UFC middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre has confirmed the disease that will keep him on the sidelines for the time being.

As we reported this morning, UFC President Dana White said colitis would force St-Pierre, a longtime welterweight champion who recently returned from a four-year layoff to claim the middleweight title, to temporarily put his fighting career on hold (watch the video above).

Today, St-Pierre (26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC) confirmed he had a colonoscopy upon returning from a recent vacation and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.

“I am now taking medication that will hopefully appease the symptoms,” he wrote. “My health is my #1 priority right now, I’m still a very happy man, thanks for your support!!!”

Here’s the full message (via Facebook):

“I now understand the health issues that I had during my last training camp… I hoped my condition would improve after the fight but unfortunately it got worse and I had to go straight to the hospital for a colonoscopy when I came back from vacation last Wednesday. The diagnosis is ulcerative colitis and I am now taking medication that will hopefully appease the symptoms. My health is my #1 priority right now, I’m still a very happy man, thanks for your support!!!”

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes long-lasting inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract, according to MayoClinic.com. There’s no known cure, and the disease can lead to life-threatening complications, though treatment is often effective.

St-Pierre, a 36-year-old Canadian, scored a a third-round submission victory over Michael Bisping this past month at UFC 217 to claim the belt.

The victory has lined him up for a possible title-unification bout with interim champ Robert Whittaker, who today wished St-Pierre a speedy recovery.

Neither St-Pierre nor White gave an estimated time table for the MMA great’s possible return to the cage.

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