GSP: UFC's treatment of me after last fight factored into hiatus
Georges St-Pierre's last fight was a contentious split decision win over Johny Hendricks that left fans and media wondering what might happen in a rematch.
However, GSP instead decided to take an extended leave from the UFC, scuttling any thoughts of said rematch. Now, St-Pierre has explained how his relationship with Dana White and the UFC was temporarily soured in an appearance on Chael Sonnen's "You're Welcome" podcast
"The truth is if this whole thing had not happened after the fight," said St-Pierre, according to Damon Martin of FOXSports.com. "If they would not have given trouble to the VADA (drug) testing that I did and if they would not have acted like that, maybe I would have already been back or maybe I would have given the rematch to Johny Hendricks."
Despite remaining active in the MMA community and engaging in intense training, both St-Pierre and White have repeatedly denied talks of an official comeback. They might be on the same page now, but on that fateful November night in 2013, a communication breakdown contributed to St-Pierre's desire to walk away.
After getting stitches, St-Pierre was ready to answer questions at the UFC 167 post-fight press conference, but a UFC employee told him he wasn't needed.
"I said 'Ok I'm going', and she's like 'No, you're not allowed to go', and I said, 'Yeah, try to stop me,'" said St-Pierre. "Then I walk in and I saw that everybody looked weird when I arrived and then I found out Dana said I was going to the hospital and I was badly hurt so I was like 'what is wrong with this?' Because I didn't know what was going on.
"I understand Dana was pissed because I was leaving with the belt, I got it, but he could have done it in a little better class."
Though he mentioned not wanting to have regrets about leaving opportunities on the table when he's "80, 85 years old", GSP reiterated how much he enjoyed being able to train without the stress of an upcoming fight.
"The question is, if I go back to fighting would that fun leave or will I still have fun," said St-Pierre. "I don't know."