Former UFC title challenger and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Demian Maia says he’s open to being Georges St-Pierre’s opponent for his upcoming grappling match in December.
“Rush” returned from a four-year layoff at UFC 217 to challenge Michael Bisping for the promotion’s middleweight title. His submission win in that fight ended up being the final bout of the Canadian’s legendary MMA career.
The news that St-Pierre would be competing for the first time in six years at a UFC Fight Pass Invitational event on December 14 immediately sparked all kinds of speculation on who he might face.
Now, another retired UFC fighter says that he’d love to hit the mats with the former champion.
Every now and then, something comes up that still does really motivate you.
Grappling @GeorgesStPierre will be a huge challenge & great motivation.
You GSP are one of the greatest competitors ever, whom I respect a lot. I’m game! Looking forward to competing at @ufc invitational.— Demian Maia (@demianmaia) July 20, 2023
“Every now and then, something comes up that still does really motivate you,” former UFC fighter Maia wrote on Twitter. “Grappling [Georges St-Pierre] will be a huge challenge & great motivation. You GSP are one of the greatest competitors ever, whom I respect a lot. I’m game! Looking forward to competing at [UFC] invitational.”
Demian Maia One Of Several Options For George St-Pierre’s Return To Competition
Combats sports fans would no doubt be thrilled to see St-Pierre and Maia compete against one another, but Mike Bohn confirmed that no final decision has been made on an opponent for “Rush” as of yet.
Despite how this tweet is worded I’m told GSP’s opponent for his grappling match hasn’t been finalized and a number of potential opponents are still being discussed. https://t.co/TRRjQrKLEK
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) July 20, 2023
“Despite how this tweet is worded I’m told GSP’s opponent for his grappling match hasn’t been finalized and a number of potential opponents are still being discussed.”
Maia would certainly provide a significant test for St-Pierre considering he’s one of the most decorated grapplers to ever compete in the UFC. The Brazilian challenged for the promotion’s welterweight and middleweight titles during an incredible 33-fight run. Last year, he won a pair of grappling matches against fellow UFC veteran Alex Oliveira and former champion Benson Henderson.
St-Pierre has already suggested a number of possible opponents for his grappling match, including Nate and Nick Diaz as well as current UFC welterweight Colby Covington.
No matter who he ends up facing, countless combat sports fans will be watching on December 14 to see one of the greatest fighters in MMA history return to competition.
Read Also: Georges St-Pierre Releases Four-Part Course On Fundamentals Of MMA
https://www.mmanews.com/news/33-fight-ufc-veteran-multi-time-adcc-champion-offers-to-be-georges-st-pierres-opponent-for-grappling-return
