5 potential opponents for Georges St-Pierre after UFC 217 victory

Georges St-Pierre made his long-awaited return to the UFC this weekend with an impressive third-round victory over Michael Bisping to capture the UFC Middleweight Championship.

Despite his four year hiatus from the sport, GSP looks like he has not lost an inch in the octagon, and early reports of pay-per-view sales suggest he is still a major draw for the UFC. With this in mind, people are already speculating on who could be next to face off with St-Pierre.

Let's take a look at who could first in line for the new Middleweight Champ.

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#1 Robert Whittaker

Interim Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker

It may have been easy to forget that there was already an interim champion in the middleweight division during the long build to UFC 217. However, Robert Whittaker has held the interim title since before Bisping vs GSP was officially scheduled.

Although there may be more appealing fights for the casual fan later on in this list, most die-hard UFC fans would like to see Australian-born Whittaker finally get the title shot he deserves, as soon as possible.

Many were surprised to see how comfortable St-Pierre looked during his first fight at 185lbs, and despite a contractual agreement between GSP and the UFC to defend the belt, many believe he may be tempted to vacate the belt and return to the more familiar welterweight division.

It is undeniable that a title defence against Whittaker is the most logical match-up for Georges St-Pierre, but the temptation of more lucrative fights can always be a determining factor in the UFC.

#4 Tyron Woodley

A bout with Woodley will be a treat for the fans of both these fighters

Tyron Woodley has cemented himself as a dominant champion of the welterweight division in the UFC. His devastating speed and power make him look like a truly unstoppable force at times, although his recent title defences have been somewhat slower and more tactical, drawing criticism from Dana White.

Georges St-Pierre, on the other hand, is recognised as the finest welterweight to ever step into the cage and speculation has been rife that St-Pierre may look to vacate his middleweight title and fight to reclaim the welterweight belt.

Many have suggested that in spite of his impressive performance at UFC 217, staying in the middleweight division may be a tough task for GSP. The thought of a return to 170lbs to face Tyron Woodley is a truly mouth-watering prospect and may be too tempting for St-Pierre to ignore.

#3 Michael Bisping

Bisping and St-Pierre can lock horns to headline another UFC

Michael Bisping and Georges St-Pierre put on a spectacle for the ages in the main event of UFC 217. Both fighters came out of the blocks looking for a finish and enjoyed dominant spells during the fight, with St-Pierre eventually earning the submission victory in the third round.

There has been very little talk of a rematch, but with early reports of very impressive pay-per-view sales and Bisping delaying his retirement for at least one more match, the UFC may be tempted to capitalise on a rivalry that clearly captured the imagination of fight fans around the world.

#2 Anderson Silva

St-Pierre vs Silva is a dream match for many

Once upon a time, St-Pierre vs Silva was considered the super-fight of all super-fights in the UFC. In their prime, St-Pierre and Silva dominated the welterweight and middleweight divisions respectively. Unfortunately, a deal was never agreed upon to have two of the greatest fighters of all time face off in the octagon.

A huge stumbling block for this fight is Robert Whittaker's interim title, which would have to be overlooked for any match between GSP and Silva to take place. Although such a decision seems unlikely, it is certainly not an impossibility. The UFC is not always a meritocracy when there is a money-spinning dream match like GSP vs Silva to be made.

#1 Conor McGregor

Who would not like to see "The Notorious One" take on St-Pierre

While St-Pierre vs Silva was once considered the most exciting dream match in MMA. Today there is surely no bigger prospect than St-Pierre vs McGregor.

We know that both fighters are comfortable fighting at 170lbs and it would be impossible to ignore the idea of two of the biggest stars in UFC history meeting in the octagon in what would surely be the company's biggest pay-per-view event to date.

Dana White has expressed his desire to see both McGregor and St-Pierre defend their belts in the very near future. However, if the stars were to align and GSP vs McGregor became a real possibility, there would surely be no option but to put all title defences on hold and book this dream clash.