During a press conference in Montreal at the Bell Center one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time retired. Former UFC middleweight and welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (GSP) exited the sport by thanking his family, fans, coaches, trainers, training partners, sponsors, and agents for their support during his career. The retirement comes 15 months after St-Pierre’s last fight in the main event of UFC 217 where he faced Michael Bisping after a four-year hiatus. St-Pierre ended his career with a win over Bisping to capture the 185-pound title. If you’re interested in starting martial arts in Raleigh, call Gracie Raleigh today. Ask about our free classes!
The champion was forced to vacate the belt shortly after the title fight due to a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis that was related to his training efforts and bulking up to compete at the middleweight class. While St-Pierre has made a full recovery, he has decided to step away from the sport. He shared with reporters, family, and fans that he was happy to leave the sport on top with a positive legacy. GSP plans to continue to train and practice martial arts throughout his life, and he looks forward to seeing what the new generation of champions bring to the future of the sport.
St-Pierre began fighting to follow in his hero Royce Gracie’s footsteps. He recalled watching Gracie’s first UFC win and feeling like that was a pivotal moment for him. Watching Gracie’s success and being inspired by kickboxer Jean-Yves Theriault motivated the young fighter to pursue his passion. After 17 years in the sport, GSP revealed that the proudest moment in his career was surviving the head kick he was dealt during a fight with Carlos Condit. The fact that he was able to stand up and continue to fight outshone all his wins and titles in his mind.
2019 Martial Arts in Raleigh
Want to train in martial arts in Raleigh with some of the best coaches in the area? Call the Gracie Raleigh gym today. Our expert team knows that it takes more than just a great training team to be successful in the MMA ring. By offering a training environment that offers nutritional coaching, physical conditioning, regular sparring, special sessions, and a supportive group of people, you will be able to see your skills and results improve.
New students can take advantage of free classes and ladies only classes are available. Come by the gym to learn more about our programs and get started on your road to MMA success with Gracie Raleigh.