Settling In [GSP Blog]
Before going to Brazil, I had a call from one of my friends who told me that Denis Kang won his fight against Marvin Eastman by TKO in the first minute of the fight. It made me a feel good because it brings a good vibe to the team, and like Tseng Tsu says in the Art of War, battles are won by momentum. I’m also very happy because I also learned he’ll soon be fighting in the UFC, so for the first time since we started training together, we’ll be able to fight in the same organization.
I flew to Brazil Sunday night, and after a long flight I got into Rio de Janeiro. But after the flight I was very tired because I cannot sleep on the plane, so I had to take the morning off from training to take a nap of a couple of hours. I started my training Monday night after my nap, and I quickly found out that even though I just earned my black belt in BJJ, there are still a lot of guys better than me in this sport at Gracie Barra Academy. I got tapped so many times during my training there and I learned so many new tools that just for that alone, this trip was worth it. I met a bunch of new training partners and good friends as well in Brazil. My friend Cleo from Montreal went with me and was teaching a wrestling class during the day where were training a lot of takedowns and takedown defense, plus MMA sparring as well. At night I was also doing BJJ with the gi to improve my ground skill and knowledge.
During the week, one of the valets at the hotel was very nice with me it was nice to meet someone who spoke French very well. Every time a pretty woman was passing by him, he was making a comment in French about how beautiful and sexy she was. Another guy who works at the front desk was a big fan of MMA and recognized me as soon as I stepped in the hotel. He was a gentleman, too, and gave me advice on things only locals would know. I really appreciated his help. I was treated so well at this hotel that for sure the next time I come back I’ll stay at the same spot.
I came back to Montreal after a week and already after two days, I miss Acai so much it’s become my favorite fruit. I got back to my normal routine at home as soon as I started back training on last Monday. This past weekend, I got to help out some of my friends who were going to fight at a local show at Xtreme MMA. With great pride, I can tell you that they all did amazing this past Saturday. Even one of my friends, Steve Claveau, that I was cornering, did so well but before the fight, I didn’t want to tell him that I thought he was going to lose because he was fighting a guy on paper that was way better than him. He gave him his first loss by TKO referee stoppage. Then yesterday I slept so much after a night of exhaustion because I had so much emotion believe it or not, I am more nervous when I coach people than when I fight myself.
I still have a lot to do settling in to my new condo, so this week will be very busy because I want to get everything done before I get into serious training before my next fight. Talk to you soon.
UFC welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St-Pierre blogs about his life as a professional mixed martial artist at Yardbarker.com . This post originally appeared on St-Pierre’s Yardbarker.com blog and is syndicated on MMAFrenzy.com as part of a partnership between the two sites.
Tags: Georges St. Pierre
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GSP is such a nice guy, shame BJ is guna kick his ass. WAR BJ the p4p best fighter in the world
come on johnboy Gsp is the greatest and will prove it when he takes out bj penn
GSP is definitely a good guy. I like to see someone with a good head on their shoulders doing well.
JOHNBOY
Dude you’re dreaming. BJ PENN is a great fighter but GSP is one of a kind and will shut him up for good. I think penn should have defended his title against florian in “the ultimate” but since he didn’t i’m assuming he wants to hold to titles at once but dude…that’s not going to happen.
PENN is great but in ALL HONESTY, hasn’t faced a fighter like GSP since he lost to GSP. So to sum it up, GSP WILL OWN PENN
The only edge BJ may have in this fight is his punches or jabs, i still see this fight as being controlled by GSP. BJ will be taken down whenever St.Pierre wants him down.
bj will knock gsp out, everyone no’s gsp cant take a punch (serra) and bj is guna knock his ass down and jump all over him, and u guys seem to be confident gsp can take him down but will he be able to keep him down plus is it a good move to be on the ground wiv BJ, sorry people i see no way GSP has an advantage in this match thats why BJ will become the 1st man to hold 2 belts at one time in the ufc, then people will call him the p4p best guy which imo he is.
JOHNBOY
Dude seriously, BJ PENN is not, and never will be, the P4P best fighter in the world.
His jab is nothing compared to GSP’s jap and speed. Penn’s stand up is average, and his only chance in this fight will be to take GSP down. Hmmm let me think about this………………
Hughes,sherk,trigg and koscheck ALL AMAZING WRESTLERS couldn’t take GSP down and got their ass handed to them. What makes you think BJ PENN will take him down?
Just accept it dude. GSP IS the best and like chuck owning tito,like silva owning franklin, like silva owning rampage…GSP WILL OWN PENN.
*jab
Penn’s stand-up is definitely not average. You might make a case that Sherk’s or Stevenson’s stand-up is average (though I would say slightly above average for each of those guys) and BJ took them both apart on their feet. BJ is not at a disadvantage standing against GSP. Even though BJ got the better of the stand-up battle last time, I have to give credit to GSP and note that they are more or less equals here, since GSP works a better array of strikes and has great kicks, but BJ has a better jab and better knees. GSP has more in his tool kit striking-wise but I think BJ might hit a little harder and has a harder chin, which is a huge factor.
BJ needs to hurt GSP on his feet in order to set up whatever he is going to do on the ground. GSP knows this and will be cautious not to get in any dangerous exchanges before he goes for the takedown.
This will be an epic fight. Perhaps one of the best displays of mixed martial arts we’ve seen to date, if both guys get a chance to show all their skills.
jazzkok
BJ will not try to take gsp down, hes guna keep it standing, and will knock him out, bj’s stand up is very underated (not that i think gsp will underate it just guys like you) u saying gsp has a better jab then bj makes me laugh, gsp has a bad chin and bj is guna expose it,
GSP doesn’t want this fight on the ground. Not against Rubber Band Man. If it goes to the ground, BJ wins by tying his legs around GSP’s neck.
