GEORGES ST PIERRE isn’t afraid to say what’s on his mind when it comes to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The 34-year-old Canadian has retired from mixed martial arts now, and although he’s not ruling out a return, the legendary former welterweight champion isn’t concerned about upsetting UFC bosses with his opinions.
The majority of UFC fighters and staff don’t have that luxury, however, as former cutman Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran discovered to his detriment recently. The organisation doesn’t take kindly to criticism from within.
“A few years ago I didn’t make as much money,” GSP told reporters. “And it was easy for people there to say, ‘Oh yeah? You’re talking bad about us? You’re out.’ There are a lot of guys in the same situation.
“They think the same things as me but they don’t have the power that I have. I don’t need to fight anymore. If I don’t want to fight, I’m wealthy, I am happy. I don’t need this anymore. Maybe I would like to, but I don’t need to.”
The UFC has been attracting plenty of negative press lately as a result of their sponsorship deal with Reebok, which appears to be costing fighters money by prohibiting them from working with other brands.
Duran was left out of pocket too and was ultimately shown the door when he expressed his disapproval of the deal in an interview. After some initial criticism, fighters have been conspicuously silent regarding the topic.
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St Pierre said: “This is a very hard life. These guys don’t make a lot of money and they have to keep their mouth shut. If you open them and say what you think… you see what happened in the Reebok thing. If you talk bad about certain things, you’re kicked out.
“Some of these guys need the income. I understand that. And I’m no different than them. But now I’m in a position where I can say what I think. I’m not being disrespectful but I’m talking for a lot of people that trust me.”
