GSP would return to the UFC if things change

Former UFC welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St-Pierre recently did an interview with Brazilian news outlet Combate where he discussed the likelihood of his return to the UFC (translation via MMAFighting):

“I’m not sure,” GSP responded when asked if he would return to the UFC one day. “I see what’s going on in MMA and I like the fact that I don’t have to think about it. I just want to step aside and watch them fight, see what’s going to happen and a bunch other things I can’t say right now (laughs). Maybe, one day, if the things happen like I think they should happen, I’ll return. I don’t know how long it may take, but I’m waiting.”

Shortly after winning his fight with Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, St-Pierre announced that he was vacating his title and leaving the fight business in order to deal with some personal issues. If “Rush” does return to the UFC, it may not be for the welterweight title, as GSP says a non-title fight could be more interesting depending on the challenge:

“I got to a point in my career that, even though I loved the belt, I wasn’t fighting for it anymore,” he said. “It had more to do with my opponent and the challenge. I rather fight a better fighter with no title on the line than fighting a regular fighter in a title fight. The fight itself is what interests me the most.”

So is the Anderson Silva super-fight still a possibility?

“There’s always a possibility,” GSP said. “Some fighters want to fight me because of my name, others for the money. I would fight Anderson Silva. I would even fight Brock Lesnar if it’s a fair fight for both. I’m not afraid of anyone, but I’m not stupid (laughs). Many people think that a fight shows who’s the toughest, but that’s not my case. I see things in a professional and intelligent way.”

When asked if he could now elaborate on the personal issues that drove him away from the sport GSP had this to say:

“I don’t know, let’s see in the future,” he said with a laugh.

“I read once that people thought I was on rehab. Some rumors are funny, they make me laugh. The reason why I took this break is because of my mental health. Few people know how is to stay at the top for so long. The pressure is not the same of a regular fight. Every fight is a world championship fight, and it comes with a bunch of promotional stuff. I was never obligated to do it, I did it because I wanted to. And I would do it again if I had to.

“You, journalists, know how to read between the lines. I don’t need to say. Some of you are smart, others aren’t (laughs). You can write whatever you want about it, I don’t care. Everything I say drops like a bomb, and the last thing I want to do it hurt the UFC and MMA. I always fought for the sport and I wouldn’t hurt it.

“I just wanted some things to change,” he continued. “The way things are, I’ve been receiving messages, some secret, from people that are afraid to publicly say what they think and congratulating me for doing what I do for the fighters and the sport, encouraging me to continue.”