UFC 154 press conference recap and replay

UFC 154 press conference highlights:

Georges St. Pierre: Most importantly, I’m happy right now because I can do what I love to do for a living. When you get hurt, you realize health is the most important thing. The UFC really took care of me like a king. They helped me choose the best surgeon, the best rehab and everything for my knee. If I came back today the way I am now, it’s because of the UFC and the way they took care of me. I changed a lot of stuff in my training and my life and I’ve never been so pumped up in my life to step into the Octagon again.

Carlos Condit: The only market that comes close is when I fought Dan Hardy in the O2 Arena. I enjoy being the bad guy coming into hostile territory.

Georges St. Pierre: Greg told us he won’t be helping either of us. At the tactical point, he won’t help. Carlos is training in Albuquerque and I’m training in Montreal. On November 17th, we’ll be alone in the cage and the best man will win.

Carlos Condit: In the past, people think they have seen weaknesses in Georges St. Pierre and I think that’s the wrong approach. I’m approaching this by trying to come in November as the best that I can be.

Georges St. Pierre: Before I used to fight guys that had parts they weren’t comfortable but Carlos is comfortable everywhere. I’m going to focus on where I’m strong and what I’m going to do to him rather than worry about what he’s gonna do to me. If I see the opportunity for the finish, the finish will come but I’m preparing for five rounds.

Georges St. Pierre: The last year I’ve been able to take a break mentally and physically. I’d lost the fire and passion a little bit. After everything I’ve been through, I’ve come back motivated and stronger and I’ve rekindled the fire.

Carlos Condit: My goal in this sport is to be the best in the world and Georges St. Pierre is the best and has proven that time and time again. To be the best I have to beat Georges. I feel like I did the right thing in waiting for Georges. As far as how I used my time, there was a lot of things in my game that I felt I needed to improve on. When you feel like you know everything, that’s when you plateau. Recently I’ve figured out there’s a lot I don’t know. There’s a whole new breed of techniques in training that’s out there and I’ve been trying to incorporate that into my game as well as improve my strength and athleticism.

Georges St. Pierre: I like to have Greg in my corner but to tell you the truth, we both have the same problem. Corner doesn’t really matter in a fight but even if the pope would be in my corner or my grandmother, the truth is when you come back in the round you’re exhausted. You’ve got a window of 20 seconds to get information and the rest of the time you’re just trying to recover your breath. What happens in the fight, it’s not the corner that matters, it’s the instinct and the training from before the fight that helps you more. The best man will win.

Georges St. Pierre: I have two challenges. I’m fighting the most dangerous guy I’ve fought, the most well-rounded mixed martial artist and I’m also coming back from a very long period of inactivity. As a real mixed martial artist, a top competitor, I don’t ask for anything less than a fight against a champion in Carlos.

Georges St. Pierre: In my contract, I was supposed to defend my title every year and I didn’t do it. For me, I see Carlos Condit as the champion and I’m getting a title shot.

Carlos Condit: Georges has been such a dominant champion over the last couple years that until somebody beats him, he’s the official champion. Until I beat him, I don’t feel like I’m the true champion.

Georges St. Pierre: Carlos is a true gentleman. I’m a gentleman but come fight night, we’ll try to knock each other out.

Georges St. Pierre: It’s a dangerous sport. It’s a full contact sport. The key to have more finishes is to be more opportunistic. Not take more punches or have less defense but to think more for the finish. I’m coming into that fight. The ultimate goal is to entertain you want to win. You want to hurt your opponent.

Georges St. Pierre: The quiet guys are the most dangerous guys. When I grew up I used to get bullied so when people talk trash, it gets me motivated. The guys that are quiet are the ones that are motivated and they surprise you on the day of the fight. I cannot have more motivation than fighting Carlos Condit. I’m ready to go.

Georges St. Pierre: Enjoy your carer and have fun. You have to have fun to have success in life. That’s what life taught me. Enjoy the process.

Carlos Condit: Get a well-rounded skillset and when it comes to the fight, keep your hands up and your chin down and try to beat the other guy up.

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Watch the live press conference replay announcing the welterweight title bout between Georges St-Pierre and Carlos Condit at:

UFC 154

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

November 17th, 2012

Live on PPV