Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre says he hasn’t fully closed the door on a return to fighting.
St-Pierre, who is now 44 years old, has not competed in combat sports since he beat Michael Bisping by submission at UFC 217 in November 2017 to become a two-division champion in the UFC. He retired following that fight, and although he still trains at his home gym of Tristar in his native Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he hasn’t competed in nearly nine years.
However, while St-Pierre is not an active fighter, he has not fully closed the door on ever fighting again.
Georges St-Pierre Not Closing Door on Combat Sports Return
Speaking to MMAjunkie.com in a recent interview, St-Pierre said that he is happy right now with where his life is. He is getting offers to fight all the time, he said, but he doesn’t accept them as he’s content with his current lifestyle. That being said, St-Pierre admitted that he hasn’t completely ruled out a return to combat sports.
“I get requests maybe once or twice a month for either fighting in MMA, boxing, wrestling, grappling – whatever. I had another one for Hype. I just tweaked my back a few weeks ago, and I don’t know if it’s a disk or what it is. It’s a lot better than it was, but I won’t be able to compete this summer. Because also I’m also very busy. I’m not saying I’m never going to do it. Just right now, I’m starting this YouTube channel, and I have a lot of projects, and I want to be competing on my terms,” St-Pierre said.
“I was stressed for a very long period of time in my life, and in summer I like to keep with my friends, my family to keep the freedom. If I do it, it might be more in fall. Right now I have a lot of projects, and I’m too busy. It’s not the right time for it now. I don’t say no, just right now it’s not the right timing and right now everyone is calling me like, ‘Hey, can you do this?’ I understand. Perhaps one day it will be better timing. Right now, I have other things that I prioritize.”
Georges St-Pierre is an MMA Legend
St-Pierre is widely considered to be one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. He was the longtime UFC welterweight champion and the UFC middleweight champion, becoming one of the few fighters in UFC history to hold belts in two different weight classes.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that he gets contract offers all the time to return to combat sports. Although he is turning 45 next week, he is clearly one of the most famous and successful mixed martial artists to ever walk planet Earth. So, for promoters to reach out to him, it makes total sense, although up to this point, he has said no to them. Still, never say never, and if St-Pierre steps back into the ring, cage, or onto the wrestling mats again, don’t be shocked.
Georges St-Pierre Hasn’t Fully Closed Door on Return to Fighting