GSP Says Justin Gaethje Should Retire: 'He's Already Achieved Everything'

Georges St-Pierre has publicly called on Justin Gaethje to hang up his gloves, arguing that the lightweight champion has nothing left to prove in mixed martial arts.

St-Pierre, the retired Canadian legend who compiled a 26-2 record across his own hall-of-fame career, made the comments in a recent interview. The 45-year-old, who fought out of Tristar Gym and was known for a well-rounded game that produced 4.16 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside a 53 percent striking accuracy, expressed the view that Gaethje has already achieved everything the sport has to offer and that walking away now would be the perfect conclusion to his story.

Gaethje, 37, currently sits atop the lightweight division as champion, carrying a 28-5 record into what has become one of the more decorated careers in the 155-pound weight class. Fighting out of Genesis Training Center, the Arizona native is one of the most aggressive volume strikers in the sport, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Known by the nickname "The Highlight," Gaethje has built his reputation on relentless forward pressure and heavy exchanges, reflected by zero submission attempts per 15 minutes — a fighter who has always preferred to settle matters on the feet.

Why it matters

• St-Pierre's comments raise a genuine conversation about Gaethje's future at the top of the lightweight division
• At 37 with a 28-5 record and a championship, Gaethje has reached the pinnacle of the sport, lending some weight to St-Pierre's perspective
• Gaethje's high-output, damage-absorbing style is a factor often cited when assessing long-term career risk for fighters in his mold
• How Gaethje responds to the public nudge from one of MMA's most respected figures could shape the near-term direction of the lightweight title picture