Koscheck's trash-talk gives GSP motivation to win
In the world of mixed martial arts, being a champion means different things to different people. To Georges St-Pierre, it means being a role-model and an ambassador inside and outside the octagon.
Despite being usually cool and collected, the popular welterweight champ admits that the number one contender for his crown, Josh Koscheck, and his comments and antics are getting under his skin. As usual, the fighter affectionately known as GSP will try to use that ammunition when the two meet in December.
"I always train hard and never underestimate my opponent but when you have a guy who says a lot of bad things, and I'm not going to hide it, a lot of stupid things about me and tries to insult me it gives me extra motivation," said St-Pierre recently.
"He's thinking that he's getting into my head but getting into my head for a fight is a good thing because I think about him all the time. It's extra motivation and that's a good thing."
Motivation was never a problem with Georges St-Pierre in the first place, being ranked as the world’s number one welterweight by many publications and experts. UFC president Dana also claimed for the last few weeks that St-Pierre is shoulder to shoulder with Anderson Silva.as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Koscheck however, always a friend to controversy, didn’t hesitate to provide us all with sound-bite worthy material after his recent victory over Paul Daley last May.
Shortly after the fight, Koscheck went on the record stating the he believed that the uber-athletic, St-Isidore native was using or has used anabolic steroids and that he would be in favour of random drug testing prior to their fight, all in the name of fair play. Koscheck later apologized for his comments but came back to the charge recently, saying that he had a “Frenchy’s a*s” to kick.
"This is personal stuff," St-Pierre answered. "I believe as a professional you should not say something like that.
This isn’t the first time that competitors have attacked the proud Quebecker’s heritage.
"He's not the only guy who has said stupid stuff like this to me, I'm used to it. And I'm smart enough to fight him smart and not fight him with emotion and make a mistake. But when it's time to punch him, just the little extra motivation I'm going to have at the end of the punch to twist my knuckle into the head, it will be good thing. It will give me an extra power edge."
After losing his belt to Matt Serra (his last defeat in the octagon) back at UFC 69, GSP made some comments that upset Serra who retorted on a radio show: "Drink your red wine, go to your hockey game and shut up," while referring to the Montreal-based fighter as "Frenchy."
Matt Hugues has also reported to a Los Angeles station that the French have no heart.
As history would have it, St-Pierre would go on to dismantle both in dominating fashion.
St-Pierre and Koscheck are no strangers to each other, having fought once at UFC 74 which ended with St-Pierre taking a unanimous decision. The battle was GSP’s first following his defeat at the hands of Matt Serra.
The welterweight champ understands the dynamic, the need of a ‘good guy vs bad guy’ storyline and its role in helping promote the fights, but he acknowledges that some personal comments simply cross the line.
"It (trash talk) is needed for some guys like Josh Koscheck but it's not needed for someone like me," St-Pierre said. "I'm very skilled, I can make the fight interesting and I don't need to talk smack to sell a fight.”
Tags: