Michael Bisping choked unconscious as Georges St-Pierre claims middleweight gold

Randy Couture, BJ Penn, Conor McGregor... Georges St-Pierre.

After four years out of the Octagon, St-Pierre returned to action on Saturday night and became only the fourth fighter in UFC history to claim a world title in two different weight classes as he came out on top in a bloody battle with Michael Bisping for the UFC middleweight title. The welterweight legend choked Bisping unconscious in the third round of the main event of UFC 217 after rallying through adversity, blood and fatigue.

GSP is back! #AndNew #UFC217 pic.twitter.com/OKB8t3FLRT

— Joe p (@Joey_Purg) November 5, 2017

St-Pierre settled into the striking as if he'd fought just three months ago as his trademark jab found a home on Bisping's nose throughout the opening frame and, with a minute on the clock, we saw a familiar takedown from the returning Canadian. A superman jab and a glancing spinning heel kick brought a close to a first round which was brimming with tension. A thudding right from Bisping got St-Pierre's respect midway through the second and, shortly thereafter, a visibly fatiguing GSP looked for some respite with a signature single-leg takedown. Another takedown from St-Pierre in the early stages of the third was actually detrimental to 'Rush' as he saw his face sliced up courtesy of elbows from Bisping. A picture-perfect left hook from GSP dropped the Brit and, not requiring a second invitation, St-Pierre dived on a rear naked choke as it presented itself.

It's been 4 years since UFC gold has been around his waist. #AndNew @GeorgesStPierre pic.twitter.com/si3UXeWyi7

— UFC (@ufc) November 5, 2017

Not the tapping type, Bisping decided to go to sleep and his middleweight title was ripped away while he lay unconscious in the centre of Madison Square Garden. GSP is back!!!