Looks like something needs to change in MMA to make Georges St-Pierre return to the Octagon.
The former UFC welterweight champion decided to take a break from fighting after a close decision win over Johny Hendricks in November, and he’s not considering a return to the cage anytime soon.
According to the Canadian in an interview to Brazilian website Combate, he’s not happy with the way things are handled in MMA today.
“I’m not sure,” GSP said when asked if he will return to the UFC one day. “I see what’s going on in MMA and I like the fact that I don’t have to think about it. I just want to step aside and watch them fight, see what’s going to happen and a bunch other things I can’t say right now (laughs). Maybe, one day, if the things happen like I think they should happen, I’ll return. I don’t know how long it may take, but I’m waiting.”
St-Pierre vacated his title to leave the fighting business, and he doesn’t seem worried about being a world champion anymore. In fact, he would rather return in a non-title fight if the challenge is more interesting.
“I got to a point in my career that, even though I loved the belt, I wasn’t fighting for it anymore,” he said. “It had more to do with my opponent and the challenge. I rather fight a better fighter with no title on the line than fighting a regular fighter in a title fight. The fight itself is what interests me the most.”
Anderson Silva superfight in the horizon?
“There’s always a possibility,” GSP said. “Some fighters want to fight me because of my name, others for the money. I would fight Anderson Silva. I would even fight Brock Lesnar if it’s a fair fight for both. I’m not afraid of anyone, but I’m not stupid (laughs). Many people think that a fight shows who’s the toughest, but that’s not my case. I see things in a professional and intelligent way.”
GSP decided to leave the sport citing personal issues, and he’s not willing to discuss it yet.
“I don’t know, let’s see in the future,” he said with a laugh.
“I read once that people thought I was on rehab. Some rumors are funny, they make me laugh. The reason why I took this break is because of my mental health. Few people know how is to stay at the top for so long. The pressure is not the same of a regular fight. Every fight is a world championship fight, and it comes with a bunch of promotional stuff. I was never obligated to do it, I did it because I wanted to. And I would do it again if I had to.
“You, journalists, know how to read between the lines. I don’t need to say. Some of you are smart, others aren’t (laughs). You can write whatever you want about it, I don’t care. Everything I say drops like a bomb, and the last thing I want to do it hurt the UFC and MMA. I always fought for the sport and I wouldn’t hurt it.
“I just wanted some things to change,” he continued. “The way things are, I’ve been receiving messages, some secret, from people that are afraid to publicly say what they think and congratulating me for doing what I do for the fighters and the sport, encouraging me to continue.”
We can’t say right now if Georges St-Pierre will ever return to the UFC, but he looks motivated to keep fighting outside the Octagon.