As a lifelong martial artist and decorated champ, Georges St-Pierre seems like the last guy who’d encourage the UFC to promote sideshow fights.

But St-Pierre (26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC) acknowledges that today’s UFC is a lot different than the one he grew up with.

“Now, you can be the elite, but it’s like a reality show, too,” St-Pierre said during a recent press conference in Australia (captured by Submission Radio). “The world has changed, and I think we need to evolve with it.

“(UFC) became more mainstream, and to attract more mainstream people, you need to have more mainstream athletes. I think it’s a good thing. But let’s not confuse who’s who.”

There would be no confusion about the UFC’s ploy with, say, a matchup between Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal. As long as there were still legitimate fights to promote, though, St-Pierre wouldn’t have a problem seeing the graying action stars duke it out in the octagon.

“I’m all for it,” he said. “I’m really all for it. Or this hockey player goon against the MMA guy. I wouldn’t mind.”

St-Pierre said he wasn’t among those fretting over the sport’s purity when the UFC signed Phil “CM Punk” Brooks (0-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) to a contract. The way he sees it, there’s a porous line between entertainment and legitimate competition in the promotion’s business.

“We’re entertainers, and because we’re entertainers, the decisions are made for money, especially, I believe, since the UFC has been sold,” he said. “They have a big debt to pay, and they have to take care of business. I know it’s frustrating sometimes, but I think it needs to be a mix of both.”

When former UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar (5-3-1 MMA, 4-3-1 UFC) was re-signed and given a title fight despite a previous suspension for a banned substance, the promotion sent a clear message that marquee fighters will always be given preferential treatment.

Although St-Pierre acknowledges the circumstances around Lesnar’s return, he doesn’t fault the UFC for setting up a showdown with dual champ Daniel Cormier (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC).

“That I understand,” he said. “In terms of his pedigree as a fighter, as a martial artist, I consider wrestling and boxing as a martial art. He’s a well-decorated athlete, and he proved his skill before.”

St-Pierre has proven time and time again that he’s a world-class competitor, returning this past November from a four-year layoff to claim the UFC middleweight title. A bout with ulcerative colitis forced him back to the sidelines for recovery, but St-Pierre said he’s working on getting back to health before making his next move.

The next time St-Pierre fights, it will be big business for the UFC. No wonder, because he’s made it clear that when he returns, he wants a marquee attraction across from him in the octagon.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.