Tag: Firas Zahabi

Firas Zahabi Says GSP Needs a ‘Mega Fight’ to Return to UFC

Don’t expect Georges St-Pierre’s comeback to last if he isn’t offered a “mega fight.” St-Pierre returned to action last month. He challenged Michael Bisping for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title. …

Don’t expect Georges St-Pierre’s comeback to last if he isn’t offered a “mega fight.” St-Pierre returned to action last month. He challenged Michael Bisping for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight title. “Rush” earned a third-round submission win to capture the gold. Just one month later, St-Pierre vacated the title. Speaking to Robin Black of […]

Firas Zahabi Defends Georges St-Pierre From Steroid Allegations

Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s longtime coach Firas Zahabi has heard plenty of steroid allegations over the years. Thus, when UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping accused the former champion of doing that while building hype around their title fight at the upcoming UFC 217 PPV (pay-per-view) event, it didn’t bother the Tristar Gym head […]

The post Firas Zahabi Defends Georges St-Pierre From Steroid Allegations appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre’s longtime coach Firas Zahabi has heard plenty of steroid allegations over the years.

Thus, when UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping accused the former champion of doing that while building hype around their title fight at the upcoming UFC 217 PPV (pay-per-view) event, it didn’t bother the Tristar Gym head coach.

The former champion has voiced his opinion about enhanced drug testing while he was on top of the world years ago. He went on record by stating that the lack of drug test was part of his decision to take a multi-year hiatus from the sport. While he was away, the UFC stepped up with their drug testing program and has a partnership with the Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Zahabi said in a recent interview that should be all the evidence needed to prove his student’s innocence.

“(Bisping is making steroid accusations) because Georges is ripped,” Zahabi told MMAjunkie at a recent UFC 217 media day in Montreal. “About 10 to 20 percent of the population is naturally ripped. Georges just happens to be one of those people. You look at him as he was growing up, he’s just naturally ripped. He’s been tested, he’s volunteered to be tested, and he’s paid out of his own pocket to be tested and for his opponent to be tested.

“He’s never failed one single test. Just because somebody’s lean and extremely competent in fighting doesn’t mean they’re on drugs. That’s the truth.”

Despite the fact that Zahabi doesn’t agree with Bisping’s allegations against his fighter, he has respect for the current UFC middleweight champion and praised him for the difficult road he’s taken to the belt and the fact he’s had to overcome so many opponents who were breaking the rules.

“Bisping was always the best,” he said. “After USADA, we know he’s really the best. They weeded out a lot of possible influences on that category. Is it a coincidence that Bisping is the best after USADA? Is it a coincidence? That’s my question. I don’t think it is. Not just the drugs, but the weight-cut difference. It changed the category. Bisping has now risen to the top, so I really think he’s the best, the best middleweight. Until somebody beats him, he’s the best.”

Make no mistake about it, Zahabi is certain of one thing, which is that the main event of the next UFC PPV event will feature an even playing field. However, he did acknowledge that fighters are still finding a way to cheat in the sport of MMA.

“I think personally the sport is a lot cleaner,” Zahabi said. “That’s just my opinion. I don’t have any hard facts or data or anything like that. I find it’s cleaner, but I still suspect that a lot of guys are still finding ways to work around the system.”

The post Firas Zahabi Defends Georges St-Pierre From Steroid Allegations appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Firas Zahabi Gives Insight Into How Conor McGregor Can Beat Floyd Mayweather

There are not many people giving UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor a chance when he steps inside the ring to face Floyd Mayweather in a boxing super fight on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Make no mistake, this is a boxing match. McGregor will be contractually forbidden from “going rogue” and resorting to MMA […]

The post Firas Zahabi Gives Insight Into How Conor McGregor Can Beat Floyd Mayweather appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

There are not many people giving UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor a chance when he steps inside the ring to face Floyd Mayweather in a boxing super fight on Aug. 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Make no mistake, this is a boxing match.

McGregor will be contractually forbidden from “going rogue” and resorting to MMA tactics. This means that no kicks, no elbows and certainly no takedowns will be allowed. In the event that McGregor does any of those things then he will be risking a significant portion of his massive payday.

However, MMA coach Firas Zahabi, longtime trainer of former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre, believes that McGregor should use his MMA instincts. He explained why during a pre-fight analysis in a video posted to the Tristar Gym YouTube page (transcript courtesy of MMA Junkie).

“You’re not allowed to clinch, but clinching happens. … ” Zahabi said. “(McGregor) has that grinding gear that Mayweather doesn’t need to develop so much in his sport. So, if I were Conor McGregor’s coach, I would tell him to tie up Mayweather as much as possible, pull on his head, step on his toes, bump knee to knee, get physical, push him up against the rope with your forearms, tie him up as much as you can. Be physical with him.

