Georges St-Pierre’s coach Firas Zahabi still confident on a championship bout against Michael Bisping
Georges St-Pierre has been trying to negotiate for another fight in the UFC after not competing in mixed martial arts for over three years.
The former kingpin of the UFC welterweight division who hails from Canada was in talks with the UFC to fight at UFC 206, which was in Toronto but both sides failed to come to an agreement. St-Pierre and his lawyer have stated since the failed negotiations, the former UFC champion was a free agent but nothing has resulted in the claimed free agency as of yet.
St-Pierre’s coach Firas Zahabi was a guest on ESPN’s 5ive Rounds podcast and says that he is still thinking that there is a good chance that “Rush” will be fighting in the Octagon.
“I would love the Bisping fight to be honest with you,” Zahabi said (transcribed by Brett Okamoto of ESPN). “I feel the welterweight division doesn’t have a supremely confident champion yet. Tyron Woodley is a great champion, but he’s on his first defense. We need someone to build a history like Georges did, to have a super fight.
“With Bisping, it would be for the middleweight title. That would make it epic. Georges needs to come back for a mega fight, super fight. Something five rounds, something historical. Not just another contender.”
Zahabi says that despite the three years off from fighting, GSP is still the best and proves it in training.
“I still think Georges is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” Zahabi said. “He trains regularly so I still see him in action and the guy is a monster. I hope Georges and the UFC, his management team at CAA, they book him again. He’s such an incredible talent sitting by the wayside. It’s crazy to me.
“I think it’s a matter of time. I’m hopeful at least.”
With Georges St-Pierre’s involvement with the recently announced Mixed Martial Arts Athletes Association, Zahabi does not feel it will be a hindrance to getting “Rush” back in the Octagon. Zahabi says that the UFC and the fighters are putting on the shows together and after it is all said and done, both sides have to be content.
Do you think that the UFC and Georges St-Pierre can come to a bout agreement? If so, who would you like to see GSP fight first for his highly anticipated comeback? Sound off in the comment section!
Topics:
Georges St. Pierre Michael Bisping