St-Pierre: New UFC deal is for 4 fights
Georges St-Pierre is in for at least four more walks to the Octagon.
The former UFC welterweight champion's deal with the world's preeminent promotion, signed in February, covers four fights, he revealed Monday on "The MMA Hour."
The living legend entered negotiations to return from a three-year hiatus in the latter half of 2016, but talks reached an impasse after WME-IMG purchased the promotion in the summer. While dishing on his newly minted deal - brokered by legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach - St-Pierre told Ariel Helwani both he and the UFC made some concessions before signing on the dotted line, but said he doesn't rue agreeing to the terms.
"It's not exactly what we want," St-Pierre said. "It's a little bit below what we really wanted in the beginning, but for the UFC, it's more than what they were ready to give me. So we're both unhappy, in a way, which is the middle ground, which I guess is a good thing. It's like a settlement in court. If both parties are unhappy, I guess it's a good thing.
"I don't regret it, and I'm happy."
The promotion's apparel deal with Reebok - signed while GSP was on the couch - was believed to have gotten in the way of his comeback, as it conflicted with his own sponsorship with Under Armour. Asked if both parties had sorted through the red tape, the 35-year-old pledged allegiance to his longtime sponsor, but said he'll be clad in Reebok gear when he makes his return to the Octagon opposite middleweight champion Michael Bisping later this year.
"I believe it will be a little bit like Tom Brady, for example, in the NFL. When he's in the NFL, he's wearing Nike, but when he's outside he's with Under Armour," St-Pierre said. "It's going to be a little bit like the NFL deal, probably. I'm an Under Armour guy."
The welterweight great remained non-committal about whether he'll continue to call the 185-pound division home after his dance with Bisping, emphasizing he intends to make the most of what little he has left as a competitor.
"I have no desire to fight until I'm 40-something years old, so these are my last few fights that I'm gonna do, and I want to pick them very carefully. And when I say 'carefully,' (I) mean I want to make the biggest fights possible," he said. "The fights that will cement my legacy as the best of all time."
The Quebec native didn't rule out re-upping with the UFC once he'd fought out his existing deal, but not if it meant taking on a gatekeeper role.
"I have no desire to stay in the sport too long, to become a punching bag for the younger up-and-comers," St-Pierre said.
"I want to live old, I want to live healthy, wealthy, and it's the most important thing. Right now I'm in my prime, I've got a few years ahead of me. I'm very happy and I want to make the best out of it."