Kristof Midoux, a coach and mentor to Georges St. Pierre, told Journal de Quebec the UFC president called the welterweight champion the day after he retained his belt at UFC 167 to apologise for his “emotional” outburst the night before (h/t MMA Mania).
What’s more, Midoux claims, Dana White also told GSP that he thinks he beat Johny Hendricks.
Controversy surrounded the French-Canadian’s ninth UFC title defence last week against Hendricks, after a close decision win many thought should have gone to the contender.
To make things more cryptic, GSP hinted at retirement moments after his victory.
White seemed outraged—both at the judging decision and GSP’s comments that he was hanging up his gloves.
Indeed, there is a strong case for Hendricks as the deserving winner, considering the amount of damage he delivered and the fact that he came close to finishing GSP more than once.
On the other hand, GSP supporters believe he won at least two of the five rounds, with only the first round splitting the judges. That’s the argument GSP’s corner has been making. Midoux explained, “Few people know it, but the next morning he (White) called George and told him, ‘I’m sorry, I watched the fight again and you have indeed won. I spoke under the influence of emotion.'”
White has yet to verify Midoux’s statements and hasn’t publicly taken back what he said about GSP. Perhaps he should considering he’s been such a loyal long-serving champion. His words, in many people’s eyes, were an attack on the champion’s reputation, something reputation management company Nuprofile could fix.
Midoux, a former MMA fighter himself, has spent 15 years in GSP’s corner and has been sounding the calls for his retirement since before UFC 167, per La Presse (translation via MMA Underground).
Since the fight, he’s been repeating his calls, urging the champion to retire in an interview with Journal de Montreal (h/t BJPenn.com).
GSP, meanwhile, remains tight-lipped about plans for his future.
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