Former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been on a self-imposed hiatus from the sport for nearly a full year, but he’s still unsure of whether a return to the Octagon is happening.
In an interview with MMA Canada on Saturday, “Rush” also makes a prediction for Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler II at UFC 181 next month (transcription per MMA Fighting).
I don’t know if I will go back to competition. That’s why I didn’t call it ‘a retirement,’ I called it ‘a break’ because I don’t know. [Light heavyweight boxer] Bernard Hopkins has a good analogy. He says, ‘You can’t ask a woman who just gave birth and suffered for many hours if she will have another baby again.’ Same thing for me when I got out of competition … The good old Johny Hendricks as he’s always been, I believe Hendricks is supposed to win.
St-Pierre last fought against Hendricks at UFC 167 last November, winning a hotly contested split decision before vacating his title about a month later.
When Hendricks and Lawler fought the first time at UFC 171 in March, Hendricks won a close decision to capture the vacant title, though later revealed that a torn bicep hindered his performance in the championship bout, per MMA Fighting.
St-Pierre said taking that into consideration, it would be hard to pick against “Bigg Rigg” when he’s at full strength.
Dating back to August 2007, the Tristar Gym standout won 12 fights in a row, including nine successful title defenses, one shy of tying former middleweight champ Anderson Silva’s record of 10.
Additionally, the French-Canadian superstar, who boasts a 25-2 ledger overall, has avenged his only two losses to Matt Hughes (twice) and Matt Serra.
UFC President Dana White said in September that if St-Pierre decided to come back, he would he granted an immediate title shot, per Sherdog.
John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.
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