Georges St-Pierre: Chael Sonnen Has The Perfect Style to Beat Anderson Silva

There are a majority of fans expecting Anderson Silva to retain the UFC middleweight title against Chael Sonnen, but Georges St-Pierre isn’t necessarily favoring the Brazilian in the rematch.St-Pierre, who has long been rumored to move up in weight to …

There are a majority of fans expecting Anderson Silva to retain the UFC middleweight title against Chael Sonnen, but Georges St-Pierre isn’t necessarily favoring the Brazilian in the rematch.

St-Pierre, who has long been rumored to move up in weight to face “The Spider” in a highly-anticpated superfight, gave his thoughts on the upcoming bout between the Silva and Sonnen, expected to take place in Brazil this summer.

While appearing on Canadian sports show UFC Central, St-Pierre analyzed the bout and said there are opportunities for Silva to adjust his style and defeat Sonnen, but he also pointed to the fact that performing in front of the Brazilian crowd won’t guarantee him a physiological advantage.

“Sometimes, because I fought in Canada, sometimes it’s makes you worse. It’s not an advantage fighting at home,” St-Pierre said. ” I think it could be even worse for Anderson Silva because he’s fighting in Brazil.”

Silva was taken down at will from his opponent in their last bout at UFC 117 last year, where Sonnen was nearly close to winning before the champion applied a triangle choke to submit his opponent in the final round. Sonnen has been credited to having some of the best wrestling in the sport, and it just happens to be Silva’s main weakness.

St-Pierre said if Sonnen can use angles to get inside of Silva, as opposed to charging straight forward, he can get the fight to the ground and win the bout.

“I believe he’s the got the perfect style to do it,” he said.

“If he can move standing up and not get hit, and find a way to close the distance and bring the fight to the ground, I think he’s got a good chance to win.”  

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Josh Koscheck v. Johny Hendricks Set For UFC on Fox 3 in May


(Trust fall: You’re doing it wrong.)

If anything, UFC on Fox 3 is looking like it has the potential to surpass that of its first two cards in terms of excitement. Dana White announced via his Twitter last night that a battle between top welterweight contenders Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks has just been booked for the UFC’s third go-around on Fox, which is already set to feature a lightweight clash between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz, as well as a heavyweight sure to be slugfest pitting Pat Barry against Lavar Johnson. Yes, it’s looking like there is little stopping this card *cough* Jon Jones’ commentary *cough* from finally delivering a good lineup to the masses. The first Fox card had the fights, but failed to showcase enough of them, whereas the second card was simply too underwhelming to reel in any new fans, but the addition of Hendricks/Koscheck to this card will surely push it over the top.

Hendricks is coming off a 12 second knockout over former #1 contender Jon Fitch, which snapped a 5-0-1 streak Fitch had put together since dropping a unanimous decision to Georges St. Pierre back at UFC 87. Koscheck, however, is fresh off a controversial split decision victory over Mike Pierce at UFC 143. Despite being outsruck for the majority of three rounds, Koscheck was able to secure the decision by converting on two of his three takedown attempts, because that’s apparently all it takes these days.


(Trust fall: You’re doing it wrong.)

If anything, UFC on Fox 3 is looking like it has the potential to surpass that of its first two cards in terms of excitement. Dana White announced via his Twitter last night that a battle between top welterweight contenders Josh Koscheck and Johny Hendricks has just been booked for the UFC’s third go-around on Fox, which is already set to feature a lightweight clash between Jim Miller and Nate Diaz, as well as a heavyweight sure to be slugfest pitting Pat Barry against Lavar Johnson. Yes, it’s looking like there is little stopping this card *cough* Jon Jones’ commentary *cough* from finally delivering a good lineup to the masses. The first Fox card had the fights, but failed to showcase enough of them, whereas the second card was simply too underwhelming to reel in any new fans, but the addition of Hendricks/Koscheck to this card will surely push it over the top.

Hendricks is coming off a 12 second knockout over former #1 contender Jon Fitch, which snapped a 5-0-1 streak Fitch had put together since dropping a unanimous decision to Georges St. Pierre back at UFC 87. Koscheck, however, is fresh off a controversial split decision victory over Mike Pierce at UFC 143. Despite being outsruck for the majority of three rounds, Koscheck was able to secure the decision by converting on two of his three takedown attempts, because that’s apparently all it takes these days.

Depending on the outcome, this matchup poses an interesting conundrum for Joe Silva. If Hendricks wins, you have to believe he’s done enough to warrant a title shot. He may not have a big name at this point in his career, but knocking off two former title challengers in a row would be enough to earn Urijah Faber title shots in the weight classes of his choosing for the rest of his natural born life, and possibly beyond that. If Koscheck wins, on the other hand, there isn’t really much to give him in return, outside of a possible match against interim champ Carlos Condit, who he was originally scheduled to face at UFC 143, while GSP recovers. Kos has fought the current welterweight champ twice to no avail, and suffered a broken orbital bone in his last attempt at UFC 124, so you can’t imagine that many people will be clamoring for yet another unnecessary trilogy to come to fruition.

That said, who takes this one?

-J. Jones

Couture vs. Fedor, Lesnar vs. Mir and 5 Dream Fights I’d Still Love to See

For the past several days I’ve made it a mission of mine to bring a little positivity and excitement to an MMA landscape that seems to have a lot of negativity hovering around it lately.No matter what, I still think it’s an amazing time to …

For the past several days I’ve made it a mission of mine to bring a little positivity and excitement to an MMA landscape that seems to have a lot of negativity hovering around it lately.

No matter what, I still think it’s an amazing time to be an MMA fan. I love this sport very much, and I think that’s incredibly important to remember while we’re in the midst of another spat of fan flame wars.

So here’s my latest effort to sit back, relax and have some fun: these are the five “dream matches” I’d still love to see.

Begin Slideshow

Georges St-Pierre Claims He’s Better Than Nick Diaz

Though the opportunity to find out who is the more consummate combatant has gone awry due to Nick Diaz testing positive to marijuana, welterweight king Georges St-Pierre still believes that he’s the better fighter of the two. “As far as Dia…

Though the opportunity to find out who is the more consummate combatant has gone awry due to Nick Diaz testing positive to marijuana, welterweight king Georges St-Pierre still believes that he’s the better fighter of the two.

“As far as Diaz, of course I would like to fight him because he thinks he’s better than me,” St. Pierre told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “It’s Time” show with Bruce Buffer. “I think I’m better than him.”

Following his unanimous decision loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 143, a disgruntled Diaz decided to call time on his career, a decision that hasn’t sat too well with St-Pierre apropos what the Stocktonian could earn in future bouts, as well as the sacrifices that he has made en route to where he’s at now.

[…] “But I think he should not retire. He did all of the sacrifice in his life to be where he’s at right now. He’s at the highest point of his career, and if he retires now, he’s left a lot of money on the table that could pay for all of the sacrifices he has made during all those years. I think the sport of mixed martial arts needs a guy like him.”

Despite the fact that he would love to throw down with Diaz, St-Pierre is now focusing on the task at hand, which is an eventual title defense against the new interim 170-pound champion Condit.

“Of course because of the emotion, I wanted to fight Diaz, but now I want to fight Condit,” St. Pierre said. “I want to fight the best man, and the best man is Condit.”

“I wanted to fight him because of what he was, not because of what he said,” St. Pierre explained. “He was ranked No. 1 before that fight. … As much as we dislike each other, I like the guy in a way that I need a guy like him to motivate me and to make me a better martial artist.”

St-Pierre did say that a matchup with the Cesar Gracie fighter was not out of the question, as he believes Diaz would bring out the best in him if they were ever to lock horns. However, that is dependent on whether Diaz does a U-turn on his retirement plans.

 

For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Nick Diaz Tests Positive: What’s Next for Georges St. Pierre?

Nick Diaz’s drug test results have affected the welterweight division tremendously.The news might have not surprised most fans but it has left the Nevada State Athletic Commission and UFC management in an awkward position, including UFC President Dana …

Nick Diaz’s drug test results have affected the welterweight division tremendously.

