Georges St. Pierre is due back in the UFC any day month now. Upon his hotly anticipated return, the former welterweight kingpin and all-time great will be welcomed by current middleweight champion Michael Bisping. Much to Yoel Romero’s dismay. It’s a champion vs. all-time great bout that would be hotly anticipated had Bisping not spent his first title defense on a grudge match with the legendary Dan Henderson. Still, all signs point to this bout happening, despite it creating a log jam in the division. Bisping is also going to enter the octagon against “Rush” with a considerable size advantage.
Perhaps, however, not as much as expected. In the video above, GSP shows off his moves in a photo shoot for sponsor Hayabusa, and is looking larger doing so. That’s no coincidence. The welterweight has begun bulking up in advance of his showdown with “The Count,” which will be contested at 185lbs with the title on the line. He spoke to fans this week in a Q&A hosted by Hayabusa, and addressed both the topic of size, and how title shots are awarded.
When asked whether fighting was essentially becoming less about sporting merit and more about who can entertain, GSP admitted the current UFC climate had both positives and negatives. “I think there are some fighters that are very charismatic, and [the] UFC wants to promote these guys, because the UFC is a business” he stated, then continued. “I think it could be a good thing and a bad thing. I think we need fighters that draw attention [from] the public for the business. And for everybody, not only for the organization. If they make the purse rise, everybody makes more money and everybody is more happy.”
Referring to those sitting on the sidelines, he added “I think it’s a good thing, but it’s a bad thing in a way that when someone really deserves a title shot, and he doesn’t have it, it’s hard for him because he needs to wait more.” Not that he hasn’t been in a similar situation. “When I was a contender, I needed to fight many guys before I got the title.”
As for the weight issue, which Michael Bisping has since poked fun at, GSP confirmed it was an intentional decision to bulk up. “When I knew a few months [ago] that I was going to fight Michael Bisping, when we signed [the contract], that’s when I decided to try to put on maybe a little more weight. I won’t be able to put on a lot, because I’m a natural guy.” He sees it as an advantage, though admits he’ll still be out-sized. “I’m the biggest I’ve ever been right now in my life. Bisping will still be bigger than me, but I’m confident it will help.”
Fans will find out when the two finally meet, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later.
