It’s now been a year since Georges St-Pierre stepped into the Octagon, but the former UFC welterweight champion says he isn’t much closer to deciding his future involvement in the sport.
“I don’t know if I will go back to competition,” St-Pierre told MMA Canada this weekend in Toronto. “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.”
St-Pierre won a controversial split decision to challenger turned champion Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 before deciding he needed time away from MMA for the sake of his mental health.
St-Pierre announced in March that he had suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, but has since been cleared by his doctors to resume training.
“People ask me, ‘Are you coming back?’ I just don’t know,” said St-Pierre. “Right now, I just came back from a knee injury, I took a break, had the knee injury, just came back from rehab. It’s time for me to enjoy my life. Training, do it for fun. We’ll see. I need some time.”
Comparing his body to a runaway train, St-Pierre says he’s trying to re-learn how to coordinate his body to prevent any derailment during training.
“I used to program myself to do certain moves that used to pull my ACL tendon,” said St-Pierre. “For me, if I compare it to a train track, I need to re-learn the movement a better way that I don’t put my ACL in jeopardy. To learn it where I’m automatically in the right position when I level [change], when I jump, when I turn. The train will not derail on a good track. The more powerful you go the more the train will derail.”
As for Hendricks’ first title defense in a rematch with No. 1 contender Robbie Lawler, St-Pierre believes the new champ will prevail Dec. 6 at UFC 181.
“The first fight was very close. They gave it to Hendricks. I thought, personally, Hendricks won the fight, but a lot of people believe Lawler won. This time, I don’t know. Hendricks was out for a long time, but if he keeps that same explosiveness … I think he kind of lost it in his fight with Lawler. He didn’t look as powerful as he normally was. The good old Johny Hendricks as he’s always been, I believe Hendricks is supposed to win.”
Regardless of St-Pierre’s plans for a possible return, it’s not surprising who he hopes to see carry the title for years to come.
“I hope my friend and training partner, Rory MacDonald, will get the title,” said St-Pierre. “I really hope the best for him.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Post-show. Ariel Helwani and Shaun Alshatti wrap up UFC 180, along with FOX Sports’ Marc Raimondi, breaking down the top storylines coming out of Saturday night’s card.
Better late than never. Chuck Mindenhall explains why Fabricio Werdum is the greatest fighter to ever sleep right under our noses.
‘The card felt like an event.’ Dave Doyle says Bellator 131 showcased Scott Coker’s back-to-the-future vision for MMA in 2015.
‘Cain is the real champ.’ Luke Rockhold doesn’t think it would be ‘fair’ to his AKA teammate Cain Velasquez if he was stripped of the UFC heavyweight title. ‘Cain has proven himself as the best heavyweight of all-time, it’d be hard to strip that.’
‘Sometimes weird things like that happen.’ Michael Chandler explains the awkward ending to his lightweight title bout with Will Brooks at Bellator 131.
MEDIA STEW
Highlights from UFC 180.
UFC 180 post-fight press conference highlights. (Full presser here)
Highlights from Justin Gaethje vs. Melvin Guillard at WSOF 15.
Dana White clears up his comments on possibly stripping Cain Velasquez.
Bellator 131’s post-fight press conference.
Despite #dcsprots, Luke is somehow still pissed.
Long watches.
#LauDownShow Ep2 – UFC 180 post-show with Joe Lauzon and Jack Encarnacao
…
Cain Velasquez UFC 180 Q&A Session
TWEETS
Check out our pros react piece for instant reaction to UFC 180 and Bellator 131.
Victory lap.
É CAMPEÃO!!! VALEU!!! SONHO REALIZADO!!!
— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) November 16, 2014
Thanks to @MenaceBermudez for a great fight. I know he’ll come back stronger than ever. #UFC180
— Ricardo Lamas (@RicardoLamasMMA) November 16, 2014
-_-
— HECTOR URBINA (@WHATDAHECT) November 16, 2014
Great job @LeslieSmith_GF hope your ear is ok and your a great fighter that’s why they matched is up.
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) November 16, 2014
Muchas gracias a todos por el apoyo se siente el #PowerMexicano @UFCNetwork @UFCEspanol
— Moggly Benitez (@Moggly_Benitez) November 16, 2014
Después de ganar a disfrutar UFC 180. http://t.co/5DWc7e9Eyv
— Marco Beltran Psycho (@BeltranPsycho) November 16, 2014
I put my heart and soul out there last night.#StrongHeart #StrongMind #Bellator131 I hope it was entertaining. @Viacom @SpikeTV @BellatorMMA
— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) November 16, 2014
One of the worse feelings in the world is fighting with a rib moving haha. Got X-rays turns out I fractured my upper left rib in the 1st rnd
— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) November 16, 2014
— Joe Schilling (@Joeschilling3) November 16, 2014
I wish I could respond to everyone’s messages but it would take me awhile. I just want to thank you all for your… http://t.co/JBFSu5fMv0
— MIKE RICHMAN (@MikeUSMCRichman) November 16, 2014
#Bellator131 Job Done. Who’s Next @BellatorMMA ? #DiveTeam #ATTNation
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) November 16, 2014
Had fun last night @Young__Assassin is a warrior glad we got to put on a show for everyone. @DavidcBranchMMA nice finish. @MMAWorldSeries
— Justin Gaethje (@Justin_Gaethje) November 16, 2014
We did it again… and still the BEST team in the mundo ??THANK YOU all so much for all the love and… http://t.co/7Xq5pNVwrK
— Jessica Aguilar (@jagatt) November 16, 2014
Better luck next time.
