Georges St-Pierre vows to retire Michael Bisping at UFC 217

NEW YORK – Georges St-Pierre is remaining calm and composed as the final days wind down to his anticipated return to the octagon at UFC 217.

St-Pierre (25-2 MMA, 19-2 UFC) comes out of a nearly four-year hiatus on Saturday to challenge Michael Bisping (30-7 MMA, 20-7 UFC) for the UFC middleweight title. When “Rush” walked away he cited both personal and professional reasons, but with things apparently in the clear, he said he’s at peace.

“I’m back now,” St-Pierre told reporters at today’s UFC 217 news conference. “There is no other place I want to be than where I am right now.”

UFC 217 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. St-Pierre vs. Bisping headlines the pay-per-view main card following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

The build to the fight has been lengthy, and Bisping has pestered the French-Canadian throughout. St-Pierre has shown some uncharacteristic moments by getting physical with Bisping during some press conferences, but he said nothing is going to rile him up on fight week.

“It’s the calm before the storm,” St-Pierre said. “He’s got a big mouth. … If he wants to waste his energy like this, it’s all good. I’ve got one goal in mind, and that’s it.”

St-Pierre took a verbal assault from Bisping at the pre-fight news conference. “The Count” ran down St-Pierre’s fighting style and said he dresses like a stock broker or history teacher.

That didn’t rattle St-Pierre, however.

“I will retire him,” St-Pierre said. “You’re going to be beaten by a history teacher on Saturday.”

For more on UFC 217, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.