Grappling coach John Danaher previously discussed the future of former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre shortly after the fighter was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a condition that causes inflammation in the digestive tract, in early December. 

At the time, it was unclear whether St-Pierre would be returning to mixed martial arts after his brief reign as middleweight champ. 

St-Pierre vacated the title and was once again left with a questionable future in the cage. 

And while there is still no official word on whether we will ever see St-Pierre step back into the Octagon, he is taking positive steps forward according to his coach. 

Danaher took to Instagram to share a photo of “Rush” and Jake Shields. 

In the caption of the three men kneeling on the mat, Danaher revealed that St-Pierre was back in the gym and rolling on the mats. 

“It’s great to see Mr. St-Pierre back in the gym despite his battle with ulcerative colitis," Danaher wrote on Instagram. "He has had to make considerable changes in his diet to lessen symptoms and still has to avoid certain modes of training, but his grappling looked great as he battled the squad and former rival and now good friend and grappling doppelgänger Jake Shields."

He continued, “It impresses me so much to see two great athletes who have a legacy so strong that they could easily stop training altogether and live comfortably as legends, come into the gym every day and battle the youngsters — giving all of them hell on the mats — and then laugh together after giving each other hell with identical games!”

St-Pierre returned to action Nov. 4, 2017, at UFC 217 in New York after a four-year hiatus. In that fight, St-Pierre was as impressive as ever, choking former titleholder Michael Bisping unconscious with a rear-naked choke in the third round. 

By Josh Sanchez