From Tarec Saffiedine to Carlos Condit, the UFC’s stacked welterweight division is brimming with top contenders eying for a shot at champ Georges St-Pierre’s belt.Leading the charge is current No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks, who is set to face St-Pier…
From TarecSaffiedine to Carlos Condit, the UFC’s stacked welterweight division is brimming with top contenders eying for a shot at champ Georges St-Pierre’s belt.
Leading the charge is current No. 1 contender Johny Hendricks, who is set to face St-Pierre later this year in Las Vegas at UFC 167.
While the division is filled with former world title holders and rising prospects, it’s highly unlikely that all of them will eventually get a crack at that coveted UFC gold.
Here’s who I think will be the contenders and the pretenders from the UFC’s top 10 welterweights.
Having the backing of a home crowd in four straight fights could make even the best fighter become complacent.Fortunately for Georges St-Pierre, he’s more advanced psychologically than most great fighters.GSP enjoyed great support from his fellow Canad…
Having the backing of a home crowd in four straight fights could make even the best fighter become complacent.
Fortunately for Georges St-Pierre, he’s more advanced psychologically than most great fighters.
GSP enjoyed great support from his fellow Canadians in his last four fights, three of which took place in his home province of Quebec.
While he perhaps drew some extra energy from his home crowd’s support in his last four wins, the benefits of fighting in Canada certainly didn’t make a difference for St-Pierre. Like he always has, GSP won his last four bouts because he prepared more properly than his opponents.
In his next bout in November, St-Pierre’s slated to scrap in Las Vegas, a bout that will mark his first in the United States since besting Dan Hardy at UFC 111 in Newark.
Fans can expect the same cerebral St-Pierre when the 32-year-old Canadian squares off with heavy-handed, two-time former NCAA D-I national champion wrestler Johny Hendricks at UFC 167.
Undoubtedly the most businesslike fighter in the game, St-Pierre has amazingly hit another groove in the twilight of his career, less than two years after a major ACL surgery.
The Tristar Gym product has looked virtually untouchable since August 2007. Just a few months before, GSP experienced a life-altering setback when he got upset by Matt Serra at UFC 69.
St-Pierre was shocked and embarrassed by losing to a perceived inferior fighter in “The Terror,” but it was a loss that forced GSP do some worthwhile soul searching.
Shortly after UFC 69, St-Pierre hooked up with former training partner FirasZahabi, wisely naming the brilliant fight-mind his head trainer before his next bout with Josh Koscheck at UFC 74.
Zahabi has not only influenced St-Pierre to optimize his intellect in the Octagon, but he’s also helped the Canadian enhance his strength and speed to become the sport’s most dynamic and explosive athlete.
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former Canadian Muay Thai champ, Zahabi has guided St-Pierre’s development as the sport’s most cerebral schemer, teaching the Renzo Gracie pupil to develop a style based on control and precise execution.
Instead of fretting over where the fight will take place, St-Pierre and Zahabi will spend most of their training camp preparing to defend Hendricks’ wrestling prowess, venomous left hand and any other threats the dangerous 29-year-old poses.
St-Pierre could lock horns with “Bigg Rigg” in Canada or in Hendricks’ home state of Oklahoma. Regardless of where the fight takes place, fans will see the same meticulous game plan from GSP.
After all, of the 18 wins St-Pierre has secured in the Octagon, he’s only gotten to celebrate five in Canada.
(“Someday,” Johny thought. “Someday *I’ll* be the one with all the beverages.” / Photo via Sherdog)
As confirmed in a report from Ariel Helwani on yesterday’s installment of UFC Tonight, welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre will make his long-awaited title defense against Johny Hendricks on November 16th in Las Vegas (venue TBA). The event, which is currently slated as UFC 167, will also serve as the UFC’s 20th anniversary show. The UFC had previously hoped to hold its 20th anniversary event at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, but with MMA regulation in NY shot down for another year, UFC president Dana White has respectfully moved on.
St. Pierre is on an 11-fight win streak including eight belt-defenses, and has become known (and often criticized) for his steady, methodical domination of opponents; GSP’s last six fights have gone to five-round decisions. Meanwhile, Hendricks’s six-fight win streak includes Knockout of the Night-winning beatdowns of Martin Kampmann and Jon Fitch, and he most recently outpointed Carlos Condit at UFC 158 in March. Hendricks has enough wrestling skills to avoid being ragdolled by St. Pierre for 25 minutes, and enough power in his left hand to end the fight at any moment. Basically, if Hendricks can’t beat Georges St. Pierre, no 170-pounder on Earth can.
At this point, there are no other matches tied to UFC 167, but we’re expecting big things from the UFC’s 20th anniversary show. Another title fight? A Hall of Fame induction? Teila Tuli and Gerard Gordeau as guest commentators? Dare to dream in the comments section.
(“Someday,” Johny thought. “Someday *I’ll* be the one with all the beverages.” / Photo via Sherdog)
As confirmed in a report from Ariel Helwani on yesterday’s installment of UFC Tonight, welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre will make his long-awaited title defense against Johny Hendricks on November 16th in Las Vegas (venue TBA). The event, which is currently slated as UFC 167, will also serve as the UFC’s 20th anniversary show. The UFC had previously hoped to hold its 20th anniversary event at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, but with MMA regulation in NY shot down for another year, UFC president Dana White has respectfully moved on.
St. Pierre is on an 11-fight win streak including eight belt-defenses, and has become known (and often criticized) for his steady, methodical domination of opponents; GSP’s last six fights have gone to five-round decisions. Meanwhile, Hendricks’s six-fight win streak includes Knockout of the Night-winning beatdowns of Martin Kampmann and Jon Fitch, and he most recently outpointed Carlos Condit at UFC 158 in March. Hendricks has enough wrestling skills to avoid being ragdolled by St. Pierre for 25 minutes, and enough power in his left hand to end the fight at any moment. Basically, if Hendricks can’t beat Georges St. Pierre, no 170-pounder on Earth can.
At this point, there are no other matches tied to UFC 167, but we’re expecting big things from the UFC’s 20th anniversary show. Another title fight? A Hall of Fame induction? Teila Tuli and Gerard Gordeau as guest commentators? Dare to dream in the comments section.
Having the backing of a home crowd in four straight fights could make even the best fighter become complacent.