Georges St-Pierre has stated that Justin Gaethje should retire from MMA, calling it the ideal moment to end his career. St-Pierre said that if he were in Gaethje's position, he would walk away, adding that Gaethje has nothing left to prove.
Georges St-Pierre has publicly called on Justin Gaethje to hang up his gloves, arguing that the lightweight champion has nothing left to accomplish in mixed martial arts.
St-Pierre, the 45-year-old Canadian legend out of Tristar Gym who finished his own career with a 26-2 record and is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, said he would walk away if he were in Gaethje's position. The former welterweight and middleweight champion added that Gaethje has already achieved everything the sport has to offer and that now represents the ideal moment to step away.
Gaethje, 37, currently holds the lightweight championship and carries a professional record of 28-5. The Arizona native, who trains out of Genesis Training Center, has built his reputation on relentless pressure and high-volume striking, landing 6.48 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the most effective offensive fighters in the division's history. He stands five-foot-eleven with a 70-inch reach.
Why it matters
- St-Pierre's comments add notable weight to any retirement conversation given his own decorated career and the respect he commands across the sport.
- Gaethje is 37 and a reigning champion, meaning a retirement decision would immediately open up the lightweight title picture.
- A high-output striker with minimal grappling offense, Gaethje's style carries inherent physical wear that could factor into any honest assessment of his long-term future in the cage.
