Georges St-Pierre is out of action since scoring a middleweight title with a submission win over Michael Bisping last November at UFC 217. St-Pierre already considered one of the greatest fighters in MMA history became only the fourth person in UFC history to hold belts in multiple divisions.
His reign at the summit of the middleweight division ended after a month when he vacated the title citing complications with ulcerative colitis that he believed to be the result of his move up to the middleweight division.
Last month news emerged that UFC president Dana White announced that a blockbuster fight between St-Pierre and Nate Diaz was in the works for Aug. 4 at UFC 227, but ‘Rush’ emphatically dismissed showdown with the Ultimate Fighter season five winner.
In a recent interview with TSN, Dana White stated that GSP is retired: (Via MMAMania)
“‘We’ve been talking about a fight with ‘GSP.’ But GSP is retired. As far as I’m concerned ‘GSP’ is retired right now. He is not interested in fighting anybody.”
“We were trying to do a fight with him and Nate Diaz in Los Angeles, and ‘GSP’ did not want the fight. He does not want to fight right now, he is not interested in fighting.”
Soon after White’s interview, MMAJunkie reached out to St-Pierre’s manager Rodolphe Beaulieu, who merely denied those claims.
“He was on Ariel (Helwani’s) show a few weeks ago and on Joe Rogan’s podcast a couple weeks ago and during a three-hour interview he never said he was retired,” Beaulieu said. “He mentioned on both what would interest him. On both interviews, he said exactly why he had no interest for the Diaz fight. He explained all his reasoning.”
St-Pierre mentioned not long ago that he would like to move down to the UFC’s lightweight division, and try something that’s never been done before. ‘Rush’ also noted that he’d only return against someone who excites him and elevates his legacy. St-Pierre personally didn’t announce his retirement until then doors are open.
GSP has no shortage of opponents, but upon his return who should be his opponent?
