Morning Report: Greg Jackson believes Georges St-Pierre returns for 'a fight or two'

It's been a rough few months for former UFC champion Georges St-Pierre and welterweight contender Carlos Condit. Each saddled with devastating knee injuries, the man who may know them best doesn't sound particularly worried. Speaking with Sportsnet Canada, famed trainer Greg Jackson believes the pair return to form following a workmanlike recovery.

"I think with Georges he doesn't mind a challenge. It's never really bothered him. It gives him something to focus on. I don't think it's going to be the end of his career at all. He's already retired, anyway, so he's got time to rehab. He probably will come back. It would be my guess, an educated guess. I'm not saying at 100%, but if I know Georges he might do another fight or two just to do it. He's a warrior all the way. He's a guy that likes challenges. If he's got to rehab the knee, that's what he's got to do. If he's got to keep the belt, that's what he's got to do. If he's got to earn it back, that's what he's got to do."

As for Condit, Jackson was overwhelmed by how involved St-Pierre has become in his former teammate and opponent's own rehabilitation.

"Carlos is doing well. Of all people Georges called me right after that happened and said, 'Listen, I know all the knee stuff to do and I'll talk to Carlos and help out .' We broke it down together. It was really cool that Georges was right there for Carlos when Carlos got injured just the same exact way. Now of course Georges is injured. Maybe they can rehab together. That was really cool. It just says a lot about Georges St-Pierre. Who that guy is.

"Mentally, [Condit] is one of the toughest people I've met in my life. He's just a gamer. No matter what he's just super tough. He shrugs his shoulders and says, 'Well, now I've got to rehab. OK that's what I do.' So incredibly tough. Just every adversity he's been through, it's been very impressive."

Aside from the torn ACL he suffered against Tyron Woodley at UFC 171 it was his 2010 bout with Rory MacDonald that best showcased Condit's resolve. Condit was down on points in hostile territory before pulling off a come from behind TKO in the final minute of the night's 'Fight of the Night.'

Speaking on the mounting pressure for MacDonald to be 'the next GSP,' Jackson believes the expectations should be tempered.

"That comes with the job. Rory's a smart guy. I'm sure he's dealing with it the right way, but you can't say anybody's the next anything until they do it. Lay off him and let him prove it. I think he can. I think he's a great fighter. He certainly has the potential, but there's so many different things to being a champion. It's not just how well you fight. How well you deal with stuff outside the cage.

"Honestly, it almost defines it more than what you do inside the cage. You have to be able to train and peak and do everything the right way, but in order to do that your life outside the cage has to be some kind of normal. That's the challenge that a lot of them can't get over."

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Camp Journal. Get an inside look at Tito Ortiz' training camp.

To GLORY. Former WEC champion Miguel Torres is moving to kickboxing and makes his promotional debut at GLORY 17 on Jun. 21.

United they stand. Bjorn Rebney isn't exactly opposed to the New York Culinary Union's cause and places the blame for MMA being illegal in the state on the Fertittas.

MEDIA STEW

UFC 173 extended preview.

Dana White at Beat the Streets in Times Square.

Quinton Jackson vs. Joey Beltran at Bellator 108.

Matt Brown witnessed the shooting of Pantera's 'Dimebag' Darrell.

Joe Lauzon on who has the best BJJ in MMA.

Fight Night Cincinnati Free Fight: Matt Brown vs Mike Swick.

Long watches.

UFC Fight Night: Brown vs. Silva MMA Vivisection

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An hour of Anderson Silva teaching clinch strikes.

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TWEETS

Rankings.

ufc Lol this is inactivity http://t.co/zFUrUVxbNv

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Why is everybody caught up on rankings? A fight is a fight period! Rankings mean nothing. It's either you are the... http://t.co/rbiIM2tgP6

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Sorry, Johnny.

Hey @JManziel2 welcome to The CLE man.

— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) May 9, 2014

Get well soon.

For all the people asking, the knee is healing really nicely. Rehab is going great. No clue when I'll compete again though.

— Carlos Condit (@CarlosCondit) May 8, 2014

I'm very happy because I did my first sparring after my last fight and surgery..

— Antonio Pezao Silva (@BigfootSilva) May 8, 2014

Made the best thing to heal broken bones a good old steak. http://t.co/YcaTEEW6ip

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My son had Surgery today. He's a trooper went really well. Now taking him to get a toy for being a good boy pic.twitter.com/McYkSfhLgn

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http://t.co/2mb9BzhiRb rehab work out with @Tyrone_spong @DomTomanelliMMA and Andrew sankin osu!

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2:30pm EST on Thursday.

Last meal before weigh in. Oh the fun begins :) lol

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7:00pm.

Last meal before weight ins thanks for the hospitality #cinci #UFCfightnight and bullseye fire grill for taking... http://t.co/ARMrs959YJ

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Referring to the stolen bike tweet?

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My bike has being stolen last week - my beautiful "Magrela"I was so sad...but thought My Dad God wants to give me... http://t.co/iXDLCOFztO

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Yeesh.

As a medical doctor of medicine my advice for couples struggling w/ infertility is to move to a trailerpark.

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Welcome back.

@feliceherrig oh my...

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Impressed?

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (May 8 2014)

Guilherme Vasconcelos vs. Luke Zachrich at UFC 175

Anthony Johnson vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC on FOX 12

Alexis Dufresne vs. Sarah Moras at TUF 19 Finale

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Da Headbanger.

Everything You NEED to Know About UFC Fight Night Main Card

I'm not going to make this card out to be of incredibly high importance because it isn't. There are no title fights, no #1 contender match, no highly visible fighters to the casual fan. It seems clear to me that there isn't going to be a great amount of appeal to many fans for this card.

One thing that many fans don't realize is that importance doesn't guarantee excitement. Georges St. Pierre is the perfect example of that. He continually defended the title and did so definitively, but also received a lot of criticism for the lack of excitement that came out of his fights.

Its too bad most fans go off of name recognition as there is a very good reason that Matt Brown and Erick Silva were picked by the company to headline the card. Its hard to believe that the fans that tune in to watch them will leave disappointed. The rest of the fights on the main card all have a very good chance of being exciting too. I know that I try and sell the good things about the card every time, but this really is the type of card I'd show someone who knows nothing about MMA and would hope to lure in hook, line, and sinker. There is a little bit of everything from the big guys to the little guys and it is unlikely that any will end up being in the lay-and-prey style.

This is a card that can easily be enjoyed without knowing much if anything about it. But in case you do give a rats ass, here is the lowdown.

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Check out the rest of the post here.

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