The UFC welterweight champ visits Toronto and talks Nick Diaz, Anderson Silva, Rory MacDonald and mo
UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre paid a visit to the Rogers Sportsnet studios to begin promoting his upcoming UFC 137 main event title fight vs. former Strikeforce welterweight title-holder Nick Diaz.
A variety of topics were discussed, including how the two 170-pounders match up, if he will ever fight Anderson Silva and who many in the MMA industry consider the future of the welterweight division, St-Pierre's teammate Rory (Ares) MacDonald.
The eye
During his last bout at UFC 129 vs. Jake Shields, GSP suffered an eye injury. So the first question was if the injury/condition healed, and was he back at 100 per cent.
"Yes, 100 per cent. It was a microhyphema. I started seeing blurry in the fight, but between the rounds I went back to my corner and began rubbing my eye, something that I should not have done, as I pushed the blood all over. I almost felt completely blind; I could only see shadows on one side, my lead eye. It was a very tough situation, but after a couple of days, it was perfectly fine."
The fight that was never supposed to happen
There was a period of time when St-Pierre and Diaz were destined to never fight one another, as the two champions competed under different promotional banners. That is, until, Forza, a subsidiary of Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC, purchased Strikeforce in March of this year.
When the news was announced, many believed this bout would finally take place. So was the long awaited matchup with Nick Diaz the first thing Georges thought of when he heard the news?
"Yes, it was actually one of the first things that came to my mind, but it really came into my mind with the way he beat Paul Daley. This fight could have gone either way. Paul Daley rocked him a couple of times, and not long ago, Daley was one of the top guys in the UFC. With that victory, a spectacular one, he has earned his title shot. Nick Diaz solidified his title shot with that victory.”
Thoughts on Diaz and the American's reputation
As the fight gets closer, many will focus on the "Good Guy vs. Bad Guy" theme, a portrayal that GSP believes isn't necessarily the case, even though he has yet to meet the Stockton, Calif., native.
"I've never met him one on one, but I'm sure if we met, it would be alright. I don't want to be friends with him. I'm going to fight him. I don't owe him anything and he does not owe me anything. We are going to fight each other and that's the bottom line. I don't think Nick Diaz is a bad boy or bad guy. I think he is a good person. I believe he just wanted a title shot and he got it, so we'll see how he does when he steps into the Octagon."
Trash talking and being "called out"
Long before this fight was signed, Diaz was vigilant in his campaign to meet the best, the top of the food chain, often calling out St-Pierre by name. There were those who thought the Canadian was afraid and running from the American, who hinted that he wasn't trash-talking, but rather, insisting on proving his worth amongst the best at 170 pounds.
"In terms of trash talking, he's pretty good. He knows what he's doing out there, but we are not in the trash-talking business. We are in the fighting business, so I don't mind what he says. I really don't pay attention to it. I'm not running and I'm not hiding from anyone. I'm nice, I'm respectful, but I'm definitely not afraid. People often mistake my kindness for weakness, and it's not like that. At the time, Nick Diaz was not the best. The UFC now believes he is, so I gladly accept the challenge."
But all the call-outs eventually got under his skin. In fact, Georges was paying attention to Diaz from Day 1.
"He did it a long time ago. He said I avoided him, that I didn't want to fight him, but the truth is I'm fighting for the UFC. I'm not going to break my contract with the UFC to somewhere else and fight. He wasn't with the UFC, but he did work very hard to get to this spot. He had a lot of great fights to earn this title shot and I'm finally glad to fight him.
“I'm a man too. I have an ego as well. Yeah, I don't like to hear that kind of stuff, but it did make me laugh. He thinks he's going to really piss me off, all because he wants a title shot, the exposure and all the money and stuff. I understand that. The way he did that was obvious, and it worked for him. I don't really think that Nick Diaz truly believes that I was running and hiding from him."
The Gracie connection
The two athletes share a common lineage in the MMA industry. Like many students around the world, there is a direct path to the legendary Gracie family. Diaz, a staunch representative of the Caesar Gracie clan on the West Coast, while St-Pierre hangs his hat on the East Coast, with UFC veteran Renzo Gracie, often traveling across the planet to train with Roger Gracie. While most camps would join their fighters in a classic case of bravado vs. bravado, St-Pierre believes this is not the case with the MMA's Royal Family.
