Few fighters have managed to step away from MMA as smoothly as Georges St-Pierre did.
The Canadian is a two-division UFC champion and remains a strong candidate in the conversation about who is the greatest of all time.
Advertisement
Throughout his career, St-Pierre set records and delivered countless memorable performances inside the cage, including becoming a two-division champion with a win over Michael Bisping at UFC 217 in 2017. That fight ended up being his final appearance.
There were plenty who wanted him to make a comeback, feeling he still had more to give. But Joe Rogan has often said that more fighters should follow GSP’s example and know when to walk away.
Joe Rogan believes Georges St-Pierre’s path is the blueprint for UFC careers
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
St-Pierre walked away from the sport with just one TKO defeat over a 15-year career and a 28-fight record.
Advertisement
Rogan, considering the wear and tear many fighters go through, sees that as the template younger athletes should follow.
On his Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the longtime UFC colour commentator pointed out how some older fighters who stayed in the game too long have suffered from CTE and other brain injuries.
St-Pierre, on the other hand, seems to be doing well after leaving MMA. According to Rogan, he represents what every fighter should aim for.
The 58-year-old commentator said: “Guys in the gym that I used to train with…I was seeing brain damage in these guys. I was seeing them slurring their words, forgetting what they were saying, repeating themselves.
Advertisement
“They’d tell you a story, then they’d tell you the same story like two minutes later…they don’t remember anything.
“He’s fine. He’s a very intelligent guy. He also does a lot of things to keep his mind very active.
“He’s the best-case scenario for an all-time great MMA champion who has a successful and happy life outside of it.
“He’s (physically) fine. I’ve hung out with him a bunch…he’s great,” Rogan concluded.
Georges St-Pierre edged out by Jon Jones in fan poll for MMA’s greatest
Few debates in MMA carry as much weight as the discussion over who is the sport’s true GOAT, and St-Pierre is always in the mix.
Advertisement
A recent poll from Bloody Elbow gathered votes from more than 1,000 fans through TalkingPoints, with GSP coming second, collecting just under a quarter of the total votes.
It was Jon Jones who topped the list, earning 34.62 percent of the vote.
Following St-Pierre were names like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Demetrious Johnson, Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, Amanda Nunes, Conor McGregor, and Daniel Cormier.
Read more:
