Georges St. Pierre’s reign as UFC Middleweight Champion has ended just a little over a month after it began because the champ has relinquished the gold.
The Canadian MMA legend has announced that he has vacated the UFC Middleweight Title, citing health concerns as a factor for giving up the middleweight strap. GSP just won the belt last month at UFC 217, submitting Michael Bisping in the third round of their main event encounter.
“My fight at UFC 217 was one of the greatest nights of my life but I now need to take some time to focus on my health. Out of respect to the athletes and the sport, I don’t want to hold up the division. I will be giving up my belt and once I’m healthy I look forward to working with the UFC to determine what’s next in my career,” GSP said in a statement to UFC.com.
UFC Interim Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker is now the UFC Middleweight Champion and he defends the title against Luke Rockhold in the main event of UFC 221.
GSP recently came out in an interview with TSN stating that he has been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which will keep the fighter out of action for the foreseeable future.
St. Pierre has now vacated two titles during his tenures with the UFC because the Canadian vacated the UFC Welterweight Title after a successful title defense over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167.
In the statement issued by GSP, the former champion says he is going to work with the UFC to see what the next step in his career is. However, neither he or the UFC has given a time frame as to when that next move could come.
