Return or retire.
After almost three years away from the Octagon, those appeared to be the two clear-cut options for Georges St-Pierre. At age 35, MMA’s welterweight king would either hang it up for good or announce his long-awaited return at UFC 206 in Toronto.
Instead, GSP finds himself in different kind of fight: a legal battle with the company he helped see into the mainstream. An abridged timeline of the events that transpired over the past six months, according to St-Pierre and his attorneys:
- The UFC’s $4 billion sale freezes advanced contract negotiations between GSP’s agent and former CEO Lorenzo Fertitta.
- After being left in the dark, GSP’s newly hired attorneys impose a 10-day deadline deliver an official fight contract. At the eleventh hour, the UFC makes an informal offer with just the opponent's name (Robbie Lawler) and no further details.
- St-Pierre’s lead attorney James Quinn declares him a free agent due to an alleged breach of contract. The UFC maintains that St-Pierre is still under contract.
I offered some insights into what could happen next after the news broke, and it wasn't pretty — at least not for the two sides involved in the dispute. GSP would be having precious time chopped off the end of his career, and the UFC would be alienating hoards of fans that look up to the French-Canadian star. And that’s not even factoring in the millions of dollars in combined legal fees.
Looking at the bigger picture, though, it’s very possible that this sad situation ends up being for the betterment of the sport.
While the UFC’s popularity is at an all-time high, so too is unrest amongst its fighters. Most contenders feel entitled to a larger share in the company’s revenue, but are at loss on how to negotiate that with restrictive, long-term contracts hanging over their heads. Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz were a rare exception to the rule when they set up their big-money rematch for UFC 202, but even they had to clear some hurdles before cashing in.
It was always going to take a fighter of GSP’s stature, backed by a lawyer with Quinn’s credentials, to set a precedent in MMA’s modern era. If this case does go to court, the veteran litigator sounds like he is prepared to call the UFC’s entire contract model — which he termed a “nice form of slavery" — into question.
If that was just posturing, and St-Pierre recent Vegas trip was more than “just hanging out,” the UFC legend has at least done his part in continuing the push for collective bargaining — a battle he could resume once he is officially done competing. As he said on The MMA Hour:
“I will always stand and support fighters.”
Jon Jones’ Product Proven To Be Contaminated
All recent updates in the Jon Jones-USADA saga pointed to the light heavyweight great receiving a reduced sentence, and his lawyer all but confirmed that will be the case in a recent interview. According to Howard Jacobs, the anti-doping agency has found the product Jones ingested to be contaminated with the PED masking agents he tested positive for, validating tests conducted by Jones’ team.
Jones is still technically eligible for up to a one-year ban, but it’s hard to see him receiving any more than six months (retroactive to his July suspension) given USADA’s past dealings with tainted supplements. Given that he’s appealing the verdict rather than settling, however, the former champ could walk away with nothing more than a verbal warning.
In other words, the greatest 205 pounder of all time should be eligible to return as early as January, no matter what. Jones' reputation has been tarnished to a degree, but to be honest, it’s hard to feel sorry for a guy with his rap sheet.
Will Fedor Emelianenko Accept Shane Carwin’s Challenge?
Fedor’s no stranger to being called out by fellow heavyweights, but his latest challenge might be the one to lure him back into the cage.
Former UFC interim champion Shane Carwin, who confirmed his comeback last month, says he has accepted a fight against “The Last Emperor” under Japan’s Rizin FF banner. That obviously doesn’t mean much unless Fedor reciprocates, but it’s worth noting that the Russian MMA star has been tied to Rizin’s New Year’s Eve show — the same event he co-headlined in 2015.
Carwin, 41, hasn’t fought in nearly five years, but claims to be healthier than ever before. After going 12-0 to begin his MMA career, the knockout artist dropped back-to-back fights against Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Fedor, 40, last fought in June, taking a questionable decision over Fabio Maldonado for a local promotion in Russia.
Other Weekly MMA Biz Stories
-Jose Aldo, who has been adamant about retiring in recent weeks, seems to be rethinking his stance after support from his family and fans ... in Russia? The UFC interim featherweight champ also met with Dana White in Vegas, but the sit-down did not appear to lead to anything concrete.
-Nick Diaz is reportedly ready to fight, according to White, but still owes the Nevada Athletic Commission a big chunk of change ($75,000, as was last reported). Given the controversial nature of his case, it’s not unreasonable to think the veteran contender could get licensed elsewhere. Perhaps the UFC could even step in and help him foot the bill.
-Speaking of the NAC, figurehead Pat Lundvall is one her way out after nine years of appointment with the commission. Was the Conor McGregor case, which could end up losing the state millions of dollars, the straw that broke the camel’s back? Whether that had anything to do with it or not, you know Nate Diaz’s team has to be thrilled that his hearing is coming after her last day in office.
-The Ultimate Fighter Season 25 has been confirmed, but the future of the long-running reality TV series is reportedly still in question. As for a replacement ... well, the UFC is casting for an Octagon girls reality show. One word: ratings.
