UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields Press Conference Highlights
Posted on February 8, 2011, 02:30 PM by Joey SantosusUFC President Dana White and Canadian Director of Operations Tom Wright hosted a press conference in Toronto today ahead of the promotion's UFC 129: St. Pierre vs. Shields event. Joining them was Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre and Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, alongside current number one contenders Jake Shields and Mark Hominick. UFC 129 is set for April 30th from the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and will feature Georges St. Pierre defending his title for the sixth time against Jake Shields, while Canada's own Mark Hominick will look to dethrone Jose Aldo in what will be the Brazilian's promotional debut.
While both White and Wright promised a unique viewing experience for fans who plan to be in attendance for the event on April 30th, they remained tight-lipped about many of the details. "We're going to do things in this arena that we've never done before," White explained. Wright did, however, reveal that there would be as many as eight screens erected for those seated in the upper levels. Also made available to fans interested in purchasing tickets is a 3D rendering of the Rogers Centre that will allow them to test their view from different seating arrangements.
Below are highlights from today's Press-Conference:
Dana White
• Everyone wants to talk about the GSP vs. Silva fight, well he's gotta beat Jake Shields first. Its a fantasy fight right now.
• (Shields) is so stealth. People have been counting this guy out forever, I admit me two - probably his own training camp didn't think he was going to win that fight and not only did he beat Dan Henderson, he dominated him. This guy is a force.
• If you look at our top three superstars in the UFC, I'd say that GSP is number one. This guy is a monster superstar all over the world.
• Anybody who is a fan of MMA, they're not bloodthirsty, they're a fan of the art. These guys are so talented. I think that MMA is the sport that all other sports aspire to be.
• In the 20 years there has never been a death or serious injury - this sports very safe. When u look at boxing, a guy gets knocked out and has ten seconds to get back up and get knocked unconscious again.
• The guys that are up here deserve to be here. They all earned the right to be here.
Georges St. Pierre
• I don't even think about (fighting Silva) right now. I never thought about it. I always live in the present moment, my biggest threat is Jake Shields - I would be a fool to look past Jake Shields.
• I am glad the UFC brought (Shields) in because he is the number one guy to challenge for my title.
• Jake is different from all the guys I have fought, like I am different from all the guys Jake fought. What makes him dangerous is he is a clever guy.
• I fight with emotion, but I don't fight with anger. I could be angry, but I'm not going to fight with anger because when you fight with anger you can make mistakes.
• I'm training not because I have a fight coming up, I'm training because its my lifestyle - I always train.
• My mentality is when I go to bed at night, I know I am a better mixed martial artist when I wake up in the morning.
• Against Dan Hardy, I made a technical mistake. If I had done it right I would have broke a bone, but I made a mistake. With Koscheck, I broke his orbital bone, the fight could have been stopped.
• I've been training with Roger Gracie a lot lately for improving Jiu-Jitsu, because Jake Shields is a very accomplished athlete in Jiu-Jitsu. But fighting is different from Jiu-Jitsu competition - I'm not afraid to go on the ground with Jake Shields.
Jake Shields
• (St. Pierre and Silva) have both been so dominant in the UFC that people are talking about it, but I think its a mistake to overlook me because I plan on coming out and spoiling that fight.
• I'm going to be a completely different fighter then when I fought Martin Kampmann.
• I think this fight will be mostly based off skill, but there's going to be emotion as well. But I think we are definitely fighters who fight with skill.
• GSP is probably my toughest fight ever.
• I train year round. I think most of the top fighters now train year round. Ive been training since Martin Kampmann.
• I love this role, I like getting looked passed. Everyone is talking about GSP this and GSP that, I plan on going out there and dethroning his title run.
Photo: thecheapseats.ca
Comments
Need to give up on the superfight for now, and focus on what the can do for match-ups
I'm hoping that they rethink the superfight anyways, with this fight not happening until April and then GSP needing 6-9 months to bulk up will delay Silva's next fight til most likely 2012. I want to watch Silva fight as often as possible,
i really do think dana should do so good business for the ufc and sign or co promote fighters from strike force. image cung le vs silva diaz vs gsp Melendez vs edgar fedor vs cain. etc.
Meant to say, Focus on the matchups they can do
I agree 100%, why not do Silva vs. Okami in the time it takes GSP to bulk up (although I think he'll put on that weight in about half the time you suggest). SIlva wins the fight is for the title, Okami wins it becomes a #1 contender matchup.
Not necessarily. Nothing is stopping Silva coming down to fight GSP like he said he would. GSP should insist it be at catchweight at the very least as he has little to gain by bulking up and could reduce his amazing cardio anymore muscle on him.
GSP walks at 195 rite now, and Silva walks at 220 why should he drop to 170? just because he's done it in his career? how long ago was that? thats unrealistic. GSP can easily make 185 and 51JD51 I believe he can put on the muscle faster too but thats wat GSP said it would take. Silva should fight Okami because he's earned the shot and then he should MOVE UP as big a Silva fan as I am I can't figure out why he keeps saying he doesn't want to.
hope shields win!!!
Jake Shields WILL win
This is GSP chance to show his Stand Up!
he was too cautious with Koscheck just landing the jab
because he knew Koscheck could get lucky and Hit him
But he all know Shields has no powe in his hands to punch
and he wont takedown GSP easily so GSP can take a few risk
on the stand up and shine with his moves like his old spinning back kick or superman punches!
dnt wana sound like one of those doubters but jake is gunna have to overcome alot in order to be GSP. i think that he is just not good enough.
