Former two-division UFC champion Georges St-Pierre recounted a terrifying encounter with a silverback gorilla in Rwanda, where he had to submit to the animal to survive.
Georges St-Pierre, a name that rings bells in the MMA world, has faced some tough opponents. But there’s one he’d rather not step into the ring with.
Known as “GSP,” he’s got a life outside of MMA that’s just as exciting. On a trip to Rwanda, he came face-to-face with a silverback gorilla. His survival strategy? Submission.
St-Pierre shared a hilarious tale on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. “I got chased by a silverback gorilla in Rwanda,” he said. He was on a gorilla trekking adventure, guided by a local who spends his days with the same gorilla family.
The guide gave him some ground rules. Don’t lock eyes with a silverback, don’t eat in front of him, and no flash photography. If a gorilla approaches, don’t run. Instead, make yourself small and submissive.
That’s exactly what happened. The gorilla looked at him, moved towards him, and GSP did what he was told. He moved out of the way, dropped to his knees, and begged for mercy.
Seeing a gorilla on TV is one thing. Seeing one up close is a whole different ball game. “I could see his muscle definition through the fur,” GSP recalled. The guide pulled him to safety, but it was just a test. The gorilla turned his back to show GSP that he was no threat.
GSP’s UFC record is impressive, with 20 wins and 2 losses. He’s won 12 welterweight title fights, captured the middleweight belt in 2017, and defeated legends like Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn, Michael Bisping, Nick Diaz, and Carlos Condit. But he knew better than to pick a fight with a gorilla.
In 2018, GSP shared a video of a gorilla encounter. It’s unclear if this is the same incident he talked about in the interview.
GSP’s respect for wildlife extends to his fighting style. He’s studied the movement of snakes and used it to inspire his striking. “My jab is based on a snake,” he explained. The snake gives its prey a false sense of security before it strikes, just like his jab.
Now, GSP can laugh about his terrifying gorilla encounter. He even encouraged former UFC champions Henry Cejudo and Kamaru Usman to go on their own gorilla trek. It’s a great experience and a way to support wildlife preservation.
Cejudo said he’d consider it, but only if GSP comes along.