UFC president Dana White isn’t holding his breath waiting for former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre to walk through the door.
St-Pierre stepped away from the sport following his controversial title defense to Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 in November of 2013. Then citing concerns over his mental well-being and burnout, St-Pierre has also become much more outspoken regarding a lack of stringent regulatory testing for performance enhancing drugs in MMA.
St-Pierre told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani in February that White had offered him a bout April 25 at UFC 186 in his hometown of Montreal, but that he wasn’t interested.
“I talked to him,” White said on FOX Sports’ The Jay and Dan Podcast. “I offered him a fight in Montreal and he said, ‘I’m not ready yet.”
Last September, White believed St-Pierre’s competitive juices wouldn’t let him walk away from the sport just yet. Now he doesn’t sound so sure.
“I’m on the fence,” said White. “I’m leaning towards he’s not coming back, these days. He’s rich and he really doesn’t have to do anything anymore if he doesn’t want to. He’s doing movies.
“He’s doing some fun stuff. I was in LA one night and went to the [Los Angeles] Clippers game, Georges St-Pierre is sitting right over there in the front row. I went out one night to a concert, there’s Georges St-Pierre in the front row.”
As he’s mentioned recently with former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar’s decision to remain on the sidelines, White says he doesn’t want to see athletes fighting once they’ve lost the drive to compete.
“Fighting is one of those sports where you’ve got to be hungry and you gotta want it,” said White. “[St-Pierre] hasn’t been hungry in a long time for a lot of things. He’s got a lot of money, he’s young, he’s got a lot of other options and he’s going out on top. I’m not announcing Georges St-Pierre’s retirement here.”
Asked if he was worried about UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey following St-Pierre’s lead, White welcomes it.
“That’s what you’re supposed to do,” said White. “You’re supposed to work your ass off, become filthy rich and then quit. Go do something else. I wish that for my people.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
The MMA Beat. The panel discusses the UFC 189 World Tour, Brock Lesnar’s decision to turn down the UFC’s contract offer, Hector Lombard’s suspension, the state of UFC 186, and more.
Fastest selling fight ever. Dana White talks about the success of the UFC 189 World Tour, the dynamic between Aldo and McGregor, it being the fastest selling fight ever, the state of MMA in New York, and more.
Big business. Conor McGregor predicts UFC 189 will break UFC 100’s pay-per-view record and says he’ll earn over seven million.
‘I’m coming. I’m coming.’ UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo talks about going through the UFC 189 World Tour with Conor McGregor, the hostile crowd in New York, McGregor’s impact on the division, and much more.
‘I’m not out here to screw anybody.’ Luke Thomas speaks with Metamoris president Ralek Gracie to sort out the promotion’s recent controversy over exclusive contracts.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 189 world tour embedded episode 5.
World tour Boston presser highlights.
What to Watch: Warren vs. Galvao 2.
Watch my teammate Joseph ‘Moku’ Kahawai dominate the first episode of Road to Metamoris.
Bill Goldberg would like you to watch GLORY 20 on April 3.
More behind the scenes footage from Michelle Rodriguez vs. Ronda Rousey.
ESPN makes Rousey do stupid stuff for 14 seconds over and over.
Long watches.
UFC 189 world tour press conference: New York City
…
[MMA Crypt Quiz] Joseph Johnson vs. Matt Thiele
…
TWEETS
On to the next one.
This week’s profit. pic.twitter.com/QhP2UgIYqk
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 27, 2015
Thank u NYC!!! Headed to Toronto now. I haven’t been in a while, I love Canada. See u 2 morrow everyone! #ufc @ufc pic.twitter.com/tOcb5xOPFZ
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 27, 2015
Beef.
Hey @TheNotoriousMMA for a guy who has no defense you talk a lot. If you come to 155 you will be finished by at least 5 people in one round
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) March 27, 2015
I hear @TheNotoriousMMA is paying @danawhite to say those things so if he moves to WW I dn’t treat him like the red headed step child he is!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) March 26, 2015
Don’t EVER compare me to that clown! @sherdogdotcom @josealdojunior @TheNotoriousMMA
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) March 25, 2015
On August 1st there’ll be an historic milestone. The stock market will break. #ufc190 #bethevsronda… https://t.co/GIXa5lfqXm
— Bethe (@bethecorreia) March 26, 2015
Super fight.
No what happened? “@ltscore316: @JonnyBones you see Weidman essentially call you out last night?”
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 26, 2015
@JonnyBones you were right all he way up until the end lol. You got no chance Jonnnnnnyyy!!!
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 26, 2015
Justice.
I want to thank the Brazil Athletic Comm for doing the right thing in making Dober vs Leandro Silva a NO CONTEST pic.twitter.com/s8CKA0gCAs
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 26, 2015
With the news this morning I would like to thank the Brazilian Athletic Commission for working hard at being just and correcting mistakes.
