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Georges St-Pierre on UFC return: The new GSP beats the old, ‘greatest’ GSP

1K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  kantowrestler 
#1 ·
After spending almost four years in semi-retirement, Georges St-Pierre, one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts history, will be making a return to the UFC -- and he’s in the best shape of his life.

Those were St-Pierre’s words in a recent interview with Hayabusa, one of the leading fightwear brands in MMA.

“I think for me it’s a good time to come back now because I’m 35-years-old,” St-Pierre said. “I just finished a training camp that I did to see if I can come back to the world-class level and I feel at the best shape of my life.”

GSP relinquished the welterweight title after a hard-fought decision win over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167, announcing to Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that he wanted to take some time off from the sport.

The French Canadian is the greatest 170-pound champion in the sport’s history, defending the UFC title nine times, and is still considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Speaking of his comeback, St-Pierre said fans should expect to see a new and improved GSP that is leaps and bounds ahead of the old GSP that ruled as welterweight champion.

“I feel better than I’ve ever been,” he continued. “I feel that the Georges St-Pierre now would beat the Georges St-Pierre that was the greatest of the time that I used to compete. So I can’t wait to go back in there and show people, including myself - test my self, test my skill - to see how everything goes.”

Several opponents have been suggested for GSP’s return fight, including the likes of Conor McGregor, Anderson Silva, and Nick Diaz, but oddsmakers list UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping as the most likely candidate.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/2/2...deo-georges-st-pierre-gsp-return-welterweight
 
#3 ·
A lot of fighters say they are at their best, and then lose. Bias is a thing.

That's not to say that he absolutely cannot come back and impress, I'm just saying... it has done very little to weaken my doubts on his return. the guy got demolished (well, beat up pretty good and should have lost that fight going by what a lot of people think) by Hendricks who was the "new breed" at 170, who is now barely able to pick up a win himself. A lot has changed since GSP was a title holder, and he's been out a long time.

Still interested to see him right of course, don't get me wrong.
 
#4 ·
That's not to say that he absolutely cannot come back and impress, I'm just saying... it has done very little to weaken my doubts on his return. the guy got demolished (well, beat up pretty good and should have lost that fight going by what a lot of people think) by Hendricks who was the "new breed" at 170, who is now barely able to pick up a win himself. A lot has changed since GSP was a title holder, and he's been out a long time.

Still interested to see him right of course, don't get me wrong.
Because dad-bod Hendricks who can't make weight at 170 and hasn't knocked anyone out in 3 years is the same animal who was tearing up the division when he faced GSP. Let's face facts here, Hendricks has dropped off almost as badly as BJ Penn. If the GSP that faced Hendricks comes back, he still beats everyone in the top 10 with ease except Thompson and Lawler.
 
#5 ·
Wait you just said that the GSP that faced Hendricks barely beat Hendricks so how can he beat everyone in the top 10 of the new breed of welterweights. GSP needs to be better then his old self in order to compete with the new guys. He may still be able to win a title but he needs to have improved by leaps and bounds for that to happen.
 
#6 ·
GSP beat the best version of Hendricks ever, Johny was at his best in the GSP and first Lawler fight, after that he went downhill.

Look at the UFC top 10

Woodley gets jabbed to death in a replay of his fight against Rory Mac
Thompson & Lawler would be hard fights for GSP
Maia is easy pickings, replay of the Rory Mac fight except Maia won't even get a single takedown
Condit goes the same as the first fight minus the head kick
Magny either gets jabbed to death or taken down and worked
Masvidal is a tough fight if he can keep it standing, but I don't he can
Kim gets taken down and worked
Cowboy gets taken down and worked
Gunnar gets jabbed to death

The so called evolution and "new breed" of welterweight fighters is mostly a myth. Evolution's taken place in some of the other divisions but WW has been mostly stagnant since GSP's retirement.
 
#10 ·
I think this is pretty accurate assuming GSP is at the same level as when he left. However, at 34 and having be out of the Octagon for 3 years, its hard to know his performance until he gets back into the octagon.
 
#11 ·
It's hard to tell if he has ring rust or if he's kept it off by continuing to train with Tristar. Something interesting I was a Ted Czech video about how one of the reasons GSP may have took a hiatus was because he had a son with a woman. This was actually broken by a Canadian publication but either way maybe he took time off to become a father and refocus.
 
#13 ·
I won't mind seeing how "GSP 2.0" stacks up against sea level Cain, motivated BJ Penn, Armbar Ronda & other legends of the sport.

I hope they touch on GSP and his ex-managers situation. It really surprises me how both GSP and Rampage can be utterly screwed by their ex-managers & seem helpless to do anything about it.
 
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