Georges St. Pierre is no longer the UFC Welterweight Champion. After weeks of speculation, the king of the 170lb division has decided its time to hang up his 4oz gloves and take an extended leave from the sport.
During a conference call today alongside UFC President Dana White, GSP discussed vacating the title and taking time away.
“15 of my fights were for a world title,” sid St-Pierre. “It is a lot of pressure. I decided I need to take time off. I know the UFC is a business they can’t wait for my little person. One day when I feel like it I might come back, but right now I need a break. So I vacate my belt.”
“At every fight you add weight, you add weight you add weight, and at some point for my equilibrium, I have to take a break. I can’t go through a camp right now… So I vacated my title.”
“Instead of having a red tape on my wrist, I’ll have a blue tape – I’ll be the challenger.”
“I never felt better physically, It is emotionally I need this. I want to live a little bit of a normal life. (I will be part of Tristar) but I wont have the pressure of competing.”
“I will keep training as I am a martial artists… I think one day I will be back… I can’t give a time for a return as that would put pressure on me.”
“My life is a zoo right now,” he said, laughing. “I know you guys are trying, but I am not going to tell you anything personal.”
“I am content (with my legacy). I wanted to do things to be remembered, to take the sport to the next level.”
White, who had showed reluctance in letting St. Pierre walk away from the sport, seemed more at peace with the idea today.
“I agree with Georges 100%,” said White. “He sat down with us and said ‘I have a lot of person problems right now. I cant imagine doing another camp.’ This is fighting man. You have to be 100% enotionally and physically.”
“The issues he’s dealing with outside the octagon are driving him nuts. He’s obsessing about it,”
The 32 year old St. Pierre leaves the sport with a record of 25-2 with 8 wins by knockout, 12 by submission and 5 by decision. His two losses came at the hands of Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. Both losses were later avenged.
