At 41, UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre has made it clear his fighting days are behind him, but “Rush” isn’t necessarily ruling out some future grappling opportunities.
“Yeah, maybe,” St-Pierre told MMA Underground. “I don’t say no. I mean, my days of serious competition are over now, but I’m not saying I will never compete again for fun. I’ll do it maybe for the kick of it – but yeah, if there’s something interesting, maybe I will. We’ll see, 100 percent.”
St-Pierre (26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC) last competed in MMA in 2017, scoring a technical submission win over Michael Bisping to claim the UFC’s middleweight title, which he then vacated shortly after. That contest marked a return from a four-year layoff from his initial 2013 retirement, which came on the heels of a stunning nine consecutive defenses of the promotion’s welterweight belt.
A lifelong martial artist, St-Pierre still actively trains as a part of his daily routine, though he admits his focus is entirely different than it was during his time as a professional fighter.
“I don’t train to compete right now,” St-Pierre said. “I’m trying to stay in shape because I love it. I enjoy doing this. I love to keep my head in the game. It’s like fashion, you know? Fashions evolve over time, and martial arts is the same. If you let go for a year or two, then you come back, things has changed. You’re lost, you know? So you want to stay active to keep your head in the game, to not lose any anything.”
St-Pierre is actually staying active in fashion, too, recently partnering with the direct-to-consumer platform BlueChip to launch his own signature clothing line. The popular Canadian icon said he was motivated by an opportunity to remain connected with fans who have long followed his career.
“It’s part of your legacy,” St-Pierre said. “You want to leave something that the fans can remember you for, and it’s a nice piece of art that has been done by Erik Owings, a professional photographer. It showcases different emotions and values that I strongly carry with me throughout my career, and it’s a collection that is really made for the fans, 100 percent.”
Of course, a return to the mats might offer St-Pierre an opportunity to connect with fans, as well. After all, with the sport of submission grappling growing in popularity, perhaps there would be an opportunity for St-Pierre to compete without the stress that accompanies an MMA fight. After recently training with the likes of grappling icons John Danaher, Gordon Ryan, Satoshi Ishii and more, St-Pierre wouldn’t fully commit to such a plan, but he didn’t rule out the possibility, either.
“My last round yesterday was with Gordon Ryan, like ADCC style,” St-Pierre said. “It was terrible. It was painful, but I love it. I really enjoyed it. It helps me.
“I’m 41 years old. I believe I’m even better than I was before. I’m still improving.”
Check out the full interview in the video above.
