When it comes to the big fights, it helps to have been there before. That’s true not only in the cage, but also in the gym. As UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and challenger Jake Shields prepare to face off at UFC 129 on April 30, they have to balance their training with seemingly endless media responsibilities and the ubiquitous presence of the UFC Primetime cameras in their gyms.
It might not sound like much of a factor in fight preparation, but according to St. Pierre’s trainer, Firas Zahabi, experience in the media spotlight counts for a lot in a UFC title fight.
“I can tell you, the first time we had Primetime around it was a lot harder. It was just more stress,” Zahabi told MMA Fighting. “Now, it’s the third time we’ve had them around, and we’ve had the Countdown so many times, just various other camera crews in our gym so many times, we’re accustomed to it. Now it doesn’t bother our training camp at all.”