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Maybe not exactly toeing the UFC's company line, former welterweight champion and current front office exec Matt Hughes doesn't sound optimistic on a Georges St-Pierre return to fighting. Speaking with Sportsnet, Hughes says St-Pierre's sabbatical came as no surprise to him.
"No, it didn't surprise me a whole lot. People have been catching Georges a little bit, and I'm talking the past three or four years. People have been catching up to him, to his abilities. He's at the age where he's going to start slowing down just a little bit. Georges has made a lot of money. Gosh, what's he got to prove? What's he want to do? I wasn't real surprised. I would probably be a little more surprised if he ever came back."
Following his controversial decision victory over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 in November, St-Pierre claimed his mental health could be at risk if he didn't take some time away from competition. Hughes, who says he can certainly empathize with his position, believes St-Pierre has had enough of Hendricks for this lifetime.
"I don't think he wants to go in there and face Johny Hendricks again. Judging wise, it could have been close. Even though I did have Johny winning, the first round was extremely close. On the ground, Johny Hendricks won. He beat GSP up. In the rounds Georges won, he barely won. So I don't think he wants to go back in and take another beating like that against Johny Hendricks."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
TRT Mania. With the Nevada State Athletic Commision and UFC banning testosterone replacement therapy, catch reactions from Dana, Weidman and Chael.
Vitor out, Machida in. In a reaction to yesterday's news, Vitor Belfort has withdrawn from his title bout with middleweight champion Chris Weidman, who will now face Lyoto Machida at UFC 173.
Hendo still a go. According to a Brazilian commission official, Dan Henderson will still likely be issued a testosterone use exemption for his Mar. 23 bout with Mauricio Rua. "We have (NSAC) as a mirror, but the commissions are not bounded."
Rampage. Quinton Jackson says he's happy with Bellator after being treated like 'livestock' by the UFC. "If [UFC] gave me $10 million a fight, I would not fight for them."
A night out. It sounds like Jose Aldo might have some explaining to do after he was recorded singing some none too flattering verses about Anthony Pettis and his featherweight colleagues.
MEDIA STEW
Gotta sell that Fight Pass.
Bellator 110 main card weigh-ins.
Highlights from Thursday's EFC Africa 27.
Olivier Aubin-Mercier vs. Jake Matthews from TUF Nations.
Myles Jury two weeks out from UFC 171.
[Great Jury-ism at 3:40]
Nightmare fuel.
TWEETS
Make sure to check out reactions from Thursday's landmark decision by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to ban TRT.
A lot more TRT reactions.
I'm extremely proud of UFC for their decision "@WhiteCitrus_: @JonnyBones the new rule banning all TRT exemptions, good for the sport yes?"
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 28, 2014
When an active athlete is on #TRT simply cheating "@ktarheel: @JonnyBones what's your reaction to NSAC banning TRT?"
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 28, 2014
Great decision by the NAC to ban TRT, big step forward for our sport. Lets see who don't want to fight in Vegas anymore now.
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) February 28, 2014
Next step is find a way to make it impossible to cheat with peds for anybody in the UFC by testing very regularly.
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) February 28, 2014
IMO if you get caught for PED you should be fired and never be let back to compete, cause in that case you are no athlete but just a cheater
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) February 28, 2014
"@TimKennedyMMA: The Nevada State Athletic Commission banned testosterone. It is a great day for the sport." Don't take shit so banned away
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 28, 2014
This is sad, pathetic and unsurprising mma news. #TRT
— Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) February 28, 2014
I am 41 years young and very happy that TRT is now banned in the UFC! @ufc @UFC_Australia
— Anthony Perosh (@AnthonyPerosh) February 28, 2014
"@MikeChiappetta: Pat Lundvall supports the motion to ban TRT. Still waiting on final vote." so do I !
— jimi manuwa (@POSTERBOYJM) February 27, 2014
I've been blinded . TRT isn't the real issue . Supposedly there were only 5 on it . That juice tho -_- !!!
