UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (20-2) doesn’t include any sort of strength and conditioning programs as part of his preparations for an upcoming fight. The French-Canadian fighter doesn’t “believe in it,” but does lift weights so his physique is more marketable to the public.
GSP recently spoke with Fighters Only Magazine and revealed that bit of news while talking about his time coaching on the upcoming twelfth season of “The Ultimate Fighter”.
Is training the nervous system for explosiveness the next big thing in mixed martial arts?
I don’t do strength and conditioning. The reason I lift weights is to make me more marketable, to make my shape more symmetric. I don’t life weights to have an effect on my performance, I don’t believe in it.
I believe sometimes you can do some exercises that help the nervous system. Like Olympic lifting, it makes you more explosive. Olympic lifters are the most explosive athletes in the world. Also gymnastics, I like gymnastics, I think it makes me more athletic.
FO: So why are people still training with strength and conditioning coaches rather than doing things your way?
I am the only one who does it that way, I don’t say that I have the right answer I don’t know, but for me it is very good and it works so far. But I have been doing this pretty recently, so we’ll see.
Shooting for “TUF” 12 began in early June and will air on Sept. 15 on Spike TV. GSP is coaching opposite Josh Koscheck, both men will tentatively meet at UFC 124 on Dec. 11 for the UFC welterweight title.