The Vancouver Sun has a piece up discussing Georges St. Pierre’s contract negotiations:
“Before it expires, they’ll want to negotiate because they won’t want me to be a free agent, let the Japanese get their hands on me,” St-Pierre said….
Standing in the way of a more lucrative deal, obviously, is Fitch. St-Pierre will be fighting in the U.S., without the home-field advantage that buoyed him against Serra last April.
That could change soon enough; St-Pierre is hearing rumours the UFC will return to Montreal, perhaps next year, and might even try to fill up Olympic Stadium.”
It’s a good time to be a free agent, and I think St. Pierre will end up getting a very good deal. With the Affliction salaries floating around, the UFC won’t risk losing one of their top stars. St. Pierre is already paid well, but most of it is in discretionary bonuses, and it’s in his best interest to guarantee himself that money in the future. If he has good management, he is in a strong position to demand money that would make him the top paid fighter in the UFC. He is one guy they definitely won’t let go, and his contract will be another example of how fighters benefit from competition.