UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre argues if he eventually faces Nick Diaz later this year, it won't be the interim welterweight champion who is the underdog. And that's just fine by him.
Feb 4, 2012 - The underdog status is an unfamiliar place for UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, but he doesn't appear to be objecting to it. GSP recently told CSN Washington he believes if Diaz defeats Carlos Condit tonight at UFC 143 and he and the Stockton-native square off, the interim champion will be the favorite.
"Absolutely, I will be the underdog," said St. Pierre on The Fight Fix. "Everybody will be thinking I'm going to lose this fight. That's perfect. That's what I want. It's perfect motivation for me."
St. Pierre has been relegated in recent fights to telling audiences each new opponent he faces is miraculously the most dangerous test of his career. That's typically fight promotion speak. But facing a ready Nick Diaz after an extended layoff from ACL surgery in the prime of his career, St. Pierre may well be right that Diaz will be regarded as the one to beat by oddsmakers as much as fans.
As for the ammunition Diaz's less than glowing words about St. Pierre provide, the champion didn't suggest he was taking them too much to heart. "I don't think Diaz is a bad human being," St. Pierre noted. "I just believe maybe he has problems with social skills. It's not personal. He did say personal bad stuff about me, but I just hope we're going to be able to fight each other. It's gonna be good."
The welterweight champion also responded to UFC welterweight contender Josh Koscheck's hope that GSP never returns to MMA. "It doesn't go well for Koscheck because my knee is doing better every week," responded St. Pierre with a smile. "I will come back soon."
The champion believes he could be back in the Octagon on an accelerated timeline. He's rehabilitating his damaged knee aggressively and without much distraction. So little distraction, in fact, he is completely unaware of tomorrow's Super Bowl, who is playing and what the hoopla is all about.
"I don't know anything about football. I don't even know who is in the final," St. Pierre noted. "I hear so much about football and I've been rehabbing with a lot of football players and football fans. So, I'll make sure the Super Bowl is on - because I'm in Vegas and I have to drive back to Los Angeles to continue my rehab - I'll make sure I be on the road listening to some beautiful music while the game is on so I cannot hear about it."
Despite being a professional athlete, St. Pierre confesses he's "not a sports fan at all, either hockey or whatever. I don't watch sports too much."
"I'm more a nerd."
25 comments
Comments
I can’t imagine Georges actually being considered an underdog against either Condit or Diaz.
"Vikings fucked Vikings for generation after generation and their warrior bloodlines were passed on, and this motherfucker living in the woods in Minnesota got the best of the best."
by Chronic on Feb 4, 2012 12:07 PM EST reply actions
Maybe not
But if Diaz has an amazing performance tonight, I bet the lines could be close.
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by Luke Thomas on Feb 4, 2012 12:13 PM EST up reply actions
I'd throw serious bank on him if he was.
I don’t see what, except from knee concern, what keep him from taking these guys down over and over.
And injury concern is not enough to persuade me that he has a <50% chance.
by Magaca on Feb 4, 2012 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
An underdog due to serious injury and lengthy layoff
I believe GSP will be the underdog in his next fight, due to his injury, and extensive layoff.
by WorldlyPatriot on Feb 4, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions
WhoSP?
by BJpuriti on Feb 4, 2012 1:50 PM EST reply actions
GSP...
… the undeniable, and REAL, welterweight champ.
You should watch some fights sometime. He’s one of the best in the game. Look him up!
by Spoiler on Feb 4, 2012 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
No way in hell GSP is the underdog.
Do people seriously think GSP will be the underdog? He could have a 5 year layoff and would still be the favourite.
by RyanG- on Feb 4, 2012 2:54 PM EST reply actions
It's possible!
Yes, he could be the ’dog!
GSP is a phenomenal athlete, and incredibly shilled. But, in this sport, long layoffs are nearly-always detrimental, and when combined with a knee injury of the type that has ended careers of other amazing athletes, he won’t be quite the same fighter.
I’m a huge fan of GSP, and I hope he fights Diaz, and gives him the in-ring beating Diaz, himself, says he needs to bring himself down to reality.
by WorldlyPatriot on Feb 4, 2012 6:53 PM EST up reply actions
GSP would be the favorite...I think
The problem for Diaz is that GSP is one of the very best wrestlers in MMA. And Nick isn’t known for his wresting. In fact, he hasn’t fought a high level wrestler in years.
I think Diaz has a good chance of beating GSP. I really do. But GSP’s style is a bad matchup for Nick. That doesn’t mean Nick can’t win, but I think GSP would dictate where the fight takes place and that is a huge advantage.