Dana is just trying to make sure he doesn't take away from the main event buzz on his biggest ever Canadian event.
Jake could win but I think GSP will have just enough wrestling to keep it standing for the majority of the fight and win. If the fight stays on the ground too long though, I think it will be Jake's night.
This fight will be a replay from a game plan perspective of GSP vs Koscheck. GSP will focus on his opponents weakest area, which for Shields is his striking. GSP will pick him apart, and stuff the takedowns. He will also press for a few takedowns himself with a little ground and pound near the end of the round to score the points, and prove that he can take him down at will.
A lot of people seem to not notice but Shields' wrestling is at LEAST as good as Koscheck's. He isn't nearly as explosive as Kos but his take down % is higher I think. I see him getting more takedowns that Kos but I think GSP will be able to stuff enough of them to out point Shields. That said, Shields has at least a 45% chance of winning.
I completely agree about Shields wrestling being in the same realm as Kos, with Kos having the advantage for explosiveness. They'd make a great match-up, really.
If Kos, with his stronger explosiveness, had a hard time getting it to the ground and making hte fight his fight, Shields will potentially have a greater challenge.
I do think that Shields will look more impressive in this fight than he did against Kampman. That's a big statement, as GSP is a totally different league than Kampman. Shields will be more acustomed to the UFC, to the new weight, etc.
I think the UFC made a great move in acquiring him, and should GSP move up in weight, he may be in a position to grab the belt. I just don't see him being able to beat GSP.
how much would you be willing to bet on that my guess would be very little
You guys complain about GSP being boring to watch and you want Jake Shields to win??
yeah that is puzzling.
i like shields but i think he's gunna go in there gun shy and get put on his ass by gsp, but if shields can eat it and get him on the ground its goin 5 rounds and i give it 2 gsp by decision, but its gunna be gsp by stoppage in the 3rd, sorry guys
He might lose but he will not be "gun shy".
I don't see GSP finishing anyone in the near future especially Shields, Shields has a good chin so he's not K.O'in him with jabs, and there's no way he's going to outclass him on the ground enough to finish this fight. GSP WILLLLL win By Unanimous Decision, if somehow this fight actually ends it will be Jake Shields but I really doubt it, it's going 5 rounds with GSP winning atleast 4 of them
sorry, but i think he will, look at his striking vs henderson, then vs kapman, plus gsp is a stick n move kinda guy, hard to lay hands on him. he will be gun shy bro
He wasn't gun shy in those fights, he just has really stiff, robotic striking. Yet, if you watch those fights, he lands a LOT of small punches and uses them very effectively to get the take down. He did it repeatedly in the fight with Hendo and a few times against Kampmann DESPITE having to cut 20 lbs in one day. He won't be effective in his striking with GSP but that is a totally different thing than being gun shy.
lol gsp! after this move up too middle weight and take that freakn middle weight title if vitor or sonnen dont get it first! than maybe that freak silva will go too light heavy weight and stay there!
'GSP is probably my toughest fight ever". You're damn right it is pretty boy Shields. GSP is going to school your pretty ass all the way back to Strikeforce
GSP is a smart dude and why hes wonna fight Silva for ...
GSP training with Roger Gracie is a VERY scary thought. Especially when he's already got Freddie Roach for his boxing and Jackson/Firaz putting it all together...
All he's gotta do is train with Fedor for a bit and invincibility will become a reality.
His training with Roger makes me slightly less certain of Jake's ground advantage.
This card looks great. Definitely a must see.
I pretty much like all the fighters on the card.
I am curious to see how things turn out in such a large venue.
To anyone who is thinking of going, and has never been to the Rogers Center, I can tell you this. It personally doesn't make a huge difference for me, but the seats in the 100 and 500 level (lowest and highest bowl) are very cramped together. Its not like a basketball or hockey arena where the seating is a bit more luxurious. They are closely packed all plastic seats. Except for the 200 level. The 200 level is much more spacious and conformable and have cushioning on the seat. Alot of people don't give a shit about these types of detailes, but in case you do, 200 level is the best for comfort purposes.
Damn, I'm looking forward to this fight.
It's not even a situation of many people here thinking Jake is going to lose but they talk around here like Jake doesn't even exist!
All you here is this nonsense talk of the "super fight" with Silva. Most guy in the 185 division would give GSP a VERY hard time standing or on the ground.
***NEWS FLASH*** GSP will be up against a buzz-saw with Jake Shields!
I think 'octopus' would be a better metaphor than 'buzz-saw'.
Shields has tons of skills, a great record other belts and all the package
But
he is less than exciting
this could be DW's staring contest to end all staring contests
GSP has been winning every round
but has become less than exciting as well.
Will one of them throw the "safe win" to the wind
and go for the kill?
I doubt it but that's just me
I see this going one way: GSP trains extensive takedown and guard defense and picks Shields apart from the outside with his jab and 1-2 combos. Might see a TKO from GSP this fight.
So excited.
I agree.
But wouldn't it be great to see the VERY UNLIKELY submission victory for GSP? He struggled to submit the rubber-armed Dan Hardy, and could use an exclamation point on his new skills in that area.
I will bet you that GSP takes down Shields--but for GnP.
GSP is not afraid of going to the ground with anyone.
Almost all the tickets to UFC 129 are sold out--for just the Fight Club members--when the general public gets a chance, there won't be many left.
They will probably expand the sales to over 42, 000.
They would be crazy not to hold the GSP vs. Silva in Toronoto. They could fill it easily--and the gate--Ka-Ching! Plus 10 million.