I’m just going to understand and forgive the fact that everyone is going by the first serra fight. Did you guys see what GSP did to “top contender” jon fitch? He left him looking like hell boy and although GSP got some great shots in, he basicly used his jab to pick him apart. I havent seen BJ leave a dude looking like that with his “superior jab” and he was facing lesser opponents.
BJ’s striking looks “above average” because he’s fought guys that arent “above average” strikers. Stevenson, sherk and pulver. Need i say more?
On the other hand, GSP isn’t an “above average” striker. He’s a ONE OF A KIND STRIKER. No doubt that BJ’s got a stonger chin, but he will not land a solid shot on GSP to “expose” his weaker chin. So like I said, BJ needs to go to the ground where he will have a shot. Other than the ground, he doesn’t stand a chance. And like i said before, he needs to get GSP to the ground which he will not do because of GSP’s take down defense.
BJ will never beat GSP. Sorry dudes
If GSP is such a one-of-a-kind striker how come he couldn’t finish Fitch when he had him in trouble? And don’t tell me it’s because Fitch is some kind of bionic man. Fitch is a good, solid, durable fighter with a lot of heart. But he is not an exceptional striker by any stretch.
If GSP is so amazing on his feet vis-a-vis Penn, how come his face looked beat up after their fight and BJ walked away unscathed? Penn won the striking battle hands down. And you can’t blame it all on an eye poke, he was beating him to the punch from the opening bell. And he was checking GSP’s leg kicks.
Against Hughes (their 2nd fight), GSP looked like the greatest striker in the world, but Hughes has terrible stand-up defense. Serra was coming off a career threatening injury in their second fight, but he owned GSP in the stand-up the first go around. GSP didn’t rely on his striking with Kos. Why not, if he’s so invincible in this aspect of his game?
GSP is no dummy. He is NOT going to try to out strike Penn because he knows this is one of the ways he can lose. He will play it safe on his feet (leg strikes, circling away with his jab) until he can set up a takedown. If anything, GSP is probably more confident that he can avoid subs from the top position vs. Penn than anything else that might happen. He will do everything in his power to take the fight there, I guarantee you that.
His recipe for losing is getting hit hard and having Penn transition that into a takedown and submission finish. Something people need to remember is that BJ started his fighting career solely interested in striking (boxing) and had to be convinced to go into jits. He can scrap with GSP all day.
Haha the age old debate. And finally I wont be out numbered by our canadian fan boys. Listen I’ve made this point a billion times. GSP is a head case and has been made to be something he really isn’t. He is a world class wrestler…that’s it. His ground n Pound is okay, his Jits is okay, his stand up is very fast but he has zero KO power. In the fight against Fitch he had him hurt and against the fence, instead of going for the kill he slammed him. GSP is afraid of getting KO’d again so he doesn’t take any risks. Fitch showed me 1 thing you come out and attack you can beat GSP. Fitch did his best when moving forward. BJ will do the same. He will come at him use that Jab and make GSP shoot. Do I think GSP can win? Yes, but it will be via lay n pray by desicison. I do think B has much more ways he can win.
i think bj is better but since he is has to move up a wieght class gsp is going to win and besides gsp is huge compared to bj
and when i saw the fitch vs gsp fight i was like holy crap fitch must have a super strong chin
F~it I just got done with my day and I walk into this debate, I’m down
Ask Uno if Bj’s standup is average while your at it call Gomi too… Can GSP take BJ Penn down yes the gnp is excellent from GSP but while in rubber gaurd explain to me how GSP is going to use gnp??
Is this going to be a close fight yes if Penn gasses is he going to get a loss perhaps but a in shape determined Penn is a scary thought even for the almighty GSP
I have Penn winning this match personally similar to the fashion he stopped Stevenson (no I’m not comparing GSP to Stevenson)
GSP took time off and is training hard, as is Penn I’m pumped for this fight
@Justin, GSP is a great high profiled star in the world of MMA and I hope most take a que from him on how to be a professional
@JohnBoy, my friend I don’t believe he is the best p4p in the world but if you do good on ya, p4p is imaginary but fun to debate cheers
ANZTAR
Dude i’m not canadian i’m a PROUD red, white and blue. Just thought i’d let you know not JUST canadians like canadian fighters.
BJ PENN will gass by the second round and then get submitted or punded out with GSP’s elbows. PENN usually attacks because he’s confident his stand up is superior then his opponent but this time will be different. His “jab” will not even touch GSP as GSP will use his reach and speed to control BJ. Then BJ will be forced to grapple and try to get him to the fence and take him down but he will be overpowered and beat back down to the lw div.
Gsp is just way too strong for Penn. Bj is not at his natural weight, he will gas at 170lbs. I’m looking to this fight being done so all the Penn lovers will give it up, or probly just make more excuses like the last time.
Duck, its a drive by!! ^^
You just snuck it in before me!
I think it’s…”shh, I’ll just sneak this in real quick and no one will see”
So if GSP loses you won’t have any excuses???
Hi Justin, sorry, had to respond to another hit and run comment.
I do like the response you chose here, BTW.
Ha, that got some attention didnt it
albeit negative.
Didn’t expect a worth while response or meaningful discussion. That’s why I was being psarcasmical.
I cant read what everyone is saying because there pic is in front of there comments
Upgrade to Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox to read the comments as MMAFrenzy.com is no longer supporting Internet Explorer 6.
These damn dead threads and their complications of explorer 6’s and 7’s and such gets u everytime
My CrackBerry supports what I tell it too, just wanted to be part of this thread before I continue making fabulous decisions on a cold bitter day cheers
Actually, FireFox only would be better, with the big security hole in IE.