In the ever-escalating debate over who deserves the title of the Greatest Of All Time in any given sport, MMA enthusiasts have their own set of contenders. Names like Jon Jones, Demetrious Johnson, and Anderson Silva often top the lists.
Two-weight UFC champion Georges St-Pierre provides an unexpected and thought-provoking perspective on this topic.
In a recent interview with Michael Bisping, St-Pierre was confronted with the GOAT question. His response took a rather unconventional turn as he voiced his admiration for Royce Gracie, a legendary figure in the early days of the sport.
He said: “For me, I think, it’s Royce Gracie because he did stuff that I don’t think I’ll ever see again. He was fighting in an era that didn’t have any weight classes, the rules were much different. It was very different, and back then it was a totally different thing. You were going into the cage, you thought maybe someone could die.”
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Royce Gracie’s impact on MMA history is undeniable. He secured victory in the UFC 1 event in 1993, and he participated in unforgettable contests in prestigious promotions like UFC, Pride, and K-1.
St-Pierre acknowledges that the sport has evolved significantly since Gracie’s era. Weight classes and rules have been established, making modern-day MMA a more refined and regulated sport. St-Pierre recognizes that Gracie’s style might not fare as well in today’s highly competitive landscape.
GSP went on to say: “For me, Royce Gracie is the number one. Of course, if you put Royce Gracie in modern days against the champion, I don’t think he would maybe do so well. So, I think the real GOAT is not even born yet because we can talk as much as we want, but I truly believe that the performances tend to get better over time.”
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“It has nothing to do with the person because I don’t think the athletes are better now than they were before. I don’t think it has to do with the person, I think it has to do with knowledge and technology.”