Georges St. Pierre Interview

Irish Whip Fighting writer Ben Zeidler caught up with former UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre last week, discussing everything from the Matt Serra loss to the upcoming UFC 79 fight with Matt Hughes. Originally conducted for MMA Madness.

Irish Whip Fighting: Can you tell us a little bit about the Serra fight and what happened?

St. Pierre: You know, it was a great learning experience. I didn’t realize it when he hit me and next thing I knew, he was on top of me and it was over.

IWF: Was he what you prepared for?

St. Pierre: I don’t want to make any excuses. I made many mistakes coming into the fight but the real reason I lost is because Matt fought the better fight.

IWF: How would you fight him differently next time?

St. Pierre: I would change a lot of things. I’m working on my game like it’s a puzzle and it is all coming together. My personal life is going well, I’m in great shape. It will be a different story.

IWF: Your first fight against Matt Hughes saw you tapping out to an arm bar with one second left on the clock. Were you not aware of the time left on the clock?

St. Pierre: I knew how much time was left but I preferred to tap and not break my arm than try to fight the next round with a damaged arm. It was better to tap and not have it broken.

IWF: What changed between your first and second Hughes fights? From our end, your confidence looked as if it was through the roof.

St. Pierre: Exactly. I knew I could beat him in the second fight. I was not seeing him as an idol anymore and it made the whole difference. I had more skill and more experience.

IWF: Why did you decide to take the UFC 79 fight with Hughes?

St. Pierre: I feel privileged to have this fight and I wish nobody bad luck, but Serra got hurt and I’m able to step in. I’m already in unbelievable shape and I decided that it would be worth it to step up and take this shot.

IWF: What do you gain from taking this fight given that you were already in line for the next title shot?

St. Pierre: What I gain is that I can beat Hughes and show I’m the best in the world, and then I’ll get Serra. I was going to fight both of them eventually but now it’s just in a different order. After Hughes, I will get my revenge on Serra. It is the perfect scenario for me.

IWF: How long are your typical training camps? Will five weeks be enough to prepare?

St. Pierre: I’m never off season, really; I’m always in shape. Normally, I train for eight weeks but I was already in great shape so it won’t change anything that I would normally do. I think I’ll be a much better fighter than the last time I fought Hughes.

IWF: What are you doing to prepare for Hughes?

St. Pierre: With Hughes, he’s going to be a different fighter from last time and so am I. I know his strengths, his weaknesses, and I will come into that fight with something extra. You know how when you play cards, you don’t want to show your hand? I have a very good game plan.

IWF: You once said that you'll only fight at 100%. Do you really mean this? And, what if you get injured in the next few weeks? Will you pull out like you have in the past or honor your commitment?

St. Pierre: If I get an injury, I will put out. Even if it is a mental issue like there is a death in my family. I will never fight again not at 100%. I want to be the best every time I come out.

IWF: Are you in top shape for this fight? Do you think that there would be anything that would physically hinder your chances of winning?

St. Pierre: Yes, I am. I was always in great, great shape. I’ve been working with [Rashad] Evans to help him get ready for [Michael] Bisping. I’ve been doing work with boxers for their fights and helping wrestlers who are going to the Olympics. We all peak at the same time and it’s great. I decided to jump in and fight like they are.

IWF: What is your opinion on Matt Serra canceling the fight?

St. Pierre: I think if he got hurt, he made the right call. I think it would be a mistake to take the fight. He needs to figure out how bad the injury is. He’s a great fighter in great shape -- he’ll come back fast.

IWF: What do you think about Dana White's decision to have an interim belt?

St. Pierre: That’s awesome. According to me, I am a champion and Hughes is a champion. We just have to know who is the better champion. I’m glad it is five rounds and it is for a title. It is the best scenario for me.

IWF: Do you think you deserved a rematch with Serra before Hughes got a shot against him?

St. Pierre: No, Hughes deserved the rematch. He was still on top -- he just lost to me. He’s still on top I think and you know the scenario is perfect now. He’s a great fighter and maybe the best pound-for-pound in the world. It’s a great honor to face him.

IWF: Did you call Dana White personally to request the fight?

St. Pierre: I called my manager [and] I said I wanted it and she called UFC. They called her back and said it was a done deal.

IWF: What did you do to get so mentally prepared before the Josh Koscheck fight? What did you change compared to your preparation for the Matt Serra title defense?

St. Pierre: I fixed my personal life. I put back the puzzle all together and I don’t have any injuries -- right now everything is cool. I’m the happiest man on earth. It’s behind me and I look up to the future.

IWF: Would you call this UFC 79 card the biggest in MMA history?

St. Pierre: It’s the biggest fight of my career. I don’t know about them but for me it’s the biggest fight.

IWF: If you defeat Hughes and Serra down the road, who would you want next?

St. Pierre: I don’t know what they’ll do. I don’t always get the best fighter. I don’t know because things change and we’ll have to see what MMA is like then.

IWF: Any words for Matt Hughes?

St. Pierre: I haven’t heard anything, so I’m not going to comment. I’m focused on myself and what I have control over and that’s me. [Laughs]