Georges St-Pierre has decided to abandon his plans for a return to professional grappling.
With his continued training with elite grapplers and his participation in ADCC 2005, the idea of him competing in a grappling match seemed feasible even though he is retired from professional fighting.
GSP was eventually booked to compete at a UFC Fight Pass Invitational event at the end of 2023, with Nick Diaz slated as his opponent.
Unfortunately, the match was canceled due to injuries sustained by both fighters during training.
In a recent interview, St-Pierre elaborated on the circumstances leading to the match’s cancellation and his decision to retire from grappling:
I gotta be honest with you guys, at the end of 2023 I was training for a grappling match.
When I was training for the grappling match it’s like a part of me re-emerged, and mentally I’m obsessive-compulsive.When I train for a fight everything needs to be perfect, I don’t cut corners, I go crazy.
I put everything I can to be the best that I can, and I think that’s the reason I got hurt to tell you the truth.It’s like my body can’t keep up anymore.
At 42, preparing for the match proved difficult for St-Pierre, and now, at 43, he has decided to end his plans for a grappling return:
I can’t keep the same volume and intensity that I used to do when I was competing.
For me, it needs to be done if I want to give the best and showcase the best of myself.
But I can’t do it.I need to accept it, and it’s hard, but I made peace with it now.
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