man just goes away — now, if a guy is on a run, undefeated, wants to retire with the belt, that’s one thing. It’s another to say, ‘I’m gonna drop this one and jump to 170 [pounds] now.’ I don’t like that.”
