GSP provides update on his health and fighting future

Former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion and welter G.O.A.T. Georges St-Pierre spoke recently with Shaun Al-Shatti for MMA Fighting about his health and his job. He packed on weight for a fight vs. then-middleweight champion Michael Bisping and in so doing developed ulcerative colitis which led to him immediately relinquishing the belt. 

Definitely the worst has passed, said St-Pierre. I’m dosing down the medication that I have. The medication is anti-inflammatory, so you have to dose it down. Not in one shot, you can’t stop in one shot, but I’m dosing it down every month and soon it will be past, a story of the past. As it goes right now, pretty much all of the symptoms are almost gone.

The huge question of course is has GSP closed the door on fighting again?

Absolutely not,” he replied. “I’m keeping the door open. When I close it, then people will know. But right now it’s held open.

I don’t want any contract to fight somebody right now, because the minute you sign a contract, the mental warfare starts, and stress is something that amplifies everything. So I want to make sure I deal with it, I take care of it, and when everything will be finished, I will be able to look forward. My health is the most important thing for me.”

I feel much healthier than I was. I’m about 183 pounds, 184 pounds when I wake up in the morning. I’m about 183, 184, that’s my natural weight. I believe everybody has an optimal weight where they can perform a physical task, [a weight] that it should be. You have a weight that is the optimal weight — that is your weight that you will perform at your best. That’s my weight. I tried to put on some weight for Bisping, but it was a mistake. I should have stayed at my actual weight, who knows if I would have fought better. But one thing is for sure, my health would not have been compromised.

Prior to UFC 219 late last year, Ariel Helwani reported that Khabib walks around at 188. AKA co-captain Josh Thomson appeared on the Big Brown Breakdown and offered a higher number.

Khabib cuts a s***load of weight.,” said Thomson. “195 three weeks ago, 191 when he showed up in camp. Now he’s down to 182, 183… [On fight night will be] probably 185-182, somewhere around there.”

So since he is already lighter than the champ, might St-Pierre drop to lightweight and face the winner of With Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor at UFC 229 on October 6?

I can’t say yet, yes or no,” said St-Pierre. “One thing I know is the UFC will never want me to go to 155. They will be scared that I will ride off into the sunset with their belt again. And I understand them. I understand them from a business standpoint.