There is a fair possibility ex-longtime UFC welterweight Georges St-Pierre doesn’t fight inside the Octagon in 2014, but that doesn’t mean his feud with UFC President Dana White is going to conclude any time soon.
In an interview with Fight Hub TV (per MMA Mania), famed boxing coach Freddie Roach stated that “Rush” had been suffering from headaches, which was part of what led him to take a hiatus from mixed martial arts.
White quickly fired back at the French-Canadian superstar on FOX Sports Live last night, appearing to be taken back by the latest wrinkle in the St-Pierre saga, per MMA Fighting.
The crazy stuff I keep hearing back from Georges St-Pierre is unbelievable. No, Georges St-Pierre never complained to us about headaches. Georges St-Pierre has never publicly said the real reasons why he stepped away from the UFC for a year. When he sat down with Lorenzo [Fertitta] and I it was a whole different set of issues, personal problems. It had nothing to do with headaches or drug testing or anything else that’s been said. … I don’t know if he’s just trying to draw a smokescreen to what he’s really dealing with and doesn’t want to publicly talk about [it]? I don’t know.
A little less than a month ago, St-Pierre said another factor that contributed to his break from the Octagon was the UFC’s lack of support on drug testing, also per MMA Fighting.
Heading into UFC 167 against Johny Hendricks this past November, the Tristar Gym standout was riding an 11-fight win streak, including eight successful title defenses.
White St-Pierre won a split decision, the fight community almost unanimously felt Hendricks’ heavy strikes and stout takedown defense were enough to get him the nod.
Immediately after the fight, GSP told UFC color commentator Joe Rogan that he would be taking a break from cage fighting and lived up to his word by vacating the welterweight strap days later.
Hendricks has another chance to capture UFC gold when he squares off with fellow power puncher Robbie Lawler at UFC 171 next month.
Is GSP truly being irrational and just looking for publicity? Or is White just covering up for preexisting issues he already knew about?
John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.
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