The top of the UFC 217 billing saw longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre make his long awaited return to action, after nearly four years on the sidelines, to choke Michael Bisping unconscious to win the UFC middleweight title. GSP had a strong start to the fight, wobbling Bisping late in the opening round, but began to slow down a bit towards the end of the secnd. GSP would drop his foe in the third round with a blazing left hook, and proceeded to strangle the life out of the tough Brit. Wow, just wow! St-Pierre is just the fourth two-division champion in UFC history, joining Randy Couture, B.J. Penn, and Conor McGregor on the list of fighters who’ve achieved this.

Main Card:

Georges St. Pierre def. Michael Bisping by Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:23 of round 3: Middleweight Title

GSP opened up by working behind the jab to assault the leg of his opponent, but Bisping landed a flush right hand to keep him honest. GSP continued to pump his stiff jab, but Bisping was right there landing with counter left hooks of his own. With about a minute left in the opening round, GSP scored a single leg takedown, but Bisping quickly returned to his feet. A GSP superman jab sent Bisping stumbling backwards just before the round ended.

The middleweights continued to strike it out on the feet, with GSP utilizing his jab and Bisping countering with his right hand. GSP hit a sweet takedown disguised behind a jab, and instantly moved into half guard. Bisping quickly returned to his feet, and cracked his foe with a hard right hand, and then continued to pour it on until the round came to a close.

GSP scored a takedown in the first 30 seconds of the 3rd round, but Bisping busted him open with some slicing elbows from the bottom. A bloodied GSP bailed on the top position, and opted to try his luck on the feet. A flush left hook dropped Bisping, and GSP followed up with ground strikes, to back take, to a technical Rear-Naked Choke submission! What a return for GSP!

Watch GSP drop Bisping with this bolo of a left hook:

Watch this classic GSP takedown: