Ask any contingent of mixed martial arts fans who is the greatest of all time and there’s one name that will come up in the conversation at some point in time: Georges St-Pierre. The welterweight kingpin reigned over the division for nearly 10 years. However, when he walked away from the cage after UFC 167, he left the sport community pining for his return. Nearly two years later the question is still up in the air.
In June 2015, Georges St-Pierre does not need the sport of MMA. The former champion has put himself in a position in which his brand will allow him to garner opportunities in other areas outside of cage fighting.
For example, he played Batroc the Leaper in Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Solider in 2014 and is expected to be in the 2015 edition of the movie Kickboxer, per Fox Sports. Along with these films, he’s still featured in commercials for major brands such as NOS. Revenue streams such as these may keep Rush out of the cage for longer than initially anticipated.
These opportunities, coupled with the language that GSP has used in recent interviews lean toward the idea that he may not return to competition.
In a media session before UFC 186, St-Pierre referenced a loss of hunger that became pervasive before his final bout in the Octagon.
“Obviously my last fight (against Johny Hendricks), my training camp wasn’t good at all. I did it because I had to, not because I felt like I wanted to.”
That is a key line to remember as conversation turns toward whether the former champion will return to the sport. Mixed martial arts is a demanding career in which a person who isn’t mentally dedicated can find himself in physical danger. Many examples stand in which competitors did not walk away from the sport at the right time to only suffer multiple losses and mounting damage. Former champion Jens Pulver and former GSP rival, Josh Koscheck are both going through this situation now.
Another question to ask is whether the 34-year old St-Pierre should even return at this point. What would be the reason for him to come back?
When looking at the top of the weight class, he would be the favorite against any of the top 10 competitors. As his current resume stands, St-Pierre is clearly a first-ballot Hall of Famer if any designation were to exist. A return would run the risk of losing a fight to an active competitor, which has the potential to tarnish his current position in the history books.
The mixed martial arts community should accept the fact that Georges St-Pierre is no longer an active fighter for the UFC. Instead of yearning for his great comeback, fans should relish the dominance that he displayed at a time in which we see multiple champions dropping their belts. St-Pierre will go down as one of the best to ever compete and doesn’t need to return to active competition in any way.
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