The UFC is turning back the clock with B.J. Penn's return to the Octagon, and now rumors of Georges St-Pierre's emergence hint at his first bout since 2013.
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St-Pierre called into Ariel Helwani's MMA Hour and discussed how the organization's Reebok deal could prevent his return, via Uproxx:
"It changed a lot of things in my contract," St-Pierre told Helwani. "We need to renegotiate maybe a new contract. I'm not allowed to wear my sponsors anymore, and I lose money. It depends how it's gonna go down with the UFC. We'll see what's gonna happen."
With the sponsorship deal in place, would the UFC make up the money St-Pierre would lose? The organization hasn't appeared willing to do so with anyone else, and it's questionable as to whether they'd cave to bring a star like St-Pierre back to the ring.
While he certainly wouldn't make up the money strictly from fights, returning to the Octagon off a 12-fight win streak would present the opportunity for a title bout, thus more cash.
Regardless, it brings about the unfortunate situation (again) of how little these people are paid to fight and how much they're losing with the horrendous Reebok deal.