Georges St-Pierre’s trainer Firas Zahabi has denied reports that the UFC welterweight champion is on the verge of retiring and not fully focused on his upcoming UFC 167 main event bout with Johny Hendricks.
Reports surfaced Thursday that Zahabi told TVA Sports GSP would lean towards retiring from mixed martial arts following UFC 167 due to a lack of motivation. Zahabi said his comments were misconstrued.
“I never said he was retiring,” Zahabi told Showdown Joe Ferraro on UFC Central Radio on Sportsnet 590 The FAN Thursday night. “They asked me, ‘Should he retire after (UFC 167)?’ I always go by motivation. If a guy has the motivation to do another camp, I’ll never say no.”
St-Pierre (24-2) has won 11 straight fights dating back to 2007 and has avenged his two career losses. Some feel that the Saint-Isidore, Que., native has cleaned out the 170-pound division and has little more to accomplish in the sport, which has led to questions about his motivation to keep fighting.
Zahabi explained that St-Pierre’s camp to prepare for his Nov. 16 tilt with Hendricks in Las Vegas is going well and that his fighter is motivated.
“If you don’t have the motivation for the camp and you just want to get in there and fight, I don’t like to be a part of that because I think it’s too dangerous; it’s not good; it’s not (respectful) to your career,” Zahabi said.
“Georges has plenty of motivation. He’s extremely motivated for this fight, but you take it one fight at a time. You never know how you’re going to feel after a fight.”
If St-Pierre can beat Hendricks it will be his ninth consecutive title defence.
