MMA Icon Georges St-Pierre Counsels Kamaru Usman on Strategic Career Exit

Georges St-Pierre, widely regarded as one of mixed martial arts’ most accomplished athletes, has offered a strategic blueprint for retirement to fellow welterweight luminary Kamaru Usman, emphasizing the long-term benefits of concluding a career at its zenith. St-Pierre’s advice, shared during a recent Kick broadcast with streamer Adin Ross, underscores a philosophy he meticulously applied to his own legendary career: prioritizing health, preserving legacy, and maximizing post-fight opportunities by stepping away while still at the top.

St-Pierre, a two-division UFC champion, officially announced his retirement from active competition in 2019, more than a year after his last professional bout at UFC 217. That memorable night saw "GSP" make a triumphant return after a four-year hiatus from the sport, submitting then-middleweight champion Michael Bisping in the third round to claim the 185-pound title. This victory served as the capstone to an illustrious career predominantly defined by his unparalleled dominance in the welterweight division. He retired with a professional record of 26 wins and only two losses, both of which he subsequently avenged, cementing his status as one of combat sports’ most strategic and successful figures.

During the broadcast, St-Pierre revealed a recent conversation with Usman, who is currently navigating a pivotal phase of his own career. "I was talking to Kamaru Usman," St-Pierre recounted. "Kamaru, he’s in his late 30s and I said, ‘Man, I’ve been there and done that. Are you going to compete again?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to go for one more stretch.’ I’m like, ‘If you want my advice, Kamaru,’ because I like that guy, I said, ‘Do what you’ve got to do. Get it out of your system. But get out on top.’ That would be the cherry on top."

Usman, now 38, recently returned to the win column with a decisive victory over Joaquin Buckley in April 2024. This win was significant, as it snapped a challenging three-fight losing streak that began in August 2022. Prior to this period, Usman had established himself as a formidable force in the welterweight division, successfully defending his title five consecutive times against elite competition, including two victories each over Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal, and a stoppage win against Gilbert Burns. His reign was characterized by relentless pressure, superior wrestling, and continuously evolving striking, which saw him ranked consistently as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best.

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The recent losses to Leon Edwards – a stunning head-kick knockout at UFC 278, followed by a majority decision defeat in their immediate rematch at UFC 286 – marked the first significant setbacks of Usman’s championship career. His subsequent short-notice move to middleweight to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294, where he lost a majority decision, further highlighted the competitive landscape at the sport’s highest echelons. Despite these recent challenges, Usman’s name still carries considerable cachet within the UFC, evidenced by current lightweight champion Islam Makhachev’s expressed interest in a potential super-fight, possibly at an event in June, referred to by the original source as "UFC White House."

St-Pierre’s own path to retirement offers a distinct parallel and a potential blueprint for Usman. GSP famously never lost his welterweight title in the Octagon, choosing instead to vacate it in 2013 to address personal health issues and take a much-needed break from the grueling demands of the sport. His return at UFC 217 was a carefully calculated move, allowing him to challenge for a second divisional title and conclude his career on a spectacular 13-fight win streak. This strategic approach ensured his legacy remained untarnished by a decline in performance often associated with prolonged careers in combat sports.

The rationale behind St-Pierre’s advice extends beyond mere competitive glory, encompassing critical aspects of a fighter’s long-term health and financial well-being. "Not only it’s better for your health, also from a business perspective, when you’re an athlete, a fighter and you get out on top, when you get out champion, yeah, of course, you have the impression that you left money on the table," St-Pierre explained. "’I should have, I could have done another one, another one.’ That’s our ego talking."

St-Pierre elaborated on the significant difference between retiring at peak performance versus enduring a decline. He emphasized that while the immediate financial gains of one or two more fights might seem appealing, the long-term opportunities are far greater for an athlete who maintains a high "stock" value. "The same thing happened to me, but what happens is you have a lot of opportunity that presents itself to you because your stock is worth a lot of money. So health-wise, it’s better, and also business-wise."

The Canadian legend warned against the perils of pushing a career beyond its optimal point, citing the severe impact multiple consecutive losses can have on a fighter’s marketability and overall legacy. "Yeah, maybe the money it will stretch over a few more years, but imagine if you push it to the limit where you end up losing one, two, three fights straight, now your legacy and that money that you will have received for fighting, that block of money, maybe you will not have it at a stretch of a period of a long time and those opportunities would not be there let’s say I retired on a three-fight losing streak. Time catches everyone, I don’t care who you are. Time catches everyone."

This perspective is particularly pertinent for Usman, given his recent trajectory. His dominant run as welterweight champion saw him defeat a murderers’ row of contenders, establishing him as arguably the greatest welterweight after St-Pierre himself. His wrestling pedigree, often referred to as "Nigerian Nightmare" pressure, and striking improvements under Trevor Wittman made him a virtually unstoppable force. However, the nature of combat sports dictates that even the most dominant champions eventually face the inevitable challenges of age, accumulated damage, and the emergence of new talent.

For St-Pierre, the decision to retire on top was a calculated move to protect his brain, body, and future prospects. His post-fighting career has included successful ventures in acting, commentary, and business, all bolstered by the impeccable reputation he maintained throughout his fighting years. His counsel to Usman suggests a similar strategic thinking, urging his peer to consider the broader implications of his career choices beyond the immediate competitive drive.

Usman’s current situation presents a unique opportunity. A potential high-profile fight against a champion like Islam Makhachev could offer him a chance to replicate GSP’s "cherry on top" moment, allowing him to potentially retire on a significant victory, thereby solidifying his place in history and securing a robust future. Conversely, a series of further losses could diminish his hard-earned legacy and the opportunities that would otherwise be available.

The advice from St-Pierre underscores a critical, often difficult, decision for elite athletes: recognizing when to step away from the sport that has defined them. It’s a balance between competitive desire, financial incentive, and the long-term preservation of health and legacy in a sport where the physical and mental tolls are profound. For Kamaru Usman, the words of Georges St-Pierre represent not just friendly advice, but a seasoned perspective from one of the few individuals who has successfully navigated the complex path of an MMA legend’s retirement.