“Mayweather is a lot smaller than Conor McGregor, and when (McGregor) comes forward, if you try to punch (Mayweather), he’s just going to slip, slide, defend, counter. Of course, you’re going to have to punch him. It’s a boxing match, absolutely. But I would spend a lot of my time dirty boxing Mayweather – grabbing the back of his head, throwing uppercuts, doing things that are borderline illegal. They’re not illegal, (but) the referee is going to have to come in a break you up. The referee is going to have to come in and save Mayweather.”

It’s pretty clear that most would think it would be pointless for McGregor to think he can outbox Mayweather due to him having no professional boxing experience. Although clinching and other MMA tactics could prove smart in making Mayweather uncomfortable

“Grab him, throw him, drop him on the floor, do borderline illegal stuff,” Zahabi said. “Get him thinking, ‘What is this? I don’t know how to grapple with this guy. I don’t know what an overlook is. I don’t know what an under hook is. I don’t know what this type of clinching is.’

“And he’s going to get tired. He will get tired from clinching. If you haven’t done a lot of clinching in your life, it’s extremely exhausting. …

“After a certain period of clinching, you build up that lactic acid. Your muscles have less pop; they’re less explosive. And all of a sudden, you’re trying to punch, but it doesn’t feel right. Do a hundred push-ups, then go hit the heavy bag. You’re going to see that your muscles aren’t feeling right.”

The post Firas Zahabi Gives Insight Into How Conor McGregor Can Beat Floyd Mayweather appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

TriStar’s Firas Zahabi Thinks McGregor Needs to go Borderline Illegal Against Mayweather

Everyone, and that means everyone, in the MMA world has an opinion on the upcoming Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing superfight. While most see things going the way of “Money,” it’s still interesting to speculate on just how UFC lightweight champ Conor McGregor might pull off the upset win. One coach in particular had […]

Everyone, and that means everyone, in the MMA world has an opinion on the upcoming Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather boxing superfight. While most see things going the way of “Money,” it’s still interesting to speculate on just how UFC lightweight champ Conor McGregor might pull off the upset win. One coach in particular had […]

GSP Coach Not Interested in Titles, Wants ‘Epic’ McGregor or Bisping Fights

If Tristar coach Firas Zahabi has his way, Georges St-Pierre (GSP) will fight UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor or middleweight title-holder, Michael Bisping Many fight fans got their wish last week when it was confirmed that George St-Pierre would be returning to the UFC’s ranks following more than three years away from MMA. The ever-popular […]

If Tristar coach Firas Zahabi has his way, Georges St-Pierre (GSP) will fight UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor or middleweight title-holder, Michael Bisping Many fight fans got their wish last week when it was confirmed that George St-Pierre would be returning to the UFC’s ranks following more than three years away from MMA. The ever-popular […]

GSP’s Coach Wants ‘Huge Fights’ With McGregor & Bisping

Although he hasn’t fought since he vacated his title in 2013 following a highly controversial split decision win over Johny Hendricks, former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre announced late last week that he had inked a new deal with the promotion and would finally be returning to the Octagon he once ruled. His return

The post GSP’s Coach Wants ‘Huge Fights’ With McGregor & Bisping appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.

Although he hasn’t fought since he vacated his title in 2013 following a highly controversial split decision win over Johny Hendricks, former longtime UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre announced late last week that he had inked a new deal with the promotion and would finally be returning to the Octagon he once ruled.

His return fight has not yet been set, but there are no shortage of opponents waiting for St. Pierre, as he still remains one of the biggest names in the sport.

He was in talks to fight middleweight champion Michael Bisping late last year, which is still an option, as is a potential superfight with lightweight champion Conor McGregor. Both of these options interest his coach, Firas Zahabi, who recently offered his opinion on the sure-to-be-hot topic:

“My ideal scenario, I don’t know if it’s still up for grabs, but I was really happy when there was a buzzing of Bisping or McGregor,” Zahabi told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I thought those two would be two epic fights. One, he would go a little lower [in weight]; one, he would go a little higher. But those are really, really intriguing fights. Of course, Tyron Woodley, he’s the [welterweight] champion and et cetera, but he has his fight with ‘Wonderboy’ [Thompson]. And if ‘Wonderboy’ wins, then they’ll have a trilogy. And of course we don’t want to fight with ‘Wonderboy,’ we go way back together.

“So I think the welterweight title is not really something he (St-Pierre) is thinking about right now because of the current landscape, but there is always the 185-pound belt. And of course, McGregor is such a mega-star that if you put those two on a main event, I don’t think that anybody in the world wouldn’t watch that. I think that even non-MMA fans would watch that. But again, I don’t do the match-ups, I don’t do the managing, I’m just talking as a trainer.”

Do either of these options interest you, or would you rather St. Pierre face a different opponent in his long-awaited comeback fight?

The post GSP’s Coach Wants ‘Huge Fights’ With McGregor & Bisping appeared first on LowKickMMA.com.