All glory be to the most high didn’t get the result I wanted apologise but thanks for all the support.
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) November 16, 2014
We out h-ear https://t.co/RdV0sY3Irg
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) November 16, 2014
@jessicaevileye I hope we both get some more wins and meet again.
— Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) November 17, 2014
Wanna say thank you to my sponsors #Kumon Bernal Hieghts, @gozo503 , @questtraining , @rvddw_HARAJUKU . http://t.co/2ZnyctvaSk
— Nam Phan (@NamPhanMMA) November 16, 2014
Hard luck Dennis Bermudez. You wore my ‘Stay Ready’ line with pride. We are all proud of you here at McGregor Inc. pic.twitter.com/qxmKi87SzW
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 16, 2014
I would’ve sponsored Lamas too, only he fought like a pussy against Jose. McGregor Incorporate does not reward pussies who run for 5 rounds.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) November 16, 2014
So disappointed I can’t be sponsored by your clothing line…… It’s the most absorbent toilet paper I’ve ever used.
— Ricardo Lamas (@RicardoLamasMMA) November 16, 2014
Gearing up for the UFC’s major announcement today.
Another day at the office, don’t miss this event and chance to hear it from the source! @u… http://t.co/FaTCK0Zwrb pic.twitter.com/xSFyR9WoG0
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) November 17, 2014
On plane headed to Vegas with the best Mom ever! http://t.co/FGTpzdEBmA
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) November 16, 2014
See u in Vegas!!! http://t.co/Lua3hMWLPT
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) November 16, 2014
Guess who’s taking over the @enews IG account for the @ufc #TheTimeIsNow event tomorrow? Hint: she’s a… http://t.co/NGZysehVbd
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) November 17, 2014
Big deal.
I knew @AaronPicoUSA was thinking about doing MMA, but not this soon!
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) November 16, 2014
That kid Aaron Pico is good. Excited to see him fight.
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) November 16, 2014
Rose speaking out over the death of Amateur kickboxer Dennis Munson Jr.
Crazy that I finally speak out against the people that are responsible for this tragedy an… http://t.co/TYdfzZi5lj pic.twitter.com/079S4cAckN
— Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) November 17, 2014
I keep getting messages from former roufus sport students about their own experiences. The… http://t.co/PMkLIeXxYG pic.twitter.com/sanlot8Qmy
— Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) November 17, 2014
Good to know I’m not the only one http://t.co/vuIpLRjVGZ pic.twitter.com/IhIwEsOQcu
— Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) November 17, 2014
More stories about the messed up controlling power trip mentality of these coaches http://t.co/pex7d51PfE pic.twitter.com/FUAk0dsQaU
— Rose Namajunas (@rosenamajunas) November 17, 2014
REALITY: http://t.co/FSa2fvOT0K… http://t.co/BBSJcFCdJI pic.twitter.com/ARlqdPeFJM
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) November 16, 2014
Beefin’.
.@kefinator Commissions can’t ask Heather Clark to make weight in fear she might sue them for bullying her cellulite #chumpette
— Angela Magana UFC (@AngelaMagana1) November 14, 2014
Should I get fake boobs like miesha. Will it help me with takedowns.
— Angela Magana UFC (@AngelaMagana1) November 14, 2014
Let me just say. The same producer that had it out for ronda had it out for us. Miesha – heather connections. Hmmm
— Angela Magana UFC (@AngelaMagana1) November 15, 2014
Grow up !! http://t.co/8ab8eOKTbC pic.twitter.com/tQh2dIL7yi
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) November 14, 2014
.@DamonMartin @MieshaTate @marc_raimondi If she’s such a badass call out someone 2 divisions above & “meet in the middle”? like Gabi Garcia
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) November 14, 2014
.@DamonMartin @MieshaTate @marc_raimondi Get a life or come all the way down and we can settle it like I did with ur “soul searching” buddy.
— Felice Herrig (@feliceherrig) November 14, 2014
@AngelaMagana1 @MMARoasted let’s see if this attention whore is still around in 10 years. n who are you again? Some random of the latest TUF
— michael (@bisping) November 17, 2014
Ronda chop.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Nov. 14-16 2014)
Patricio Friere vs. Daniel Straus at Bellator 132
Douglas Lima vs. Paul Daley at Bellator 133
Emmanuel Newton vs. Liam McGeary at Bellator 133
Bobby Lashley vs. James Thompson at Bellator 133
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Linton Vassel at Bellator 133
Joe Warren vs. Marcos Galvao at Bellator 134
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via mathias1.
The Bellator Strategy…a Huge Fail
Was Tito REALLY ever any good? If so, wasn’t that more than a decade ago?
What was Bonnar’s claim to MMA fame? He took a ton of damage in an “Ultimate Fighter” finale once, years ago, and continued walking forward. Way to go.
Both are UFC hall of famers, as if that actually means something. One was really, really good at holding people down and the other…took a ton of damage in an “Ultimate Fighter” finale once.
Maybe it was the meaningless titles of “Hall of Famer” that led Bellator to actually book these two as a main event. I mean, it happened. That was real. That was their main event…an aging JUCO grappler vs a mediocre striker who desperately needs a sports bra.
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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.