It’s been over seven years since UFC GOAT Georges St-Pierre laid down his gloves, although the legendary ‘Rush’ hasn’t slowed down one bit.
In a recent interview with former rival Matt Serra, the last man to beat GSP in the UFC octagon, ‘Rush’ revealed that he’s staying busy running various companies, selling everything from gym equipment to vodka.
Yet one of the most satisfying parts of his post-UFC career is giving instructional seminars to the next generation of fighters – so what’s the one thing he’s noticed about this new crop of athletes?
Georges St-Pierre offers UFC hopefuls a crucial tip on finding success
One of the most interesting parts of the hour-long interview was when Serra asked his former foe why so many UFC fighters from this new generation appear to ‘fall off the rails’ as soon as they smell success.
“Well, I think that’s because a lot of the new generation, they watch Conor McGregor and because he made a lot of money being a good trash talker – and this is who he is, he’s very good at it – but some people try to create a character around themselves.
“And it shows [the fans] that it’s not authentic; I just try to stay authentic to who I am, and I didn’t need to trash talk like that.”
Georges St-Pierre noted that because English wasn’t his first language, he didn’t have the repertoire to talk smack like fellow superstars such as Chael Sonnen or the aforementioned McGregor – but he didn’t need to as “I do my talking in the octagon.
“If you stay authentic to who you are, I think it’s more charismatic than if you’re trying to play someone you’re not.
“I think that shows at some point and I think that is the problem with a lot of the guys, they want to make money, they want to have more eyes [on them] and be more known so they trash talk.”
Matt Serra made GSP feel like an ‘idiot’ with incredible upset
After Georges St-Pierre knocked out Matt Hughes in late 2006 to claim welterweight gold, the popular Canadian was widely considered to be as close to ‘invincible’ as you could get.
Yet just a few months later, fans would witness arguably the biggest upset in MMA history when seasoned wrestler Serra finished GSP with strikes inside the very first round.
“I tapped out to strikes and I’m not afraid to say it, because there is this thing in our sport people, say, ‘You tapped out to strikes — you quit,’ but man, it’s a sport; we’re not in a war.”
“Matt Serra really surprised me because I was more worried about his ground game than his stand-up. When he caught me, I remember, I got emotional because I wanted to give it back to him straight away.”
‘Rush’ would explain how he felt “like an idiot” because he’d been forced to ditch his typically clean fight style and had inadvertently fallen into a slugfest.
“When you’re stunned, you’re not accurate because you’re dizzy. He was accurate, and he hits very hard… Because I didn’t know where I was, I tapped out. I’d rather save myself for another day.”
GSP certainly did save himself for another day, finishing Serra in their 2008 rematch in the second round.