GSP reveals he went through depression and regrets not stopping before facing Hendricks

Hendricks (right) was defeated by St. Pierre (left) in 2013. (Photo: Reproduction / Facebook / UFC)

Considered by many one of the greatest athletes to step into the UFC octagon, former welterweight (up to 77 kg) and middleweight (up to 83,9 kg) champion Georges St-Pierre opened up about the reasons that led him to hanging up his gloves early, in 2013.

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While participating in the Legend2Legend program, on the North American website MMAJunkie, GSP told Burt Watson that he went through an episode of depression at the time, but was ashamed to admit it for fear of what people would think about him.

“I think I needed a vacation, I was in a kind of depression at the time. I was ashamed to admit it because I had the life of my dreams. I have a lot of money, I'm healthy, and I was embarrassed to admit that I was depressed because I didn't know what people would think about me. They would say: 'What is he complaining about? He's world champion and he's rich, what is he complaining about?'. So I was ashamed, but I was depressed and on top of that I was fighting the UFC because of performance-enhancing substances. I had a lot of personal problems and needed some time”, revealed GSP.

Georges St-Pierre announced his retirement from MMA in November 2013, after defeating John hendricks in a split decision considered quite controversial. The Canadian returned to the octagon four years later, defeating Michael Bisping and winning the middleweight title in 2017, but has not fought since.

Today, at 40 years old, GSP believes he should have retired before facing Hendricks.

“I think I should have retired after the fight against Nick Diaz (in March 2013). I should have stopped. Maybe if I had done that I could have even come back sooner, but I didn't because I felt like I always needed to face the next guy, there was always a next guy. So I realized that the moment you finish one fight, there are others and others. MMA is not promoted because of what happened in the past, it is because of what lies ahead. Sales, sales, sales. We need to sell the next product, build who is the next big name that can defeat the champion”, he said.

Over the course of 15 years working as a professional in MMA, Georges St-Pierre accumulated an enviable record of 26 wins and just two losses.