Georges St-Pierre on UFC return: The new GSP beats the old, ‘greatest’ GSP

After spending almost four years in semi-retirement, Georges St-Pierre, one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts history, will be making a return to the UFC -- and he’s in the best shape of his life.

Those were St-Pierre’s words in a recent interview with Hayabusa, one of the leading fightwear brands in MMA.

“I think for me it’s a good time to come back now because I’m 35-years-old,” St-Pierre said. “I just finished a training camp that I did to see if I can come back to the world-class level and I feel at the best shape of my life.”

GSP relinquished the welterweight title after a hard-fought decision win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, announcing to Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that he wanted to take some time off from the sport.

The French Canadian is the greatest 170-pound champion in the sport’s history, defending the UFC title nine times, and is still considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Speaking of his comeback, St-Pierre said fans should expect to see a new and improved GSP that is leaps and bounds ahead of the old GSP that ruled as welterweight champion.

“I feel better than I’ve ever been,” he continued. “I feel that the Georges St-Pierre now would beat the Georges St-Pierre that was the greatest of the time that I used to compete. So I can’t wait to go back in there and show people, including myself - test my self, test my skill - to see how everything goes.”

Several opponents have been suggested for GSP’s return fight, including the likes of Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva, and Nick Diaz, but oddsmakers list UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping as the most likely candidate.