From MMA Junkie
LOS ANGELES – Georges St-Pierre is grappling with UFC fans’ expectations.
St-Pierre, one of MMA’s most popular stars and a six-time UFC welterweight champion, said he’s frustrated with the reaction to his most recent victory over Dan Hardy at UFC 111.
But the champion is more than willing to meet head-on the critics who say he plays it safe.
“That’s true,” St-Pierre (20-2 MMA, 15-2 UFC) told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on Monday evening as he honed his mat moves with jiu-jitsu coach Shawn Williams at a Renzo Gracie Academy school in the Mid-Wilshire district. “I fight safe, and I’m not going to hide it.”
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“I’m fighting safe,” St-Pierre admitted. “Every time I step into the octagon, my life is in jeopardy. For me, it’s more important to not get hit than to hit the guy. I will never fight in a way [in which] I fight like I flip a coin.
“I never took risks. The only fight I took a risk was when I fought Matt Serra, and I went in a stupid exchange, and it was not smart. I got caught; Serra beat me fair and square, and he deserved the victory that night. But it taught me a good lesson, and I don’t want it to happen again.”
St-Pierre said playing it safe also applies to his stand-up skills in a fight.
“When I’m standing up, I hit the guy, (and) I pick my angle, and I’m smart,” he said. “I’m not afraid to say it: I’m not a brawler, and I’m not a coward. I’m not going to trade punch one-for-one with a guy. I’m going to hit the guy and not get hit. That’s a smart way to fight.”
The champion said he’s seen many examples of fighters who don’t fight smart and have paid the price.
“I’m not going to give names, but if I would tell you names, you would know who’s a brawler (and) who’s not and who now has a problem with his career because he got hit too much,” St-Pierre said. “They can’t take a punch anymore.”
Next up for St-Pierre is a fifth title defense against Josh Koscheck, whom he defeated nearly three years ago by unanimous decision. The two will soon head to Las Vegas to coach opposing teams on “The Ultimate Fighter 12.”
St-Pierre said he wants to knock the fuzzy-haired fighter “out cold,” but he won’t do so at the expense of his smarts.
“I don’t fight like an idiot,” St-Pierre said. “That’s what defines me. I’m (not the) champion because I’m the strongest guy in the division. It’s not because I’m the fastest guy. I’m not the best grappler. I’m not the best striker. I’m not the best wrestler. But why I’m champion is because I fight smart every single fight.
“It’s like F-1; you need a good driver and a good car. If you have a very good driver but a bad driver, you’re not going to win the race. If you have a very good driver and a bad car, you’re not going to win, either. So I have a good car and a good driver, which is even more important.”
I am conflicted with this news, granted its not really surprising for anyone who has seen the last couple of title defenses from the UFC’s welterweight champ. While taking the surest path to victory is the smart thing to do for a prize fighter in regards to making money. It may also lead to fans turning on you.
GSP is stylistically and methodologically similar in many ways to undefeated boxing champ and future hall of famer Floyd Mayweather. Both fighters highly skilled, obsessive in their training and technique wise execute textbook maneuvers time and time again. The similarities do not end their as both fighters also put a high premium on taking as little damage as possible. While Mayweather is regarded as the biggest villain in boxing due to his brash and cocksure bravado, GSP maintains a respectful demeanor so rigid that he is usually unable to engage in pre fight hype and trash talk.
My inner fight fan and wannabe fight analyst are in conflict over this news. Then again this must be daunting to the contenders who want the belt knowing that they are facing a champ who has no problem neutralizing you for 25 minutes so he can keep his belt. He may be on the top of the world now, but time will tell if his tactics will be looked back on as the praise worthy displays of skill they are seen as now.
Thanks to mmaweekly.com for the pic.
