Georges St-Pierre has stated that if he were in Justin Gaethje's position, he would retire from MMA. St-Pierre believes Gaethje has already achieved everything there is to accomplish in the sport and that now would be the ideal moment to call it a career.
Georges St-Pierre has publicly urged Justin Gaethje to walk away from mixed martial arts, telling the current lightweight champion that, in his view, now is the perfect time to retire.
St-Pierre, the 45-year-old Canadian legend who compiled a 26-2 record across his storied career, said he would step away if he were in Gaethje's position. The former welterweight and middleweight champion, who trains out of Tristar Gym, was one of the most complete fighters of his generation, averaging 4.16 takedowns per 15 minutes and landing significant strikes at a 53 percent accuracy rate over the course of his career.
Gaethje, 37, stands as the reigning lightweight champion with a 28-5 record. The Arizona native out of Genesis Training Center is one of the most aggressive strikers in the sport's history, averaging 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Known as "The Highlight," the six-foot-one orthodox fighter has built a career on relentless forward pressure and heavy hands, and St-Pierre's comments suggest he believes that legacy is already complete.
St-Pierre stopped short of saying Gaethje must retire, framing his remarks as a personal perspective — what he himself would do given Gaethje's accomplishments and standing in the division.
Why it matters
- Gaethje is the reigning lightweight champion, so any retirement talk carries immediate divisional consequences
- At 37, Gaethje is at an age where many fighters begin to see the effects of accumulated damage, a factor St-Pierre alluded to in his reasoning
- St-Pierre's own legacy as one of the sport's all-time greats lends particular weight to his perspective on when to exit at the top
