UFC Legend on Retirement: “Thought I Had Cancer”
A Shocking Revelation
Georges St-Pierre, the legendary figure in the UFC, has finally opened up about the real reason behind his retirement from the sport. Known as “Rush,” St-Pierre took a four-year hiatus starting in 2013, relinquishing his welterweight title after nine successful defenses. He made a notable return in November 2017 at UFC 217, challenging Michael Bisping for the middleweight title. Winning this title made St-Pierre one of the few fighters to hold belts in two divisions.
Health Struggles Unveiled
However, his ascent to a new weight class unveiled severe health issues that he initially chose to ignore. St-Pierre developed ulcerative colitis during his attempt to gain weight, a condition that ultimately led to the end of his career. Despite having promised in his UFC contract not to retire after just one title match, a month after defeating Bisping, St-Pierre decided to hang up his gloves.
The Battle with Ulcerative Colitis
“The reason I retired is that it took a lot out of me (to gain weight) and I started developing a condition called ulcerative colitis,” St-Pierre stated during his appearance on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. He admitted to having a hard time gaining weight and that his forced eating likely led to the condition. Initially fearing a life-threatening disease, St-Pierre resorted to intermittent fasting, which he claims cured all his symptoms.
A Journey of Healing
St-Pierre shared that he no longer takes any medication for his condition, which had reached a point where he saw significant amounts of blood during bathroom visits. “I thought I might have cancer,” he confessed. However, the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, coupled with the adoption of intermittent fasting, brought relief from his symptoms and stress, allowing him to retire medication-free.
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“The reason I retired is that it took a lot out of me (to gain weight) and I started developing a condition called ulcerative colitis,” – Georges St-Pierre
“I thought I might have cancer,” – Georges St-Pierre
“I no longer take any medication. I used to take a lot of medication.” – Georges St-Pierre
TRENDING
An Inspiring Comeback
Despite his struggles, St-Pierre’s journey from fearing a life-threatening condition to overcoming his health issues through intermittent fasting and ultimately making a successful yet brief comeback to the UFC, remains an inspiring story for many.