The news might have not surprised most fans but it has left the Nevada State Athletic Commission and UFC management in an awkward position, including UFC President Dana White, who at this time is likely unsure on how to handle the remainder of Diaz’s tenure in the UFC.

Diaz is one of the most polarizing figures in the UFC, and while this likely is detrimental to his career, no other person is impacted more by this incident than UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.

The champion intended on facing Diaz before a serious knee injury forced him out of the main event at UFC 143, allowing Carlos Condit to step in. The winner would be expected to meet St. Pierre later that year but it wasn’t the exact opponent that the Saint Isadore, Quebec native was expecting, as Condit defeated Diaz via unanimous decision in a five round interim title bout.

While Condit will surely provide a challenge to the champion, ultimately it was a long-awaited bout with Diaz that motivated St. Pierre to put on a inspiring performance and attempt to beat one of the biggest adversaries in his career.

There a few challenges left for St. Pierre at 170 pounds and a title bout against Diaz would have been the one opponent to potentially test him.

But now it feels more like a distant memory and the chances of ever witnessing a matchup between them is highly doubtful. 

St. Pierre will still continue to dominate the welterweight division and life will go on as he comfortably sits atop his weight class for the foreseeable future. However, fans will always ponder on Diaz’s missed opportunity and debate on a bout that would of solidified both fighters’ legacies as two of the greatest of all-time.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Nick Diaz: "Beyond Disappointed:" Dana White Is Responsible!

As a long time admirer of Nick Diaz, I am not surprised at his positive drug test.Dana White, however, is “beyond disappointed” at the positive results.Yes, Mr White, I do believe that you are most definitely beyond disappointed. I believe that you, Si…

As a long time admirer of Nick Diaz, I am not surprised at his positive drug test.

Dana White, however, is “beyond disappointed” at the positive results.

Yes, Mr White, I do believe that you are most definitely beyond disappointed. I believe that you, Sir, are responsible for the failed drug test.

Oh, no, Mr White! I am sure that you did not supply Nick with the weed. nor do I think you asked Joe Rogan to share his personal supply with Nick. I do, however, believe you drove him right to his usage of the mind numbing affect of marijuana to counteract all the nervousness his participation in you required dog and pony show produced in him.

Seeing you behind the podium stating that you know who Nick Diaz is and would not ever try to change him was just another one of many false statements you have made in public.

After chastising Nick for failing to honor his contract and absenting himself from the press conferences with Georges St-Pierre, you fired him.

Fortunately for you, Mr White, Nick forgave you and fought BJ Penn, a friend of his, on the main card when Georges St-Pierre was unable to meet his obligations due to an untimely injury.

Presumably, the numbers from that event were high enough that you decided to throw Nick a bone and allow him to fight with Georges, but fate stepped in and Georges stepped out with a torn ACL. But wait, what an opportunity to make even bigger bucks on an interim WW challenge using Nick Diaz to fight the other contender, Carlos Condit, in another main event.

Of course, knowing Nick Diaz as well as you have professed to, you realized that Press Conferences are an anathema to him and avoided at all costs. So your next move. . . requiring Nick to be present at numerous interviews and pre-fight events, which would drive most people to a state of nervous breakdown.

Nick complied. He even was polite enough to let the public into his psyche and the reason he so hates the media.

How ludicrous it was then, as an observer like me, to witness the press asking inane questions such as: “Why did you say that you have to hate the fight. . .” among other equally offensive questions?

What could Nick say? He had answered a primary question and now was being asked to explain it. Well, duh! Why does anyone say anything to the press when it is going to be repeatedly asked and picked relentlessly apart by countless interviewers.

Big clue to the media: Nick said what he meant! Period! Get off his back!

Well, Dana continued to trot Nick out, force him to be in close proximity to the foe he would soon fight, and even acknowledged that when Nick said the press conferences and media interaction takes away from a fighter’s endurance.

With Nick’s endurance worn thin, surprise, surprise—he turned to the medicinal use of a drug he has a prescription for…in California.

From Joe Rogan’s typical over the edge performance, he appeared to have partaken as well. Another drug issue that has annoyed the UFC president.

So Dana may say he is beyond disappointed, but I ask, is Dana beyond responsible for Nick turning to the drug?

I think he is.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com