GSP Refuses To Be ‘Bad Guy’ In UFC Feud

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Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who also wore gold at 185 pounds, had an opportunity to face Oscar De La Hoya for Triller Fight Club, an exhibition boxing match that would have marked the first appearance for “Rush” since late 2017 when the French-Canadian phenom strangled then-middleweight champion Michael Bisping.

But UFC President Dana White wasn’t having it, probably because he hates Triller almost as much as he hates De La Hoya. Since UFC still holds the rights to St-Pierre’s contract, there was nothing “Rush” could do except take it on the chin, which is a lot easier (and much less expensive) than going to court.

“Trust me, if this fight would have happened, I would have moved to Los Angeles to Freddie Roach’s gym and made a full training camp, leaving no stone unturned,” St-Pierre told SI.com. “Unfortunately, Dana White didn’t want it. It is what it is. I can’t be mad at him. People have said to take him to court, but that makes me look like the bad guy, and I don’t want to spend money on lawyers and all that.”

De La Hoya will instead box former UFC champ Vitor Belfort.

“My contract with UFC will finish in almost two years, and I will be free — and I will still be in shape,” St-Pierre continued. “I’m still a fighter and an entertainer. If there is an exhibition fight or a novelty fight for charity, then never say never.”

St-Pierre turned 40 back in May but appears to have retained his faculties after racking up a 26-2 record in MMA. “Rush” was previously linked to a Khabib Nurmagomedov super fight, but like the De La Hoya spectacle, White put the kibosh on that pairing as well.

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