UFC 167: Will Georges St-Pierre Announce His Retirement Saturday Night?

UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre (24–2) will face his toughest opponent yet inside the Octagon this Saturday Night at UFC 167. His next challenger is unlike anyone else in the welterweight division. Johny Hendricks (15–1) is a man he should dread because he has more knockout power than any of GSP’s previous opponents, and is also an accomplished former collegiate wrestler. That means GSP will be put to the test again in both areas, but is still expected to dominate on the ground since his wrestling skills are one of the best in the UFC.

If GSP happens to win in fashion this weekend, will he take the advice of his long-time mentor, Kristof Midoux, who told GSP that he should pick up the microphone to announce his retirement after he defeats Hendricks?

Midoux recently revealed a conversation they had about this in an interview with La Presse:

Me, I told him, ‘After this one, it’s over! Shine on that night. Finish that dude in front of everyone. Shut your detractors up. If you finish that guy, if you knock him out, then you’ll be free, you’ll be happy to take the microphone and to say that you’re done. To say that you are giving your place to others.

I told him, ‘Finish well, Georges, and have the courage to take the microphone and to thank everyone.’ Those who won’t understand are those who have nothing to understand. They’re selfish. It’s time for him to think about himself. It’s the greatest gift he can give to himself. He could take advantage of what life has to offer and start a family.

Apparently, Midoux also said “yes” when he was asked if GSP will consider his advice at UFC 167:

I told him to be selfish. It’s not true that you can have a family and children and remain at the highest level of the sport. He took my advice. If Georges really wants to start a family, he’ll have to do it after his career. At 32 years old, the time is right for him to do that. People want to see him in the cage until he’s 40, but at 40, he’ll be a has-been with no wife and no kids.

There’s been lots of speculation in the past that GSP may retire very soon, but he clearly stated that he has plans to fight in the UFC for a long time. Although, I don’t want to see GSP leave the combat sport, I’m still curious to see if he will actually go through with the announcement and retire at UFC 167.

Personally, I wouldn’t be shocked if it happens.