FREE GSP! (Or Just Pay the Man)

Oh UFC 206, what are we going to do with you…

I mean, it’s reasonable to think that, in a very busy end of the year, not every fight card the UFC puts on is going to be a stacked one. Or, at least, not until next year, when the new owners reduce the number of events from “ridiculous” to “slightly more reasonable.”

UFC 205 is the company’s debut in New York, featuring one of the strongest cards of the year and possibly of all time. #suckitUFC200

UFC 207 is the return of Ronda Rousey. Y’know, from the MetroPCS commercials.

UFC 206 is just the result of resources being stretched a little too thin. There’s not a lot of love to go around right now and, unfortunately, Toronto, the site of one of the biggest shows in UFC history, has to be the one to suffer for it.

It’s not without trying, though. The main event it going to be Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson. That’s not a bad matchup, right?

Of course, it’s the only title fight that can be made at light heavyweight right now (at least until USADA and the athletic commision are done slapping Jon Jones on the wrist) and it’s a rematch of a fight that wasn’t all that exciting when it first happened.

Still, better than nothing, right?

They also booked Max Holloway vs. Anthony Pettis. That’s a fun matchup between two dynamic strikers who have nothing to fight for since both the champion and interim champion of their weight classe aren’t defending those belts right now, so…yeah.

But wait! There’s also…

…um…

…uh…

….okay this card kinda blows.

That’s fine, though. Do you know why?

Because Georges St-Pierre is going to save it.

YAY!!! RUSH IS GOING TO SAVE US!!!

He’s been away for 3 years but he’s finally ready to compete again and he’s ready to show us he’s the same dominant force he was when he left. He’s even been in the USADA testing pool so you know he’s ready to decision dudes again like it’s nobody’s business.

Oh Georges. I’ve missed you so. I can’t wait to see you compete at–

–what’s that? He’s not going to fight at UFC 206? But it’s in Toronto. It’s the perfect place for Captain Canada to make his return. What the hell is stopping him from coming back?

–what’s that? The UFC doesn’t want to pay him what he thinks he’s worth? Oh boy…

Of course the problem was going to be money. That’s been the running theme since the Reebok deal took effect, when UFC killed the sponsorship market for their own gain while screwing over the fighters by forcing them to accept much lower payouts without any say or any possibility of restructuring their contracts to make up for the significant loss of income that came from being able to wear whatever condom logo they wanted on their shorts.

Or something like that.

GSP has been negotiating a return for the better part of the year and, as close as he is to coming back, he’s not going to sign a contract unless he’s getting paid what he feels he is worth.

And, honestly, I think that’s great. As much as I want to see him fight again, he needs to look out for himself and do what’s best for his interests. If he feels he deserves more money, then he should definitely fight for it. I wish more fighters would. We’ve been seeing more men and women fight out their contracts to see what they’re truly worth and I hope that continues.

Unfortunately, most fighters aren’t in a position to fight for something like that, since any fighting they do outside the cage means fighting they aren’t doing it inside of it, which means a paycheck they need that they won’t be getting.

GSP is a smart man. I’m sure he’s more than financially secure at this point in his life and I know he’s not coming back for the money. That being said, though, he knows he adds value to the company and he’s not willing to undervalue his brand just for the sake of getting back in the cage.

If anyone’s being silly, it’s the new owners of the UFC, WME-IMG, who are in cost-cutting mode right now, removing positions and doing what they feel they need to “trim the fat” and put the company in a better position to profit so they can hope to make back the ludicrous sum of money they paid for the company earlier this year.

And, while it’s logical to make some of the moves they’re making right now, they are out of their minds if they think paying GSP more is a risk because of having to “re-introduce him to the audience,” as Georges claimed in an interview.

Are you kidding me? This isn’t bringing Royce Gracie back after 11 years to a group of fans who weren’t around when he originally fought. GSP has only been gone 3 years. Most of the current fanbase knows who he is and remembers him. He was one of the biggest draws in the company and the top drawing card in Canada.

He’s the entire reason UFC makes any money in Canada and they don’t want to pay him what he’s worth? That’s nuts.

I can get it if the new owners just don’t want to pay him more (well, I get it but I don’t get it) but that is the dumbest fake reason they could have given for it. Georges would have made them a ton of money, especially if it was in a fight with Nick Diaz or Michael Bisping, who’s been dying to get on the Toronto for some reason.

This doesn’t mean that Georges won’t fight again, but it probably won’t be for a while, especially if Georges is claiming he’s no longer under contract and UFC is saying he is.

If that’s the case, that means things could get really ugly and may come down to how long Georges is willing to drag this thing out in court, since it’s possible he has a case if the UFC’s contracts are written as restrictively as has been claimed by others, but very few fighters have been able and willing to let the whole process play out.

Georges may be different, since he doesn’t need to fight. He wants to but he doesn’t need to.
If there’s a legal fight to be had here, especially one that could benefit future generations of fighters so they aren’t controlled the way UFC fighters allegedly are today, then I hope that Georges (or somebody) is willing to undertake it.

I would think Georges will at least be willing to start the battle, since he’s not going to fight anywhere else. Even if he was free of his contract, I couldn’t see him fighting in another organization. He wants to fight the best and he knows the best (for the most part) are still in the UFC.

And I hope UFC remembers how good he was and does whatever they need to get him back on my TV screen. My money will be waiting. Maybe.

Oh, and sorry, Jon Fitch. Keep dreaming big, you crazy kid.

Evan Zivin has been writing for 411 MMA since May of 2013. Evan loves the sport, and likes to takes a lighthearted look at the world of MMA in his writing…usually.