When welterweight G.O.A.T. Georges St-Pierre decided to return to the Octagon vs. middleweight champion Michael Bisping, there was a widespread belief that he would never defend the title with a win. Language was inserted into his contract vowing to defend the title, and he signed, while publicly stating that he was at 185 to stay if he won the belt. He won the belt but then developed Colitis, a condition he associated with gaining weight for 185. And then he said he was giving up the belt.
Fighters generally applauded his move, as did many fans, but UFC president was expected to be livid. However, in an interview with Mike Bohn and John Morgan for MMAjunkie, White said he expected it.
There’s a reason I put that stuff in the contract for him to sign, said White. There’s a reason. Am I shocked? I don’t think anybody’s shocked. He came out, and he hand-picked Bisping and went away again. So, whatever – it is what it is.
I thought I would be [mad], but I’m not. I expected it. Listen, I had him sign a contract that said he would defend against Whittaker for a reason. Because I knew he wouldn’t.
He doesn’t want to fight anybody at welterweight. That’s why he fought Bisping. He didn’t want to fight Woodley. He didn’t want to fight ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson. He didn’t want to fight any of those guys. He only wanted to fight Michael Bisping. He did, and now he’s off again. I’m not shocked; I’m not mad. It is what it is.
White also responded to rumors that Manny Pacquiao is negotiating with lightweight champion Conor McGregor.
“That would be weird, because [McGregor’s] under contract with us, said White to MMAjunkie. If that’s true, I will be suing Manny Pacquiao and whoever is representing him.
White also reiterated that he has plans to get into the boxing business. That has drawn the ire of actual dinosaur Bob Arum, so made his feelings known at Saturday’s Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux boxing match.
“Who gives a s*** with White, he’s a piece of s***,” said Arum. “He’s got a UFC that’s cratering and he needs boxing to save himself.”
White pretty much rolled with that one too.
You’ll see, Bob, White said. We’ll see at the end. Bob’s the same guy who said the UFC would never work, and the UFC was loosing ‘oodles’ of money, whatever the f*** ‘oodles of money’ means. Look at what we’ve done and look at where we are. I mean, come on. At the end of the day, we’ll see who stands where when the smoke clears and the dust settles.
I’ll give it to him, though. For a f***ing 95-year-old dude, this guy’s pretty feisty, man. I’ll give it to him. I’ll give him that.
