Georges St. Pierre has rocked the mixed martial arts world by announcing that he’s terminated his UFC contract and is now a free agent.
“Right now I’m a free agent,” GSP told Ariel Helwani on the latest episode of ‘The MMA Hour’. “You heard it right. I’m a free agent. My lawyers terminated the contract with the UFC.”
St. Pierre’s shock announcement comes after protracted talks with the UFC about his long-awaited comeback to the sport following a three year absence from the sport stalled.
According to the Canadian superstar, negotiations had been ongoing with former owner Lorenzo Fertitta since February, but when WME-IMG bought the company in the summer the deal was taken off the table and talks were put on ice.
“It was like a shock, because we felt like we were making progress, we were almost there,” St-Pierre told Helwani. “When they told us that, I got angry.”
At that stage the 35 year-old brought in legal representation in the form of James Quinn, who gave the UFC a deadline to get the former welterweight a fight, but that didn’t bear fruit, leading to his lawyer tearing up the 2011 contract he signed with the promotion.
“The reason I wanted to go back and fight is because i feel right now that I’m at my best,” St-Pierre said. “I’m truly confident I can beat the guys that are champions right now. I’m that confident. At least I’m a free man. Now, I know I’m free. I have other options. I’m not caught up legally with a contract. I’m a free man.”
The UFC will undoubtedly refute GSP’s claims that he’s no longer under contract, so this matter is far from over and even if he does want to compete again, there’s no telling when he may have the opportunity to do so.
“I was very pumped up a few weeks ago when we talked. Now, I’m not as pumped up as I was. I’m entering unknown water, unknown territory. I just don’t know what’s gonna happen.”
