fbpx
Saturday, January 16, 2021
  • Home
  • News
    • UFC
    • MMA News
    • UK MMA News
    • Bellator
    • Cage Warriors
    • BJJ
    • ONE Championship
    • Planet Boxing
    • MMA UK’s Featured Fighter Friday
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Team
  • About
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
MMA UK
  • Home
  • News
    • UFC
    • MMA News
    • UK MMA News
    • Bellator
    • Cage Warriors
    • BJJ
    • ONE Championship
    • Planet Boxing
    • MMA UK’s Featured Fighter Friday
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Team
  • About
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
MMA UK
No Result
View All Result

GSP’s return: is the decision to come back a wise one?

Peter Knox by Peter Knox
4 years ago
in UFC
34
Georges St-Pierre signs new deal to return to the UFC

 

After more than three years away from the cage, news broke this week that Georges St. Pierre has signed a new contract and will return to the UFC.

Following a tough title defence against Johny Hendricks at UFC167, the man who had ruled the welterweight division with an iron fist for the best part of a decade decided to take some time away, leaving many to question whether we’d see one of the sport’s most iconic figures compete again.

For fans of the living legend, news of their hero’s return will be cause for celebration. For the UFC, which is currently lacking PPV pulling power with Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey unavailable, wrapping up the deal to bring back their former number 1 draw will come as a major relief.

But as exciting as the return of one of MMA’s most popular figures is, after nearly four years away is a comeback the wisest decision for the man himself?

At nearly 36 years of age, time is not exactly his ally. In his final fight against Hendricks – a fight where many thought Hendricks should’ve got the judges’ nod– the usually dominant St. Pierre struggled to impose himself and it seemed father time was finally beginning to catch up with this once untouchable fighter.

Granted, the Hendricks that night was a different beast to the one that has since gone on to lose to the likes of Neil Magny and Kelvin Gastelum. But GSP’s final performance lacked its usual poise and control, and it seemed that if the best welterweight of all time wanted to retire at the top, now was probably a good time to say bid farewell.

Which is what makes the decision to come back now a bit of an eyebrow raiser. In an ever-evolving sport where the athletes at the top of the food chain are constantly improving, it’s difficult to return after a lengthy lay off and reassume your position at the top of the ladder. Just ask Ronda Rousey.

The former bantamweight Queen initially lost her title in a one-sided beat down to Holly Holm, but after taking a year off to prepare for her comeback Rousey returned to face a whole new level of competition against Amanda Nunes at UFC205. The bar had been raised, the game has already passed her by and with St. Pierre spending so long sitting on the sidelines, when he makes his return to the cage it could prove very difficult to compete with the likes of Tyron Woodley and Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, the current alpha males of the 170lbs division.

There is, however, the possibility that the lay off has done St. Pierre some good. In the interview following his last fight he painted a picture of a man that had fallen out of love with competition and some time off could be just what he needed to get the fire burning again, but the odds appear to be against him.

So often fighters refuse to listen to what their body is telling them, continuing to compete despite their advancing age and declining skills until somebody steps in and convinces them to call it a day. One example that springs to mind is Chuck Liddell whose retirement had to be forced upon him by Dana White, who felt the ‘Iceman’ had given enough to the sport and the time to hang ‘em up was nigh. In combat sports such decisions can eventually save somebody’s long-term health.

It’s so rare in the sport of MMA that fighters retire on the top, as champion, especially in the UFC – the world’s premier MMA promotion. But that’s exactly what GSP did and whilst it’ll be impossible to taint a legacy that will stand long after he eventually calls it quits, the iconic French Canadian may well end up wishing he’d bowed out at the very pinnacle of the sport, when he had the chance.

Tags: Georges St-PierreGSPJohn HendricksUFC
Peter Knox

Peter Knox

Scottish and proud. I train everyday and like to take everything I do to the max. I am very passionate about MMA. I am not scared of winning, I am scared to death of losing.

Next Post
Cannonball

Cannonball

Comments 34

  1. Pingback: gambling casino
  2. Pingback: cialis internet
  3. Pingback: cialis internet
  4. Pingback: new cialis
  5. Pingback: generic for cialis
  6. Pingback: benito
  7. Pingback: the safest online casino
  8. Pingback: parx casino online
  9. Pingback: cialis 20
  10. Pingback: casino
  11. Pingback: viagra cost
  12. Pingback: cash advance online
  13. Pingback: payday loans online
  14. Pingback: installment loans
  15. Pingback: online casino slots no download
  16. Pingback: free slots
  17. Pingback: viagra canada
  18. Pingback: big fish casino online
  19. Pingback: best online casino usa
  20. Pingback: generic levitra online
  21. Pingback: levitra usa
  22. Pingback: levitra for sale
  23. Pingback: Viagra or cialis
  24. Pingback: cialis generic
  25. Pingback: canada pharmacy
  26. Pingback: pharmacy online
  27. Pingback: cialis online
  28. Pingback: mens erection pills
  29. Pingback: ed pills that really work
  30. Pingback: erection pills
  31. Pingback: cheap viagra
  32. Pingback: cialis without a prescription
  33. Pingback: cialis 20mg
  34. Pingback: cialis dosage 40 mg

MMA UK Late Show

MMA UK BJJ Show

MMA UK Shop

  • MMA UK Multi Use Face Covering £12.99
  • MMA UK Hoodie (Black) £24.99
  • MMA UK Embroidered Cap £16.99
  • MMA UK Polo Shirt £19.99
  • MMA UK BJJ Show T-Shirt £12.99
MMA UK

© 2019 MMAUK.net

Menu

  • UFC
  • Cage Warriors
  • Bellator
  • ONE Championship
  • MMA News

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • UFC
    • MMA News
    • UK MMA News
    • Bellator
    • Cage Warriors
    • BJJ
    • ONE Championship
    • Planet Boxing
    • MMA UK’s Featured Fighter Friday
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Team
  • About
  • Shop