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) February 27, 2014
Good news on the ban of TRT use in Nevada. So what does this mean in other states?
— Chris Holdsworth (@holdsworth135) February 27, 2014
Glad to see NSAC put a stop on TUE exemptions. What do you guys think? @ufc
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) February 27, 2014
Finally a TRT ban. This is a start. There is still a lot more that needs to be done but finally the TRT debate can be put to rest @ufc
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) February 27, 2014
Duh who cares about TRT @AlphaMaleShit works way better than TRT anyway .
— phil baroni (@philbaroni) February 28, 2014
Free all the fighters with TRT!!! Who cares? Wahhh wahhh wahhh! Call the wahhhhhmbulance! I wish I could get TRT! Haha!
— War Machine (@WarMachine170) February 28, 2014
Oh, Vitor.
So Vitor doesn't need TRT to compete? Just time?
— Chris Camozzi (@ChrisCamozzi) February 28, 2014
Vitor should've fought without the TRT !?!? #UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunsonMMA) February 28, 2014
Vitor is out vs. Weidman at UFC 173 and in steps Machida. Still excited for this match but was more excited for the first one.
— Aaron Riley (@aaronrileymma) February 28, 2014
No more TRT, its ok cheezus will think of something
— Jake Heun (@JakeHeun) February 27, 2014
Congrats to @lyotomachidafw on his upcoming Title Shot vs. Weidman!!!! http://t.co/MwzkVj3LxU
— Ed Soares (@edblackhouse) February 28, 2014
Breaking news vitor pussied out because he can't be a science experiment anymore and replaced with a boring friggin fight. Yayyyyy:/
— Cody Bollinger (@CodyBollinger) February 28, 2014
Oh my.
Today is the day we remove the hardware from my thumb. "So you wanna be a FMyles Jury two weeks out from UFC 171.amp;KING FIGHTER, DO YA?"... http://t.co/0k5HbbhlxY
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) February 27, 2014
Should be fun.
Guys relax I made weight I just had 2 take my batman undies off.and they ask that I do all that n... http://t.co/zMjUb43n7q
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) February 28, 2014
#Bellator110 Weigh-in Done. Many thanks to my sponsors @Reebok , @LanasEggWhites , @NutritionZone. http://t.co/jPdEMMZxfC #LivewithFire
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) February 27, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 27 2014)
Daron Cruickshank vs. Erik Koch at UFC Fight Night 40
Santiago Ponzinibbio out, Hernani Perpetuo vs. Jordan Mein at UFC on Fox 11
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Jonnyboy6969.
Who Should Fight Who? UFC 170 Winners & Losers
Here is another Who Should Fight Who.
Rousey should fight Zingano - Reason: By now most of you know that I hate Ronda Rousey with all my heart, I can't stand her. I want to rag on her performance but I can't, she looked great. Shes getting better and better and I'm not happy about it. Her striking still isn't great but it has definitely improved and she got hit with a few solid punches and she took them well. I like that shes been working on her strikes in the clinch, now not only do her opponents have to defend her tosses and trips, they also have to worry about her strikes. I don't see anyone beating Ronda, at least no Woman currently in the UFC. The only chick in the world who can defeat her is Cyborg. Cyborg recently announced that shes going to be dropping to 135 lbs and she wants to fight Ronda. Cyborg is going to be fighting for the Invicta Bantamweight belt soon, she'll most likely win it and then hopefully we can finally see her and Ronda throw down. Now lets talk about who Ronda should fight next. There are a couple of chicks out there who you could say deserve a shot at the belt but I only want to see one chick fight Ronda next, Cat Zingano. She should get the next shot, she absolutely bashed Miesha Tate's face in and was supposed to coach on TUF opposite Ronda and get a title shot. She ended up blowing her knee out and Tate ended up filling in for her. Zingano's earned her shot and I feel its time for her to get it.
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