GSP is back

Watched the UFC card with TJC last night, and even though the biggest news coming out of it was probably Randy Couture at 44 years old absolutely dominating 28 year old Gabriel Gonzaga, the highlight for me was the metaphorical return of GSP himself: Georges St. Pierre.

I say metaphorical because GSP didn't really go anywhere. It's just that after his devastating loss to Matt Serra a few months ago, people - including UFC President Dana White - started questioning his mental toughness and fortitude. He himself admitted he was having trouble with his personal life leading up to the fight (nothing romantic, he assured). But last night, armed with a new management team and entourage, he put on a show in beating Josh Koscheck via unanimous decision.

It wasn't the fact that he beat Koscheck which made me think GSP is back; it's how he beat him. Koscheck was an amazing amateur wrestler, and he might be the best in that aspect in the UFC. And yet, GSP took the fight to the ground to him and just beat him at his own game. That's not the sign of a man with no heart is it?

I fall in the camp that thinks GSP has no business losing to anybody in his weight-class. Pound for pound, I personally think he and BJ Penn are the best fighters in the UFC. I like GSP for a lot of reasons: his all-around fighting style - he's a good striker, submission artist and wrestler. Listening to his interviews in that French Canadian accent of his is a hoot. The night he went on his knees in the middle of the octagon begging for a title match was a classic UFC moment. To paraphrase TJC, if Jean Claude Van Damme was likable, he'd be GSP. But I think one of the main reasons I like him can be explained in the picture below.

Anybody who comes to the ring looking like he should be part of Cobra-Kai is the man.