— Drew Dober (@DrewDober) March 26, 2015
I really appreciate @ufc @danawhite for having my back and helping resolve this problem. They have shown they have their fighter’s backs
— Drew Dober (@DrewDober) March 26, 2015
Good plan.
When in Rome do as the Romans do! When fighting a Russian train with Russians?? https://t.co/1ntrY5Cad4
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) March 26, 2015
Training.
O treino não para. Treino treino e mais treino . pic.twitter.com/zCn2fqkhAs
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) March 26, 2015
Congrats.
What a great bday present! Thanks @askmen & everyone who voted! http://t.co/LysMxnpRAe #Top99Women
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) March 26, 2015
Get well soon. So brutal.
Bad News! I’ve ruptured my achilles tendon and I am forced to pull out of my UFC fight in Poland. Vid https://t.co/ofcOmAvMbl #illbeback
— Jason Saggo (@jasonsaggo) March 26, 2015
Wrasslin’.
Andrei “The Pit Bull” Arlovski vs John Dodson WWE. Full version. This is just too funny.
Posted by Michael Lyubimov on Thursday, March 26, 2015
Eh?
“@combat_american: @WrestleMania @WWE The New York Badass is taking over WWE pic.twitter.com/QAplXk7N6z” 225lbs and clean as a whistle
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) March 27, 2015
Thank you.
It was a great ride the last 6+ yrs w/ @ufc it’s time for me to step away. I would like to thank @danawhite @lorenzofertitta for everything.
— Nick Catone UFC (@NickCatone) March 25, 2015
TBT.
#TBT 2001 @rampage4real @mayhemmiller and me back in the day. https://t.co/8OgFCwWXei
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) March 27, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
I’m getting to that point in training camp where my opponent really starts to piss me off! #UFConFOX15
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 25, 2015
In fear! I go to the dentist #dentist #fear #JoannaJedrzejczyk #little #girl #afraid … http://t.co/dz6uXWELuQ pic.twitter.com/lpzEtHK5WU
— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) March 24, 2015
Sprinted about 2 miles to get to my flight in airport. Missed by 1 min. First time missing a… https://t.co/KPumMDpp5k
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) March 24, 2015
It was actually 903k still prolly less than his show $ “@arielhelwani: Conor: Edgar’s last fight drew 675k. That’s less than my show money.”
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) March 27, 2015
Aldo needs a crazy Brazilian translating for him… This soft spoken chick doesn’t get the job done
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) March 27, 2015
The Champ stole my seat!!! What u gonna do? @rdosanjosmma #ufc @ufc #ufcrio https://t.co/NdF8nSrhBH
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 22, 2015
Then I had to do an awkward stare down with Eddy. Why they don’t they just cut and paste some pics…. https://t.co/RbJ6AtI6D6
— Gilbert Melendez (@GilbertMelendez) March 26, 2015
Out with the old and in with the new I suppose. #FighterProblems https://t.co/akfheeAYgm pic.twitter.com/Ky8GjGpAnj
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) March 25, 2015
This is how you should feel after 6 hard rounds. @Cowboycerrone #bmfranch #UFC #april18 #ShockTheWorld pic.twitter.com/LUS2sMBBHn
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) March 25, 2015
Is it Monday morning? This feels like a Monday morning thing? ? pic.twitter.com/dmUXydusyf
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) March 25, 2015
#TrueStory I want pizza so bad right now but I can’t because I have a job to do…… The sacrifices… https://t.co/EOPFd6ceBH
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) March 24, 2015
Current mood after bday weekend pic.twitter.com/ZSCDmChDLo
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) March 23, 2015
You know who u are.. Haha https://t.co/fUbELE3m9s
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) March 25, 2015
Love being asked if I’m the wife/girlfriend every time I’m in a fighter’s corner. You know, that’s the only reason a female would be there.
— Kaitlin Young (@kaitlin_young) March 22, 2015
Can’t fit shoes on my feet. Post fight probs.
— Anthony Gutierrez (@Sharkbait816) March 22, 2015
HEADED TO THE AIRPORT. NOW TO EXPLAIN TO TSA WHY I HAVE A BULLETPROOF SUIT AND MASK AS A CARRY ON. #superheroproblems pic.twitter.com/YZKJ3uggDf
— Phoenix Jones (@ThePhoenixJones) March 26, 2015
I had no underwear on as they were sweaty after training, so they improvised a little protection for… https://t.co/55p1ujIGLB
— michael (@bisping) March 23, 2015
Yeah so this happened @bodyfortress officialmetrx team gathering with drinks involved lol! #makeitfit… https://t.co/yfYDDNSKnC
— Jamie Varner (@jamievarner) March 22, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (March 26 2015)
Shinya Aoki vs. Koji Ando at ONE Championship 28: Warrior’s Quest
Alan Jouban out, Omari Akhmedov vs. Brian Ebersole at UFC Fight Night: Cormier vs. Bader
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.