Georges St-Pierre recently revealed that his decision to move up to middleweight was the reason for his retirement from mixed martial arts. After taking a four-year break in 2013, during which he gave up his welterweight belt after nine successful title defenses, St-Pierre returned to the octagon in November 2017 to challenge Michael Bisping for the middleweight title at UFC 217. Despite becoming a two-division champion, the process of gaining weight to compete at 185 pounds took a toll on his health.
The weight gain led to St-Pierre developing ulcerative colitis, a condition that inflames the intestines. He decided to relinquish his middleweight title and retire shortly after defeating Bisping due to the toll it took on his body. St-Pierre shared on the “Pound 4 Pound” podcast that he initially thought the disease might be life-threatening but found relief through intermittent fasting.
With intermittent fasting, St-Pierre was able to alleviate the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and no longer required medication. He highlighted that during his training camp, he experienced concerning symptoms like blood in his stool but chose to wait until after his fight to seek a diagnosis. By opting to delay a colonoscopy, St-Pierre focused on preparing for his bout and eventually used intermittent fasting to address his health issues.
In conclusion, Georges St-Pierre’s decision to move up in weight led him to retire from mixed martial arts due to health concerns caused by ulcerative colitis. However, through intermittent fasting, he was able to alleviate symptoms and regain control over his health.
