Acknowledged as one of the greatest fighters ever, Georges St-Pierre returned to the UFC Octagon at UFC 217 following a four-year break.
While discussing potential matchups like Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, St-Pierre noted that time is an unbeatable opponent.
However, `Rush` himself plunged back into the top level for one final challenge, submitting Michael Bisping in 2017 at Madison Square Garden.
By 2013, St-Pierre had already regained the welterweight championship after a surprising loss and successfully defended it against nine consecutive opponents.
His choice to return after initially stepping away while still dominant resulted in a brief period of competition, but retirement wasn`t a spur-of-the-moment decision for him.
Georges St-Pierre Was Prepared for Life Beyond Fighting, Despite His Return
MMA retirements often don`t unfold as planned, and while Georges St-Pierre did return from a four-year career hiatus, he has remained retired since his final fight.
Had he retired in 2013 after defeating Johnny Hendricks at UFC 167, he would have concluded his career honorably on his own terms while still at the sport`s pinnacle.
Ultimately, his last bout, which saw him return and claim the middleweight title, provided perhaps an even more remarkable conclusion, though it wasn`t initially envisioned that way.
St-Pierre vacated the 185-pound title barely a month after winning it due to health issues, which meant the division`s belt became vacant rather than being held by an inactive champion.
His transition to middleweight led to him developing ulcerative colitis, and after recovering from his health problems, he officially retired in 2019.
In a recent interview, St-Pierre discussed his retirement after commentator Joe Rogan praised him as the prime example of a fighter handling retirement effectively.
He lightheartedly mentioned that his brief UFC comeback “pissed everyone off, especially Dana White,” but stated he has no regrets about his career`s conclusion, even if it wasn`t the original plan, as he was mentally prepared for that phase to end.
“You have to prepare before it happens, and I retired with a smile. At that time, when I retired, I had ulcerative colitis. I had bad symptoms, and I didn`t want to hold the belt because I think it`s disrespectful to the other competitors, so I needed to be sure, to know what I wanted to do. That`s why I relinquished the belt, so the other guys had a chance to fight for it.”
“Fighting is not who I *am*; it`s what I *used* to do. Of course, I`ve made peace with that. I will probably never again feel that adrenaline rush, that feeling of winning a fight – it`s incredibly addictive – but I need to channel that competitive drive into other pursuits.”
Georges St-Pierre Open to Returning to Competition Under Specific Conditions
Although he emphasized that his identity isn`t solely defined by fighting, Georges St-Pierre expressed interest in competing again if a suitable opportunity arises.
`GSP` was scheduled to participate in the UFC Fight Pass Invitational grappling event in December 2023 but had to withdraw due to an injury.
St-Pierre mentioned that now that he is healthy, he would consider returning to the mats for a fun grappling match, particularly if it`s for a good cause.
“I`m trying to get back to 100%. If it`s for a good cause… I mean, I would never fight in mixed martial arts again, trying to prove I`m the strongest man; that`s finished. But for a special event, perhaps involving charity, something enjoyable for the fans like grappling, where the injury risk is lower… I still enjoy competing, but for different motives. I`m not entirely closing the door on that possibility.”
