Even in retirement, Georges St-Pierre doesn't slow down.
Now 43, the UFC Hall of Famer still calls Quebec home. And when he's not in the gym or doing mid-winter cold plunges in his backyard (as seen on social media), he's exploring Montreal's food scene and building new projects.
"I like to stay busy, to keep my brain stimulated," St-Pierre told MTL Blog in an interview ahead of a major UFC event in the city. "If you retire and have nothing going on, you'll go crazy."
His latest project? A small-batch Canadian hot sauce collab with Lord's Hot Sauce — and it's got GSP's signature all over it.
"So people that know me know I like my food spicy," he told MTL Blog. "I like spicy, but I like a little bit of sweetness too."
The result of months of testing and tweaking is two bottles: RUSH, a sweeter, more accessible sauce, and K.O., a fiery blend that GSP says is "only for the real fans of spicy food."
"It's as strong as it can get when it's natural," he said. "Of course you can go even hotter, but that's because they add chemicals. We don't have chemicals. It's all local, it's all natural — no GMOs. It's made for us, by us."
The sauces are fermented in Canadian oak barrels and feature all-natural ingredients — including Carolina Reapers in the K.O. and Quebec maple syrup in the RUSH. They officially launched in April, with collector's editions (and signed bottles) available online.
While the project got started long before people jumped aboard the "buy Canadian" movement (following heavy tariffs from down south), the MMA legend agrees that the product's launch came at a good time.
"It's sort of the spirit that is going on, and we're very proud that it's a local product from local people."
As for what he puts it on? "Chicken, oysters, even tourtière," he said. "There's tons of it."
It's not his only post-fight project. St-Pierre, who has appeared in a half-dozen feature films in the past few years, is also behind a new Montreal-based clothing brand called "Still Standing Strong." Officially launching this Friday, May 10, at the Vogue Hotel, the line includes streetwear and athletic apparel for all body types, and part of the proceeds go to the Georges St-Pierre Foundation, which aims to reduce bullying and encourage youth participation in sports.
"Still Standing Strong is to pay tribute to the warriors," he said. "And I don't just mean fighters. I mean single moms, people who work hard. It's made for everybody, not just athletes."
That idea of strength through support is something GSP has carried from the octagon into business. "Even though I was by myself when I fought, I had a team behind me," he said. "Same thing in business. You're just as good as your team."
Despite retiring from the UFC back in 2019 (With 26-2-0 record), St-Pierre still plays a hands-on role in the MMA world too. He'll be cage-side this Saturday for UFC 315 in Montreal, cornering fellow Quebecer Aiemann Zahabi in a major bout against MMA legend Jose Aldo. "If [Zahabi] wins, he's going to be a serious contender for the title," GSP said. "I'm proud to be in his corner."
But outside the arena, you'll find GSP enjoying some very un-fighter guilty pleasures.
"You'd be surprised. I eat everything. Chocolate, ice cream. I love it," he laughed. "I like Dairy Queen. I'm very easy." Though he says the best pistachio gelato he's ever had is from Forte dei Marmi in Florida.
Back in Montreal, he names Ferreira Café as a go-to for seafood spot and Mirela's near Saint-Isidore — where he grew up — as a hidden gem steakhouse.
With such a full plate (both literally and figuratively), these days, the champ's motto is pretty simple: "Stay motivated, hungry, and happy. Oh, and most importantly — stay healthy."
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