UFC legend George St. Pierre is among the best professional fighters to ever enter a UFC octagon, becoming one of the most respected people in the sport. Someone who rose to dominance in the late 2000s and early 2010s, George St. Pierre was one of the UFC’s top attractions during his two-time Welterweight Championship reign, especially during his second Welterweight Championship reign. Welterweight that lasted more than five years.
That same championship reign would come to an end in late 2013. After a hard-fought victory against Johnny Hendricks at UFC 167 for the welterweight championship, George St. Pierre announced in his post-fight interview that he would be taking some time off. . of his MMA career due to personal issues, and many speculate that his fight with Johnny Hendricks was the last fight of his career. Because of this, George St. Pierre voluntarily gave up the welterweight championship belt.
Giving up his welterweight championship belt during his hiatus, George St. Pierre spent nearly four years outside the Octagon. Since then, one could argue that the competition and skill set have evolved to such an extent that it would be difficult for George St. Pierre to achieve the same level of success that he had in his first UFC career, especially as he approached his mid-career. until the end of the 30s.
After a long hiatus, it was announced in 2016 that George St. Pierre re-signed with the UFC for an initial multiple fight. His first fight was against middleweight champion and UFC veteran Michael Bisping for the belt at the UFC 217 pay-per-view at MSG. And despite not having fought for almost four years, George St. Pierre defeated Michael Bisping in the third round to win his third UFC Championship.
Considering the personal issues that led him to take several years off from fighting, George St. Pierre’s return to win the Middleweight Championship cemented his comeback as one of the greatest in UFC history. Although George St. Pierre voluntarily gave up the middleweight championship due to illness, thus retiring completely in 2019, it does not change the fact that George St. Pierre had one of the best late-career moments of any fighter. I could ask.
