Ronda Rousey On GSP: Your Pride Can Get Irreparably Harmed
The news of Georges St-Pierre’s hiatus from MMA has dominated the media in recent weeks, providing an uncertain future for his fans by leaving the door open on a possible return.
As is the case with huge news stories of this type, everyone has their opinion on GSP. Anderson Silva shows respect, while Hendricks doesn’t really. The latest to chime in on St-Pierre’s exodus from the championship belt is none other than Ronda Rousey. She spoke at the UFC 168 media call regarding ‘Rush’:
“We’re not really doing a nine to five, but at the same time, it’s difficult. If you fight for a living, you’re fighting for your life. Every time you go in there it’s a stressful situation if you think about it. The worse thing that can happen in your day isn’t that someone will get your latte wrong or that you’ll get fired; it’s that you can really get physically harmed. Not just that, but your pride can get irreparably harmed, as well.
The risks involved in such a physical sport are only worth it at the very top of the table, a spot which GSP walked away from. Fighters at the bottom of the payscale can often suffer beatdowns for next to nothing.
“That’s a lot of stress to face time and time again. It’s so much that you really have to have a real love and desire for what you do. You can’t really fight and put your life on the line for anyone other than yourself. Every time a new fight comes along, you have to ask yourself if you still want that. Georges just passed the record for the most time ever spent in the Octagon; like actual time. So, you know, he just broke a record, no one else has spent that much time in the Octagon before. Can you really blame him for feeling like he was done?”
Maybe in years to come, St-Pierre’s exit on the sport will show. After all, we are yet to see many pro MMA fighters age to 60 yet. Long term effects of boxing can be crippling and I hope we aren’t about to learn a harsh lesson.
No one else had reached that point yet. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect him to do more. If he wanted to do more, that’s awesome, break that record even more. But if he feels like he’s done, then, that’s fine, man, be done and go rest. He deserved it. You don’t have to risk your life for anyone.”
A level headed approach from the outspoken Bantamweight Women’s champ; A mirror image of her character during the recent stint on TUF. Rousey herself has spoke about the probability of early retirement from MMA and I wouldn’t be surprised to see ‘Rowdy’ out of the game by 30.
