While Georges St-Pierre’s future in the UFC is still very much up in the air, his former trainer believes he’ll be back for a fight or two.
“I say he probably will come back,” acclaimed MMA trainer Greg Jackson told UFC Central. “It would be my guess, an educated guess — I’m not saying 100 percent — if I know Georges he might do another fight or two just to do it.”
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Jackson cornered St-Pierre in many of his 21 Octagon appearances and helped him become champion on two separate occasions with St-Pierre often holding his training camps at Jackson’s gym in Albuquerque. In his more recent fights, St-Pierre remained primarily stationed at the Tristar Gym in Montreal with his head trainer Firas Zahabi.
The Canadian, who vacated his UFC welterweight title and stepped away from MMA in December following a win over Johny Hendricks, is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair a torn left ACL next week in Los Angeles, but says his injury doesn’t alter his decision to potentially fight again.
“I think with Georges, he doesn’t mind a challenge. It’s never really bothered him. It gives him something to focus on so I don’t think it’s going to be the end of his career at all,” Jackson said. “He’s a warrior all the way and he likes challenges. If he’s got to rehab the knee, that’s what he’s got to do. If he’s got to keep the belt, that’s what he’s got to do. If he’s got to earn it back, that’s what he’s got to do.”
In December, prior to this latest ACL tear, Zahabi told Sportsnet he felt there was a 50/50 chance GSP would fight again.
In 2011, St-Pierre tore his other ACL and was out of action for 19 months. He returned in November 2012 where he won an exciting, unanimous decision over fellow Jackson-trained fighter Carlos Condit at UFC 154.
Ironically, St-Pierre wants to help his former opponent recover from the same injury, as Condit recently tore his ACL in a UFC 171 bout against Tyron Woodley.
“Of all people, Georges called me right after that happened and said, ‘Listen, I know all that knee stuff to do and I’ll talk to Carlos and help out,’” Jackson explained. “So, we broke it down together and it was really cool that Georges was right here for Carlos when Carlos got injured the same exact way. Now of course Georges is injured [again]. Maybe they can rehab together. That was really cool. That just says a lot about Georges St-Pierre, like who that guy is.”