There’s been more talk than usual about the welterweight GOAT, Georges St. Pierre. After his six-week test training camp, everyone - from Dana White to ex-managers to studio analysts - have been speculating whether the former champion will return to the octagon. Opinions are squarely divided, but let’s make some matches and odds anyway.
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CHAMPION VS. GOAT
Georges St. Pierre -180
Robbie Lawler +200
GSP is the lineal champion, having never lost the welterweight title in the octagon. But Robbie Lawler is the man who now holds the strap, with two defenses under his belt. What’s interesting about this fight is how different their fighting styles are.
Lawler earned a Fight of the Year in 2015 for his war with Rory MacDonald - who happens to be a training partner of St. Pierre’s - then went out and did it again against Carlos Condit. He is the sport’s most entertaining fighter. GSP was largely criticized for fighting for points rather than a finish - his last seven fights went to decision.
Completely neutralizing his opponents is what made GSP great. If he can force a savage like Condit to be boring, it’s likely he could do the same thing to Lawler. The only difference is that Lawler has spectacular takedown defense and could turn this into a meatgrinder matchup that he thrives in.
AN OLD GRUDGE MATCH
Georges St. Pierre -400
Nick Diaz +300
For most of St. Pierre’s championship career, opponents were generally respectful towards him. There were the usual displays of confidence and predictions, but nothing really atypical of what you’d expect to hear during the pre-fight buildup. And then there was Nick Diaz.
The brash Stockton native got under GSP’s skin in a way never before seen - launching a verbal assault that lasted months. So much that the champ promised to give Diaz a beating he’d never forget. But when it came time to fight, it was a typical GSP playbook. Diaz got taken to the mat and was kept there for the majority of five rounds, sustaining little damage but accumulating a ton of frustration.
Still, it’s safe to say that Diaz was the one opponent St. Pierre genuinely disliked. That probably hasn’t changed a bit. Diaz’ poor defensive wrestling makes him an easy target for a GSP win, yet his name has enough value that a victory over him has significance.
EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT
Georges St. Pierre -350
Conor McGregor +275
If you’re a UFC contender in the featherweight or lightweight divisions, you’ve probably called out Conor McGregor. Would St. Pierre add his name to that list? Although GSP is a welterweight, his ex-manager, Stephane Patry, chimed in about the possibility:
“Georges St. Pierre said openly that he could easily get down to 155 pounds to fight. And it is a fact that several fighters who fight at 155 are bigger and walk around heavier the St. Pierre. So if McGregor becomes champion of 145 and 155 pounds, and St. Pierre takes the time to get his weight in a healthy and intelligent way, do you think that the UFC would not want to put on the biggest fight in its history?
Patry isn’t wrong in stating that the fight would likely be the biggest in UFC history, and it’s a fascinating contrast of two superstar personalities. GSP heavily guarded his reputation as a classy, respectable fighter. McGregor is as brash and flashy as they come. But they’re two of the biggest superstars the UFC has ever produced, and a fight between them would make the promotion the center of the sports universe for a night.
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