It’s been a busy past few days for renowned boxing trainer Freddie Roach. In addition to scuffling with Brandon Rios’ team ahead of their Pay-Per-View bout with Manny Pacquiao Saturday night, Roach may be a major player if and when UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre returns against Johny Hendricks.
According to Yahoo Sports, Roach received a text from St-Pierre stating he won’t return to fighting without him in his corner on fight night. St-Pierre began working with Roach in May 2010 in preparation of his title defense against Josh Koscheck at UFC 124, but Roach has never served as a cornerman for a UFC bout. Roach is said to have devised the striking gameplan St-Pierre used in his most recent bout with Hendricks at UFC 167, which included extensive use of the jab and a slight tweak for throwing the left hook.
“This guy [Hendricks], he doesn’t know anything, he just punches good with a big left hand,” Roach said. “Pretty much with him, if you can stay away from that and nullify that, it’s not that tough of a fight. Georges did it, and he had success with it when he did, but he didn’t do it enough in the fight.”
Schedule permitting, Roach says he’ll be in St-Pierre’s corner the next time he steps inside the Octagon.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Vitor by the book. Quoted as saying his testosterone levels were low for his last fight, Vitor Belfort says TRT had nothing to do with his destruction of Dan Henderson at UFC Fight Night 32.
Riddle out. Withdrawing from a second bout before even making his promotional debut, Matt Riddle has been released from Bellator.
Signal to noise. Luke Thomas brings us the best and worst of everything that was at UFC 167.
To the rescue. MMA media largely comes to the defense of Georges St-Pierre’s privacy.
99 problems. Although she denies it, St-Pierre’s former manager could be seeking additional payouts from her former client.
MEDIA STEW
Freddie Roach’s scuffle with Brandon Rios’ camp.
Anthony Pettis talks nightclub run-in with Nick Diaz.
Jon Jones kicks radio show producer.
Joe Rogan Experience with Eddie Bravo and Jeremy Stephens.
GSP vs. Hendricks – Who REALLY Won? (Gracie Breakdown)
Chris Senior VS Kieran Norris at FCC 8. (skip to 4:50)
Mini doc on lightweight prospect Mairbek Taisumov.
Action from MMA Bash 18:
Tuukka Repo vs. Jaakko Torvinen.
Janne Sauvola vs. Perparim Salihu. Don’t see many Paper cutters in MMA.
Joonas Tiusanen vs. Kalisto Amudeng. Skip to 9:20 for another good sub.
TWEETS
Welp…
@GeorgesStPierre may have 99 problems, but I ain’t one #learntofactcheck
— Shari Spencer (@ShariSpencer) November 19, 2013
Six months, next week, whenever.
Three day after the fight and my body is healing very well by the end of the week I will be back to training again
— Johny Hendricks (@JohnyHendricks) November 19, 2013
McGregor making more friends.
@TheNotoriousMMA I’m glad uv took time to reply.actually them shot I threw, Iv always had them shots!! It’s nt something u learn over night.
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) November 19, 2013
@TheNotoriousMMA haha so what’s a black belt once he gets punched in the face? It’s not like u invented the “slip right hand counter left”
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) November 19, 2013
Gearing up.
UFC Countdown show taking over my house. http://t.co/IISC0uMiJ0
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) November 19, 2013
Hits close to home.
Every time someone hugs me it takes great effort to resist the urge to pummel for under-hooks. #mentalproblems
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) November 20, 2013
Mmm. Shanghai. Drink it in.
Shanghai morning view from my hotel room! http://t.co/cQPRisUZeS
— Cung Le (@CungLe185) November 20, 2013
It’s the little things.
2 surgeries and over 3 months of rehab and I can almost close my hand … Yaaaay FML http://t.co/DCe6385kHx
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) November 19, 2013
Can’t keep this guy down, haters.
Ride a camel in the desert of Dubai, was amazing. I always had a connection with nature and animals!! @ejjcenter pic.twitter.com/fuXBtz3hmq
— Rousimar Palhares (@ToquinhoMMA) November 19, 2013
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Nov. 19 2013)
NA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Tim Burke.
Conor McGregor talks about returning to training, mentality of fighting, Christmas plans
UFC featherweight Conor McGregor (14-2) might be on the shelf with a knee injury, but that doesn’t mean he’s not out there making his presence known. McGregor recently received an honorary lifetime membership from the Commerce & Economics Society at the University College of Dublin in Ireland, and Fergus O’Farrell of Fight Hounds was on hand to get an interview with him.
The Irish fighter discusses how his knee injury is healing (he even offers up a demonstration), how much he wants to return to training, the mentality of fighting and how he doesn’t take anything personally, and a big Christmas trip he has lined up. McGregor should be ready to return to the octagon around the middle of 2014, depending on how the knee rehab goes. You can check out the interview video below, along with the videos of the C&E society ceremony.
Check out the rest of the post here.
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