There’s only one way to find out who’s the best and its not discussing the issue on a forum. So lets hope Diaz wins and we can finally see GSP vs Diaz.
by TomFop on Feb 4, 2012 3:05 PM EST reply actions
Close . . .
But the Cahmp is almost ALWAYS the favourite. Diaz better enjoy his “title” while he has the chance, assuming he actually wins. GSP would have a tougher time with Condit, imo. Diaz will NOT beat GSP.
by Hulka's Big Toe on Feb 4, 2012 3:52 PM EST reply actions
You can't say that though
GSP has never fought someone like Nick before, not skill-wise either, heart-wise. GSP fans are kidding themselves if they think GSP is gonna lay on top of Nick and coast to a u.d.
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by BlueJay_ on Feb 4, 2012 5:57 PM EST up reply actions
It brings up a good question of how many champs have been an underdog while defending their belt?
I seem to remember Edgar being an underdog, but who else?
"Pain or damage don't end the world. Or despair or fucking beatings. The world ends when you're dead. Until then, you got more punishment in store. Stand it like a man... and give some back." -Swearengen
by AwkwardwithwordmakingisGoldberg,huhJoe on Feb 4, 2012 4:10 PM EST reply actions
Randy Couture was when he fought Gonzaga. Shogun was when he fought Jones too.
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You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.
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by MicahtheCynic on Feb 4, 2012 5:47 PM EST up reply actions
I could be mistaken, but at Rua vs. Jones, I believe Shogun was the champ, and also the underdog, versus Bones.
by WorldlyPatriot on Feb 4, 2012 6:35 PM EST up reply actions
Luke my man GSP is being delusional and you are too if you think he'd be a dog in that fight
GSP could be coming in blind and with one arm and he’d still be the favorite both by the odds and by the media and by the fans
by Desmoglein on Feb 4, 2012 4:41 PM EST reply actions
I don't think he'll be the underdog
But two things to think about.
1. if Diaz has an outstanding performance tonight – let’s say he blows people away – I expect the lines to be close for Diaz vs. GSP.
2. Even if GSP is the betting favorite, I don’t think he’ll be the same after ACL surgery. Even a diminished GSP can likely beat the rest of the division. Still, if the GSP we know as GSP no longer exists, is it really that crazy to believe Diaz would be a major underdog?
These arguments rest on a lot of assumptions, but none of them are particularly outlandish. I guess let’s just wait and see how things turn out before we dismiss the idea of out hand Diaz has no shot of keeping the odds exceedingly close.
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by Luke Thomas on Feb 4, 2012 6:21 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, it seems like Diaz and GSP’s knee injury have really gotten inside of his head. He’s out saying things like “Diaz has no idea of the darkness inside my head. It’s so crazy sometimes.” and now he’s saying he’s an underdog. What happened to his mental toughness?
by EyebrowsMulligan on Feb 4, 2012 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
Gotta disagree...
GSP wouldn’t be the ‘Under-Doug’…
by Str33t Justus on Feb 4, 2012 5:04 PM EST reply actions
the one that is not Favre eat?
by BJpuriti on Feb 4, 2012 8:19 PM EST up reply actions
I think under-dog status would be justified
He’s going to be coming off a really serious injury that nobody in the history of sports (to my recollection) has ever come back from and been the same.
Add to that his inactivity and you have a pretty justifiable reason to make him the under-dog imo.
by BlueJay_ on Feb 4, 2012 5:14 PM EST reply actions
GSP UNDERDOG?
Laughable to think. It can be argued that Diaz has been handed favorable matchups. He never fought Woodley or Heiron. Not to say those guys could beat him, but Diaz can’t wrestle. That’s no secret. His physique alone tells you to wrestle him. That’s exactly what GSP will do
by Bigs- on Feb 4, 2012 7:31 PM EST reply actions
underdog: just because of ring rust and the injury, not cause diaz is better.
by Rampage01 on Feb 4, 2012 7:55 PM EST reply actions
GSP RULES.
He’s the best human in the UFC, no question about it.
by Spoiler on Feb 4, 2012 8:30 PM EST reply actions
when he isnt cheating or taking time off or playing it safe in the main event
by BJpuriti on Feb 4, 2012 8:50 PM EST up reply actions
GSP v. Diaz would be a great fight...
… The quintessential smart fighter against the… um, uh, what does quintawhatzit mean, homie?
by Spoiler on Feb 4, 2012 8:35 PM EST reply actions
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