It's a day fight fans never saw coming.

Former UFC welterweight champion and pound-for-pound best Georges St-Pierre is officially a free agent. Well, at least that's what he told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour on Monday afternoon. The UFC issued a statement later in the day saying otherwise. 

Nevertheless, let's set aside the hovering legal storm and take a look at what could very well be the next chapter in St-Pierre's career.

St-Pierre currently holds several UFC records including the most wins in title fights (12), second-most consecutive title defenses (9), most wins by decision (12), most successful title defenses in the UFC welterweight division (9), the second-longest combined title streak in UFC history (2,204 days), and the most consecutive title defenses in the welterweight division (9).

But with the UFC no longer behind him, it's time for some new challenges. So without further ado, here's a list of five fights for "Rush" to take outside of the UFC.

Note: This list excludes Josh Koscheck, Jake Shields, and Jon Fitch, since St-Pierre already defeated them under the UFC banner.


Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports 

5. Paul Daley

As one of the most prolific strikers and trash talkers in MMA history, it's a wonder how England's Paul Daley hasn't been matched up against GSP at this point in their respective careers.

The two were almost paired up in 2010 when Daley fought Josh Koscheck for the next shot at GSP's title, but Daley not only lost the fight, he also lost his spot on the UFC roster after sucker-punching Kosheck after the final bell.

But six years later, it's as good a time as any to finally book the contest between two of the welterweight division's elder statesmen. While Daley is coming off a loss to former Bellator champ Douglas Lima, he may be the perfect opponent for GSP. Daley would not only allow St-Pierre to ease back into competition, but also help re-introduce the French Canadian to fans who missed out on his dominant UFC title run.


Photo Credit: Bellator

4. Andrey Koreshkov

If GSP does indeed signed with Bellator, an immediate matchup against its reigning welterweight champion Andrey Koreshkov is simply a no-brainer.

Earning his 170-pound crown in July 2015, the Russian has looked like a world-beater with back-to-back dominant performances over Lima and another former UFC champion in Benson Henderson. With a suffocating stand-up attack to go along an underrated ground game, Koreshkov has cemented himself as one of the top welterweights to never fight in the UFC.

A win for St-Pierre would not only earn him another belt for the trophy case, but also essentially hand the keys to the Canadian market over to Bellator. On the flip side, if Koreshkov emerges victorious, it would legitimize him in the eyes of fight fans and cement Bellator as viable challenger for UFC's position as the top fight promotion in the world.


Photo Credit: © Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

3. Benson Henderson

"Was it impressive enough to warrant facing off with you?"

That was Henderson's message to St-Pierre following his victory over Jorge Masvidal at UFC Fight Night 79 in November 2015.

At the time, the rumors of St-Pierre's return were still in their infant stage so nothing came of the call out. Those who follow the sport know Henderson's comments were nothing new as he has long made made it known his dream opponent was St-Pierre. After all, the two held the UFC welterweight and lightweight titles during the same stretch.

Combine this with the fact Henderson has been bouncing back and forth between the 155- and 170-pound division, and it's only a matter of time before these two all-time greats throw down.

2.  Michael Page

How can you have a list of potential dreams matchups in the welterweight division without including arguably the most exciting 170-pound fighter on Earth?

Page (11-0), a former kickboxing and karate champion, has taken the combat world by storm with his crowd-pleasing style and antics, both in and out of the cage. Page is essentially the opposite of the even-keeled former UFC champion and these are the exact type of opponent's St-Pierre excels against.

In the build-ups to his fights against Koscheck, Nick Diaz, Dan Hardy, and B.J. Penn, St-Pierre was bombarded by a barrage of trash talking all the way to fight night. Using this as motivation, St-Pierre not only defeated his foul-mouthed opponents, but he also crushed them in convincing style.

Also with 10 of his 11 wins ending in stoppage, including nine within the opening round, Page is quickly running out of high-level competition in Bellator.  A future matchup with St-Pierre would certainly help Page elevate his status in the eyes of the casual fan and prove once and for all if the man they call "Venom" is a legitimate contender at 170 pounds.


Photo Credit: ONE Championsihp

1. Ben Askren

You knew it was coming.

Reigning ONE champion Ben Askren has been calling for a fight with St-Pierre since the two were reigning supreme atop their Bellator and UFC divisions.

It has truly been a matchup that's been years in the making.

As a two-time NCAA champion and a member of the 2008 Olympic team, Askren boasts some of the most impressive wrestling credentials in MMA history. With a suffocating top game to go long with a gas tank that never lets up, more often than not Askren's opponent quit before he's even gotten started.

But more importantly (especially in the today's MMA landscape), Askren's ability get get under his opponent's skin with out-of-the-box trash talking has garnered him quite the cult following. It truly is a shame he's never gotten the chance to showcase his skills inside the UFC's Octagon as he's basically a promoter's dream.

While Bellator or the UFC can offer a bigger stage, a matchup against the "Funky" one under the ONE Championship banner is the most logical choice for St-Pierre if he's looking challenge himself against top competition.