Because Georges St-Pierre (Pictured) hasn’t been seen inside the Octagon since UFC 129, many keyboard warriors have forgotten about his dominant 22-2 résumé and written off the reigning welterweight king. While his surgically-repaired knee continues to mend, it appears GSP has been reading the blogs and convinced himself that he is no longer the division’s top dog.
“The way I see it, I am not the champion anymore on Saturday night,” St-Pierre told the UFC. “I have not fought since April, against my will, but I understand the champion must fight. You have to put the belt on the line in order to call yourself champion, the best in the world. Right now I am not the best in the world, I am injured.
“The winner of this fight on Saturday will be more than just the new No.1 contender, but he won’t be the new champion, either. The winner of this fight will have to beat me to become the true world champion and I will have to beat the winner of this fight in order to call myself the best in the world again.”
Nick Diaz and Carlos Condit battle for the interim 170-pound crown this weekend at UFC 143. St-Pierre claims he won’t be able to start fully training until July, so there’s a possibility Diaz or Condit may have to take another fight before unifying the title against St-Pierre.
However, “Rush” is hoping the UFC waits out his return and allows the champion vs. champion shootout so things can be settled once and for all.
“I like the format where the winner of this fight will have to fight me and I have to fight the winner to truly become the UFC champion,” he flatly stated. “That is what the UFC is about, that is competition. This is fair to all of us, we have to beat each other to be the undisputed champion.”
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