"I don't believe there is pleasure in life. I believe there is only a relief of pain, that we have to suffer to be on top. I don't have pleasure training. I train in the fear that my opponent trained harder than I. But this is good, thats what keeps me sharp."
~UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre
"When you walk into the ring its really one of the most honest moments you can be with yourself. Its almost like a sense of calm and then something just switches. Just like you crossed that barrier and your not the same human being anymore."
~UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn
I can't hype this fight any more than it already has been, but if you haven seen the UFC Primetime specials, do check them out below the jump. Not much else can be said that hasn't already been said about Georges St-Pierre vs. BJ Penn. All I can do is make a prediction now.
I've gone back and forth. As the challenger and the man who lost the previous fight, BJ Penn comes in with the fire of revenge and the need to finally validate his greatness. At times it has been unquestionable, but at other times it has. But St-Pierre is no normal champion content to hang onto his title. He is driven to be the greatest ever, never content with his skills. While Penn has relied on his natural skill that is perhaps the greatest ever seen in MMA, GSP his built his skills brick by brick.
So where does that leave us? As I write this I remain undecided to an extent. But the entire thought process has been trying to find ways Penn will overcome St-Pierre. That tells me something right there. I think in every aspect of the game, St-Pierre is better right now. Penn's recent tear has been at 155 lbs, and his cardio problems all came when he was at 170. St-Pierre is a huge welterweight, he has to drop to get to 170 and probably hits the ring at 185 come fight time. He's stronger, faster, more creative with his strikes, and smothering with his wrestling and ground n' pound. St-Pierre has been haunted by his shocking upset loss to Matt Serra in 2007. When you've lost like that, you never want to lose again. Since then, he outwrestled former four-time NCAA wrestling champion Josh Koscheck, submitted Matt Hughes, and then absolutely destroyed Serra in the rematch to win back his title. Then in his first defense, he took tough-as-nails Jon Fitch five rounds, destroying him round after round leaving Fitch a bloody mess.
Make no mistake, this is a true toss-up. By my pick is that GEORGES ST-PIERRE will withstand Penn's onslaught and then wear him out for five rounds. He'll either end it late or take a unanimous decision. But I've got to be honest, I will be rooting for BJ Penn.
Other fights?
Light Heavyweight: LYOTO MACHIDA will defeat Thiago Silva
Light Heavyweight: STEPHEN BONNAR over Jon Jones
Welterweight: DONG HYUN KIM over Karo Parysian
Lightweight: CLAY GUIDA over Nate Diaz
Welterweight: JON FITCH over Akihiro Gono
Lightweight: MANNY GAMBURYAN over Thiago Tavares
Welterweight: CHRIS WILSON over John Howard
Light Heavyweight: JAKE O'BRIEN over Christian Wellicsh
Welterweight: DAN CRAMER over Matt Arroyo
EPISODE ONE
EPISOE TWO
EPISODE THREE
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