In the wake of a controversial decision victory for Georges St. Pierre against Johny "Big Rig" Hendricks at UFC 167 that allowed him to retain his belt, GSP made some bizarre comments that fueled a beef between he and UFC president Dana White.
A battered GSP, who looked nothing like a man who had just won a match, hinted at a long break from action and possible retirement. At the post fight press conference GSP said, "I can't sleep at night now, I have issues. I am going crazy.
"I need to make a point, man. I need to get out for awhile. i don't know what I'm going to do. I feel like I am going to let everything out now, but I need to keep some things personal. I give everything I have tonight. Like it, love it, I give everything, that's all I can say."
Dana White did not take kindly to the insinuation that he'd go into hibernation, and take the UFC welterweight strap with him. He was already furious that GSP was victorious, believing that Hendricks was fleeced by a suspect athletic commission in Las Vegas.
"You owe it to the fans, you owe it to that belt, you owe to this company and you owe it to Johny Hendricks to give him that opportunity to fight again, unless you're going to retire. There's no I'm going to go on a cruise, and I'm going to be gone for two years, and I'm going to take a hiatus. ...That's not how it works," White said during an interview with Dan LeBatard.
"If you don't think that while he holds the belt and he still wants to stay in the sport that he has to step up and defend the title, you're crazy. He can retire and give up the belt."
St. Pierre has been silent in the face of White's barbs, but is now ready to make some kind of announcement that even Firas Zahabi, his longtime coach, doesn't know about. There is a special media conference call planned for 2:20 p.m. ET that is expected to spell out GSP's UFC future.
"I honestly haven't asked him and told him I'll wait like everyone else," he said. "Georges needs space and time for himself."
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