Georges St-Pierre returned from a four-year UFC exile to end Manchester fighter Michael Bisping’s reign as middleweight champion.

The 36-year-old Canadian, who reigned as the welterweight champion for almost six years, is widely considered one of the sport’s greats and returned to steal the show at UFC 217 at Madison Square Garden with a third-round submission of Bisping.

In taking the Manchester fighter’s belt, St-Pierre becomes only the fourth fighter in UFC history to become a champion in two weight divisions.

He bossed the bout from the start, with a barrage of early strikes that left Bisping with bruises under both eyes and secured takedowns in the opening two rounds.

A further takedown in the third round encouraged St-Pierre to go for the win and he secured it with a rear naked choke.

St-Pierre said in the ring afterwards: "I don’t have the words in my mouth right now, it is a dream come true.

"He hurt me hard, a few times I got stunned, I tried to hide it but I wouldn’t like to do that fight again.

"This isn’t really my real weight, I did it for the challenge, I’m still a welterweight size [but] it’s about who has got the best technique, setting traps and intelligence. I was fighting a bigger man."

Bisping added: "You have got to give it to Georges, he was the better man. It’s a hell of a squeeze he’s got there. I’m not done, I know I spoke about retirement but Georges was the better man, no excuses."

SportingLife