"I don't know if the Gracies have talked about it. I don't think there is any animosity amongst them that we are fighting each other. This is a family that is united. The fact that I just fought Jake Shields, and Shields is a student of Caesar Gracie and I'm a student under Renzo Gracie, Diaz under Caesar, I'm at Renzo's, it just proves one thing. There is nothing negative about this, and it proves one thing: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu works. We are all students of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and if people want to see a negative thing about this, they should not.
“There is no conflict at all. It proves that Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, in the modern day, works just like it did when it first came to North America. Today, there are two guys fighting for world titles representing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. This is a positive, not a negative."
The Gymanist vs. The Triathlete
Both Diaz and St-Pierre have long looked outside the MMA box to enhance their training. For the former, it comes by way of competing in triathlons. For the latter, it's the unconventional physics and skills that come from the sport of gymnastics and Olympic lifting. Either way, both of them will show up stronger, fitter and with exceptional cardio. Or is there more at play here?
"It has nothing to do with cardio. Fighting is another form of energy. It all depends on who dictates the pace. I think he's in better shape than most of his opponents, (be)cause he fights his fight, he doesn't fight his opponent's fight. He's very clever like that.
“But in the UFC, the majority of fighters have great cardio, they are in the best shape possible and have their VO2 max at great levels, but it always comes down to who fights their fight.
“It's not martial arts related. I think Nick Diaz is smart. He chose an Olympic sport to enhance his conditioning. If you look at strength and conditioning closely, it's a mixture of gymnastics and that which makes up a triathlon. It all comes from Olympic sports. I truly enjoy this type of training. I love gymnastics and Olympic lifting. It's very important to me and my career."
If the challenge was placed before him, one he would likely gladly accept, the question would be simple: would St-Pierre be a better triathlete than Diaz would be a gymnast?
"(Laughs) That's a good question. I run and swim, but am more of a sprinter, not a long distance runner, although I did do cross country running when I was younger. I'm a good athlete and so is Nick Diaz, but I do not know him well enough to answer that question, but I do know that we will find out who the better fighter is on October 29th."
AUDIO: GSP talks to Paul Jones on Sportsnet Radio The FAN 590
The challenge
Over the years, St-Pierre has often stated that each opponent is a different puzzle that he must figure out, and Diaz is no exception, especially considering he comes with added gold around his waist.
"He has a very interesting set of skills. This fight, the way I see it, is the one that everyone wants to see: champion vs. champion. Stylistically it's a great fight. It will have a lot of people guessing, so it will be fun for me, and especially for the fans. I fight for the fans and am very excited to fight Nick Diaz."
On Diaz's striking
"He doesn't throw bombs, but punches a lot. He stays at the right distance. He throws a lot of body punches and head punches. He wears people down and is very good at what he does."
Will wrestling be the difference?
When the two square off on October 29th at the Mandalay Bay, MMA analysts will point to the key attribute in the matchup being wrestling, with GSP widely considered the best "MMA Wrestler" in the sport today. But according to the champ, it's much more than just taking your opponent down and controlling him.
"There are a lot of things that are going to make the difference. It's going to be everywhere. I'm gonna fight my fight. I'm gonna decide where the fight is going to take place, so there will be a lot of everything. I'm going to surprise a lot of people and I've got a huge amount of weapons that I can use to win this fight, and I plan on using them all."
And there are those who firmly believe that should GSP take Diaz down to the ground, it will be just a matter of time before Nick's submission skills make quick work of the Canadian.
"I don't think so. I don't think Nick Diaz will knock me out or submit me. I think I have more chances of knocking him out or submitting him."
Not finishing fights
St-Pierre has been enduring an ocean-filled cup of criticism, surrounding his inability to finish fights, and he's taken some of it to heart, even though sometimes it's just out of his control.
