News
27/06/09 - GSP - "Alves is better than BJ Penn and Matt Hughes"
Georges St. Pierre has such a healthy respect for his next opponent Thiago Alves that he is prepared to put money on him - against any fighter other than himself.
“I truly believe that if you would put Thiago Alves and BJ Penn in a fight, I would bet all my money on Thiago Alves, no doubt about it. Skill wise, he’s bringing a lot more problems to the table than everybody that I’ve fought so far. Skill wise in fighting, the best guy that I’ve fought so far,” he says,
“BJ Penn, Matt Hughes, Koscheck and like all those guys… Thiago Alves has beaten those guys. So for me fighting Thiago Alves is something very exciting for me because he has beat those guys and he has beat them even in… I would say, in a better fashion that I did.”
Praise indeed for Alves. But the respect St. Pierre has for the American Top Team fighter‘s achievements has only serve to pique the excitement for the French-Canadian champion.
“My motivation has never been higher because it’s a great challenge for me and I never been so pumped up for a fight. And for me, the name of Thiago Alves is even higher than Matt Hughes and all those guys that I’ve beaten, because he’s even more dangerous,” he says.
And if his fans are worrying that St. Pierre is talking himself into second place for this fight, they can stop. St. Pierre might respect Alves, but he still considers himself top dog.
“My first goal is to win my fight July 11 and to stay champion. My second goal ism I want to be considered the best pound for pound that ever fought in MMA history. That’s my second goal and to do it I have to make a legacy. I have to fight the best guy and be able to win - and win in a good fashion. That’s what I wanted to do.”
St. Pierre faces Alves at UFC 100 on Saturday July 11th. The event will be headlined by Brock Lesnar defending his heavyweight belt against Frank Mir.
John Joe O’Regan
John.fightersonly@gmail.com
Attachments:
- There are no attachments for this article
