Thursday night, former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre vacated his newly won UFC middleweight world title. As with these things, UFC fighters around the world hit twitter with reactions to the news.
In a prepared statement, GSP stated on Thursday evening, “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.”
This comes on the heels of the UFC finalizing a world-title fight between Luke Rockhold and Robert Whittaker staged for the UFC 221 main event in February.
Rockhold, the former division champion will take on current interim champion Robert Whittaker in the UFC 221 main event.
Here’s the fighter reactions to St-Pierre’s news:
GSP vacates. That’s a real martial artist. Way to not stall the division. Best of luck bro! A win over #3 Jacare puts me next in line for the title shot ?
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) December 8, 2017
Great move @GeorgesStPierre I'm big fan because of attitudes like that. Example to be follow for others "champs"
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) December 8, 2017
Epic @robwhittakermma ???? https://t.co/V9R55OXJGk
— Alex Chambers (@alexchambersmma) December 8, 2017
How good let’s get some @robwhittakermma ??
Start the main card with #brownmelendez @seanshelby @Primetime360ESM @danawhite https://t.co/VIHjPIfFUY
— Damien Brown (@beatdown155) December 8, 2017
It’s on ???????#Repost @ufc (get_repost)
・・・
?? Perth, we've got a main event!! GSP vacates, ?… https://t.co/int5M0sae0— Robert Whittaker (@robwhittakermma) December 8, 2017
GSP vacates. pic.twitter.com/RxO2jmTcdE
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) December 8, 2017
— Chase Sherman (@ChaseShermanUFC) December 8, 2017
@GeorgesStPierre if you want to make it more interesting I’ll put my bitcoin against yours as a side bet that you don’t make it 5 rounds against me.
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) December 8, 2017
?? Perth, we've got a main event!!
GSP vacates, ? @RobWhittakerMMA defends the title against @LukeRockhold at #UFC221 Feb. 10!
FULL STORY ➡️ https://t.co/LeaXU08tsa
Pre-register ➡️ https://t.co/CWkOKi23qs pic.twitter.com/MALbQbkD0w— UFC (@ufc) December 8, 2017
