Mixed Martial Arts | Georges St-Pierre vacates UFC Welterweight Championship, announces indefinite leave from competition
Yesterday, UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, amid heavy rumors announced he was vacating the title and taking an indefinite leave from the sport. "Rush" most recently competed last month, retaining the title in a close decision to Johny Hendricks for the UFC's 20th anniversary show. Following the bout, St-Pierre, 32, said he'd like to take a unspecified break, earning the ire of UFC president Dana White, who risked potentially losing the sports biggest pay-per-view star.
St-Pierre during his announcement didn't explain why he was leaving, saying only that he wanted to live a normal life for the first time in a long time. White appeared with GSP during the call, voicing his support for GSP while announcing Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler for the vacant title. St-Pierre did say he won't rule out returning one day as a challenger for the title.
GSP has long been my favorite athlete, showcasing the pinnacle of being a role model in life and sports. Considered the greatest Welterweight in MMA history and only the third fighter to willingly vacate a championship in UFC history, these are the accomplishments Georges St-Pierre leave behind:
MMA record: 25-2, UFC record: 19-2
2x UFC Welterweight Champion, 1x interm UFC Welterweight Champion
Most wins in UFC history: 19
2nd longest reigning UFC Champion, April 19, 2008 — December 13, 2013
Most successful and consecutive title defenses in UFC welterweight history: 9
Winner of the only UFC Champ vs UFC Champ bout: vs. Lightweight champ BJ Penn at UFC 94 in 2009
Second most consecutive title defenses in UFC history: 9, Anderson Silva leads with 10 middleweight title defenses
Avenged his two losses to Matt Hughes and Matt Serra
Most fight time in UFC history: 05:28:12
Main evented milestone UFC events: UFC 50, UFC 94, UFC 100, UFC 129, and UFC 167 only losing at UFC 50.