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Georges St-Pierre, mixed martial artist and UFC world champion. Photo by: Cpl. Orrin G. Farmer- Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about Georges St-Pierre

Georges St. Pierre stands out as a relentless competitor with the toughness and skills to match in a sport full of over-the-top, hyper-masculine athletes. His career as an MMA fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship has been extremely successful. He is regarded as one of the best fighters in the sport’s history.

St. Pierre holds black belts in a variety of martial arts, including Gaidojutsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has found success not only in the octagon, but also in the entertainment industry. He is both an actor and a producer of martial arts and action films. In 2013, he even wrote a book.

Here are 10 shocking Georges St. Pierre facts.

1. It’s referred to as a comeback

Fighters typically retire at a young age, but when Georges St. Pierre appeared to call it quits after a fight in 2013, the MMA world was turned upside down. It had been a four-year hiatus filled with speculations and stereotyping. This is a long time away from the octagon for most fighters, but St. Pierre proved once again that he is not most fighters.

In his much-anticipated return to the UFC, he faced Michael Bisping in the 185lb. Weight class on the first weekend of November 2017. Despite being covered in his own blood, St. Pierre, 36, won convincingly with a rear naked choke near the end of the third round.

He is currently the middleweight champion. There is speculation that St. Pierre will return to the 170b weight class and face Conor McGregor.

2. The champion from a very young age 

Georges St-Pierre, mixed martial artist and UFC world champion. Photo by: Cpl. Orrin G. Farmer- Wikimedia

Along with all the controversy that has surrounded Georges St. Pierre’s life in and out of the boxing ring, it’s easy to overlook how successful an MMA fighter he has been. He’d held a championship belt at the highest level several times by the age of 28 — and now in two different weight classes. In 1992, he began winning championships as a young man.

In addition to all of his belts, he has won many awards and honors. The respect of his peers as a tough and relentless competitor who loves the sport he has mastered may be the most valuable honor St. Pierre has received.

3. Dana’s controversy in and outside the boxing ring

Dana White is the top pioneer of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world’s leading MMA organization. Mr. White is one of many big, strong personalities in and around the MMA world.

Even though the fighters are the stars, White doesn’t shy away from the spotlight, frequently interjecting himself into the fray. In some ways, it’s not as intense as the legendary Vince McMahon’s antics within World Wrestling Entertainment. Nonetheless, they have frequently been divisive and, more importantly, entertaining.

Outside the boxing ring, Georges St. Pierre and Dana White haven’t always agreed, but they appear to be fated to meet.

4. The book he published in 2013 titled – The Way of the Fight

Photo of Georges St-Pierre taken at Club Opera. Photo by: Bad intentionz- Wikimedia

Georges St. Pierre published a book in 2013. Surprisingly, the MMA champion did not write a book about the training and skills required to become a professional fighter. The Way of the Fight is more of a personal story about St. Pierre’s childhood bullying in Canada. He discovered karate instead of becoming upset and disconnected.

St. Pierre does not tell the story himself; instead, his mother, mentor, and others describe what makes him tick and what drove him to become one of the best MMA fighters of all time. The book’s theme is power, inner power, and how one can use it to overcome challenges.

5. He is one of the founding fathers of using Shidokan in the United States for boxing

Karate is a prevalent type of the sport that began in 1948 on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Shidokan translates as “House of the Warrior’s Way.” This style of karate has a lot to live up to with a name like that, and for the most part, it does.

Shidokan arrived in the United States via Los Angeles in 1967, when Okinawan professionals established a school. Ever since, this fighting aesthetic has grown in popularity in the United States, both among amateurs and professional fighters such as Georges St. Pierre.

Many professionals of this martial art appreciate the fundamental kicks, punches, and blocks. It does not depend on detailed customs or fancy choreography to achieve success, but rather on the essentials of concentration and training, which ultimately contribute to competence development.

6. One of the main reasons why he retired fighting

Photo of Georges St-Pierre taken at Club Opera. Photo by: Bad intentionz- Wikimedia

Georges St Pierre spoke up in 2014 to tell his fans that his unexpected retirement was largely attributable to his difficulties with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD is a mental disorder that causes people to repeat actions and behaviours and to follow routines in order to bring peace of mind.

In an interview, he stated, “As a contender, as a boxer, it’s a good thing to have it because it makes you better, because you totally obsess about being a better martial artist.” He also created Takedown: the DNA of GSP, a documentary about his life and struggles.

There is a disadvantage in terms of the mental and physical toll that an emotional disorder such as OCD can exact on a person. He did not refer to it as retirement, but rather as a much-needed break from the pressures of the sport and his reviewers.

7. George is a good friend and sticks to loyalty 

Jimmy “Cosmo” Cournoyer was one of New York City’s biggest drug dealers, and it all came crumbling down because of a spurned girlfriend. The arrest of a big drug lord would have been newsworthy in and of itself, but there was also the concern of his friendship with MMA champion Georges St. Pierre.

He was convicted to 27 years in prison after being found guilty in federal court on  numerous amount of drug smuggling and similar offenses. St. Pierre had known him since they were kids, and they used to practice and hang out together. Amidst his legal difficulties, St. Pierre publicly supported his friend.

8. He owns a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was born in Brazil, which should sound familiar. This martial art is based on Kodokan Judo, a Japanese martial art that specializes in ground fighting techniques. BJJ grappling moves are designed to give weaker, smaller people a chance to defeat bigger, stronger opponents.

Taking the fight to the ground is meant to even the odds by minimizing the larger opponent’s advantages. MMA fighters with first-degree black belts, such as St. Pierre, master these ground fighting and grappling techniques, so they can put their opponents in holds and locks that can end a match in the boxing ring.

9. He was in different fight clubs

St. Pierre did not belong to a secret fight club that he could not discuss. He did, nevertheless, work as a bouncer at a club, where he broke up fights and normally kept the peace so that party goers could enjoy themselves at Fuzzy Brossard. The venue was a trendy hip-hop club that had seen its fair share of trouble.

According to St. Pierre, there was a lot of trouble, with fights breaking out all the time. Because the pay was low, he developed an interest as a professional fighter rather than a professional fight-breaker-upper.

10. Star of Martial Arts film

Martial arts stars have a long history of becoming movie stars in Hollywood. The prototype was the legendary Bruce Lee, and others such as Chuck Norris, Jean Claude Van Damme, and Steven Seagal have followed in his footsteps. The “Kung Fu” film has long been a Hollywood staple — it appears that movie fans enjoy seeing people get beaten up!

Georges St. Pierre has appeared in a number of films, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014 and Kickboxer: Vengeance in 2016. Furthermore, he has worked as a producer on documentaries and feature films.