"I try very hard to finish, but it depends on the style matchup, what happens during the fight. Look at the Koscheck fight. That one should have been stopped. He unfortunately has issues now, and hasn't been able to compete for a long time. His orbital bone was broken in two different places and his well-being was in danger, so it should have been stopped. It is what it is, but like I said, I want to finish this next fight in good fashion."
With that being said, what is the perfect fight for GSP on October 29th?
"A knockout or submission. I've been under a lot of criticism for not finishing fights and going to the decision. I want to end this and I want to end this fight in good fashion."
The superfight
No modern-day interview with Georges St-Pierre would be complete if the name Anderson Silva was not brought up. Based on The Spider's most recent performance at UFC 134 vs. Yushin Okami, St-Pierre is now convinced that the Brazilian has no equal.
"It was a great performance by Anderson Silva. He showed why he is the best at what he does. I would agree now. Regarding what he has done, and how he has done it, I think it's fair to say that he is the best right now."
Will this superfight vs. Silva ever take place?
"Depends on the outcome of each division -- what he does, what I do. There was a time when people were saying that Rick Story was next for me. The results always determine the next fights, as well as what the fans what to see. But remember, for me to go up in weight class, I need to consider a lot of things. If I go up, I cannot go back down -- we saw what happened when guys do that, like Roy Jones Jr. I cannot play with my weight like this. If I do it, I have to do it at the right time."
Should the fight be contested at 185 pounds, 170 pounds or in the middle, at a catchweight of 178 pounds?
"Anderson used to fight at 168 pounds, just a few years ago in Japan. I don't what he truly walks around at. I've heard at times, 230 pounds, he's a very big guy. I walk around at 188, 190 pounds. To put on weight, or for me to lose weight, is very hard. I'm an ectomorph, that's the body type and physique that I have. I have a hard time losing and gaining weight."
So can he do it? And what needs to happen for it to get done?
"I could do it, but it depends on the matter of time that I can do it in. It will definitely take time, but is the UFC willing to give me the time to do so. Same for the fans. I will not be able to find during that time and I guess the same for Anderson, (be)cause what if he loses? No one is invincible; then this fight would be thrown out the window. But for me, it's all about Nick Diaz. I can’t afford to look past him right now."
The legacy and the others
We've all heard about the value Georges has placed on his legacy. He wants to be known and remembered as the best, so is a bout with Silva mandatory to cement his place in the MMA history books? And are there any others that must be considered, be it yesterday or today?
"Probably. But when you talk about the greatest of all time, what about Fedor (Emelianenko). He was once considered the best, the greatest of all time, but now things have changed. People talk about these pound for pound lists all the time, but I'm going to tell you something right now. One guy that not many people talk about, and someone I believe is one of the best pound-for-pound in the sport today is Frankie Edgar, and I'm going to explain it to you.
“Frankie Edgar can fight at 145 pounds if he wanted to, and he's the champion at 155 pounds. Do you know what the size difference is between him and Gray Maynard? It's a HUGE size difference. So I do believe that Frankie Edgar, when you talk about pound for pound, must be considered. Right now, Anderson Silva is No. 1, but Frankie Edgar is not very far. And I've been training with Frankie Edgar, and he is unbelievable. Jon Jones is another one. He wins in a very fashionable way. He's very exciting to watch. He's hot right now. He's one of the best pound for pound as well."
Ares - The Greek God of War
Or perhaps the modern-day version comes from Canada, in the form of Georges’ teammate Rory (Ares) MacDonald. Many consider the young phenom the future at 170 pounds, often referring to him as "the next GSP." Does Georges agree?
"Yes. I believe he's better than I was, when I was at the same point time of my career. I think he's going to be better than me."
Perhaps it will be MacDonald that will be the final push that GSP will use to move up to 185 pounds. As the youngster continues his rise up the rankings, there may be a time where he gets too close for comfort with the current-day No. 1. If that happens, then one of the two will likely move up, and the smart money would point to the elder Canadian.
In the meantime, St-Pierre will focus on his next title defence vs. Nick Diaz, a fight that is less than seven weeks away. Mark my words, it will be here before we even know it.
Here's hoping I can see you all at the Mandalay Bay, for UFC 137: St-Pierre vs Diaz.
