Joe Buck recently conducted an interview with George St. Pierre regarding the rumors of his UFC return, as well as the specific reasons why St-Pierre left UFC to begin with. According to St-Pierre, towards the end of his time with UFC, he was no longer fighting for enjoyment, but rather because he was forced to be there.
“The last two or three fights, I didn’t have fun.” St-Pierre said in a recent interview with Joe Buck on “Undeniable”. “I did it because I had to, not because I wanted to and I had too much pressure, too much criticism, too much things for too long and it’s very hard when you’re world champion, all your life is directed (on that).”
St-Pierre also discussed his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) for most of his life, and how it was made worse during his time atop the UFC Welterweight division.
“To show you how crazy I am, an example of my OCD, when I used to win the world title I was very happy. As soon as Dana White announced who I’m going to fight next, my mind is shifting towards that person that I’m going to fight next,” St-Pierre described. “Like I just can’t release it mentally, I can’t take a break. I’m supposed to enjoy it.
“Some people will take some vacation. I just can’t. I’m taking vacation but I’m constantly thinking about that next guy in line. I’m telling myself, because I was champion, now I’m thinking about him now until the fight, which is maybe six months. But he’s been thinking about me for the last few years, since I got the title. So I’m telling myself I better get ready because he’s ready for sure coming at me.”
St-Pierre also notes that the UFC has reached out to him multiple times about making a return to the octagon, and rumors continue that he will be brought back, perhaps for UFC 200. However, St-Pierre makes it clear that any return will be decided upon by him, and on his own terms.
“The truth is they’ve called me a few times,” St-Pierre said about the UFC. “Sometimes they make the other people call me to have the message. The truth is if I want to be back, it’s going to be up to me to tell them when I want to get back.”
