Firas Zahabi: ‘Mega-fight’ offer may tempt Georges St-Pierre to come out of retirement

Bloodyelbow.com

After 17 years of professional competition, Georges St-Pierre has decided to call it a career at 37 years of age. But like many retirement announcements in combat sports, these declarations are often temporary.

Tristar gym head coach Firas Zahabi appeared on the Ariel Helwani Show on ESPN on Monday, where he spoke about the possibility of St-Pierre coming out of retirement.

“I believe there’s a fire in Georges. I believe that one day, there’s gonna be an incredible opportunity for a fight, and he might come back. Yes, that’s always a possibility,” Zahabi said.

“Why? I can imagine, if Ben Askren went on a tear, and nobody can beat him. I think if the UFC calls Georges ‘hey, could you come and fight this guy?’, it would have to be something like that. And he’s good enough to do it.”

Zahabi clarified that title fights and defenses are already part of the past for GSP. If a comeback does happen, it would be more because of the matchup itself.

“There are other names out there that can build themselves to a super megastar status and entice Georges to come back. Because the truth of the matter is I don’t think Georges wants to win a belt, defend it every three, four months, protect it and go back to what he used to do,” Zahabi explained. “I think those days are done. That would take too much out of his life.

“But to come in for a mega-fight years down the line, I think that would be tempting to Georges. He might say no, and he might feel no, and he might be like ‘that’s it, I’m hanging it up.’ But Georges is a really competitive guy.”

For Zahabi, the likelihood of a return would be more about St-Pierre scratching the competitive itch than proving himself and what he can bring to the table.

“If there’s an unjumpable hurdle, he’ll want to try and jump it. That’s just the kind of guy he is,” Zahabi said of St-Pierre. “He’s an incredibly competitive person.”

MMA Squared: Stefan Struve, returning to his people in the land of the skyscrapersChris Rini and Chris Rini