Georges St-Pierre recently relinquished his welterweight title and left the sport of MMA, but plans to rob the UFC legend of his championship status appear to have begun immediately after his UFC 167 win over Johny Hendricks.
Speaking to reporter Jean-Rene Dufort on the French-Canadian television show Infoman (interview begins at 40:49), GSP said that his championship strap from the event was taken from him while he was preparing for the post-fight press conference (translation courtesy of Quebec native Cyrus Etemadi).
“I was taking a shower after the fight, ” St-Pierre said. “And I was suiting up, with my tie, and afterwards they came to get the belt, and they left with it without even telling me.”
The reporter then asked if GSP still had any of his belts, to which the champ replied, “I have belts,” he said. “I have belts from my previous fights. But not the one from the last fight, unfortunately.”
In context, it appears the “they” in question refers to UFC staff, meaning this was no random act of thievery.
Immediately following GSP’s fight against Hendricks, UFC president Dana White showcased a criticism toward his 170-pound champion we had never seen. Reports circulated that White and the UFC tried to keep GSP out of the post-fight press conference, but conflicting reports also emerged that this was not the case.
If GSP’s report that his belt was taken while he dressed for the press conference are to be taken seriously, some contrary evidence needs to be addressed.
First, the belt was presented to GSP at the post-fight press conference. During his interview with Infoman, GSP said it was taken while he was preparing for this media obligation and that he still does not have it in his possession, so some loose ends need to be tied before solid conclusions can be drawn.
Still, this recent interview with Infoman added to GSP’s previous comments that he was not wanted at the post-fight presser paints an interesting picture.
If GSP’s recent words are true—and, admittedly, it seems like a strange story to fabricate—this serves as a smear on the UFC and the way it handles its fighters and business practices. Would they take GSP’s belt without reason?
Conversely, if it surfaces that GSP’s words were deceitful (and the belt was right there post-fight), it would demonstrate some animosity toward the UFC on GSP’s part, or it would show that he is speaking in riddles and refusing to expose full truths.
Stay tuned as more details emerge regarding the case.
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