Bisping says GSP fight official for UFC 217
Michael Bisping: “The ship … pulled up in New York City and off got a chirpy little Englishman who’s going to fight Georges St-Pierre, Madison Square Garden, Nov. 4.
Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s long, strange return to the Octagon appears to have a final return. During an appearance on ‘UFC Tonight’ middleweight champion Michael Bisping said their fight is ‘official’ for UFC 217 on November 4, 2017 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
This is actually the third time I’ve been offered this fight,” said Bisping, as transcribed by Damon Martin for MMA Weekly. “The ship sailed twice, on this occasion, the third occasion, it set up sailing but it did a u-turn and it pulled up in New York City and off got a chirpy little Englishman who’s going to fight Georges St-Pierre, Madison Square Garden, Nov. 4.
It is official. Put it in your diaries. Do not miss it. We’re taking over.
https://twitter.com/UFCONFOX/status/892883855635488768
In 2013 St-Pierre took a break from the sport after narrowly defeating Johny Hendricks at UFC 167. He initially cited the pressure of staying on top, but later added that he had concerns over PED use in the sport. The UFC then instituted arguably the toughest testing routine in sports, and eventually GSP returned, signing a four fight deal in March.
It was initially announced that GSP would fight Bisping, but an eye injury delayed his return so UFC president Dana White said the welterweight G.O.A.T. would fight the winner of Woodley vs. Maia at UFC 214. However, Woodley underwhelmed in his win, so the UFC boss handed the PPV plum back to Bisping, and that, hopefully, is where it stays.
