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Coach: GSP walking away from MMA 'a definite possibility'

Mike Stobe / Getty Images Sport / Getty

For John Danaher, it's not impossible Georges St-Pierre steps away from the cage once more.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of "The MMA Hour" after St-Pierre was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and vacated his UFC middleweight title, the fighter's vaunted Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach suggested his return from a four-year layoff at UFC 217 could have marked his final walk to the Octagon. However, Danaher was quick to state St-Pierre's future will likely hinge on his reaction to the treatment for the bowel disease.

"That is a definite possibility," Danaher said when asked if St-Pierre might call it a career. "I don’t want to say yes or no because it’s not my decision, really. These are deeply personal decisions that Georges has to make. Moreover, they have to be made not as spur-of-the-moment decisions.

"These are life-changing decisions, so they will have to be made on the basis of Georges' reaction to the medications that he’s taking for ulcerative colitis."

Danaher further stated St-Pierre's motivation would prove a key factor in his next move, as the 36-year-old had struggled to fully commit to his fight with Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, where he took a close split decision before going on hiatus.

The coach maintained St-Pierre had every intention of fighting on after dethroning Michael Bisping last month, but the nature of his condition might delay a decision on his next move for the foreseeable future.

"From what I understand, the standard medications for ulcerative colitis take some considerable amount time to take effect - anywhere from three to eight months - before you’ll even notice any changes. We have to see how he reacts to his medication regiment and make a decision based on that."

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