How different would UFC 206 in Toronto would have been if Georges St-Pierre made his return to the Octagon?
However, that was not the case and with his declaration this fall that he was a free agent and his alignment with MMAAA its unlikely we’ll see him in the UFC anytime soon.
In October, GSP stated that he was a free agent after the UFC breached its contract with him. The UFC responded by stating that the former welterweight champion was still under contract with the company. GSP’s lawyer, Jim Quinn, maintains that GSP’s contract is terminated. Quinn indicated that the UFC has options including offering GSP a new contract or taking legal action against the fighter.
One of the contentions made by Quinn on behalf of GSP was that the UFC had not offered St-Pierre fights.
Via our post in October:
One of the issues GSP’s lawyers contend that caused a breach was the lack of fights given the St-Pierre. His lawyers state he has never received an actual bout agreement. St-Pierre’s lawyers gave the UFC 10 days to offer St-Pierre a fight. According to his lawyers, the UFC responded on the final day in which it offered St-Pierre former welterweight champion Robbie Lawler. But that did not come to fruition.
GSP’s current contract was signed in 2011 per ESPN. Of course, the UFC has evolved since then. Notably, as pointed out in the ESPN story, is that the UFC has Reebok as its official clothier. Also, fighters are no longer able to have outside sponsors (aside from official UFC sponsors) to promote during fight week. St-Pierre had (or has) a deal with Under Armour in addition to other non-UFC sponsors.
Both sides are likely still in at an impasse with the contract. Neither party has filed a lawsuit against the other for breach of contract. It’s not known if there is a timeline at this point but there will likely be movement in this situation in 2017. With St-Pierre entering his late 30s, one should expect something to happen sooner than later.
GSP is a free agent, unfortunately for him the real money is in the UFC hence the ongoing negotiation. He will fight in the UFC in 2017 once they finalize his new contract. Simply put, no other league will be able to come close to paying him the money he will earn in the UFC just with PPV points alone, let alone pay, bonus and possibly advertising revenue.
Yup and Conor faces the same issue. The grass is not greener on the other side.
McGregor doesn’t need the UFC. He is bigger than they are. The issue though is the contract situation. He can’t leave because of the Champion’s Clause. If he was free from that, trust me, the grass would be much more greener.
Like where?
1.Boxing? Lol he is not a boxer. It would be a freakshow like Kimbo one loss and he is done. Mayweather not
2. Hollywood? Wme owns that too and that’s not guaranteed.
3. McGregor promotions? Where is he going to get the money to promote,to pay fighters,traveling expenses,etc. Which titles will he fight for?