Georges “Rush” St. Pierre is getting a raw deal, but he’s either too polite or too politically correct to come right out and say it.

The entire MMA world knows that St. Pierre is at the front of the pack to face UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes. But instead of receiving a much-deserved second crack at the crown, St. Pierre is being sidetracked into yet another battle to prove he truly is the No. 1 contender. So while Hughes gets what should be a relatively easy defence against aging warrior Royce Gracie, St. Pierre, whose only MMA loss came against Hughes at UFC 50 in October 2004, gets saddled with an incredible test against former world champ B.J. Penn – one of only three men to beat Hughes.

St. Pierre (11-1) recently spoke with The Z-Files from his home in Montreal as he prepared to face Penn (10-2-1) at the UFC 58 on March 4 in Las Vegas.

 

Z-Files: How did you take the news that you were not getting your title shot against Matt Hughes and had to go through B.J. Penn for your next fight?

GSP: I was disappointed when I heard the news that I wouldn’t be fighting Matt Hughes, but that’s part of the game. Many people consider Hughes and Penn to be two the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world so I’m not really mad that I have to fight B.J. I’m going to get another championship match - it’s only a matter of time. When I beat B.J., it’s only going to make my mark in the sport even better and give me more credibility.

 

Z-Files: I would have thought you’d have been ticked off that your second shot at the title was delayed again?

GSP: To tell you the truth, I thought I would get it after I beat Frank Trigg, but then I got Sean Sherk. Then I beat him, and then I get B.J. Penn. Now Penn think he’s going to get Hughes. B.J. Penn is claiming he’s the champ because he never lost to Hughes.

 

Z-Files: So what are your thoughts then on Penn?

GSP: He’s a nice guy and I have a lot of respect for him, but I don’t agree with the way he thinks. He’s looking too far ahead. He thinks he’s going to beat me and then Hughes and then Rich Franklin and Chuck Liddell and Andrei Arlovski. I don’t think he realizes that he’s going to be in a fight with me. He’s not going to pass by me. I’m going to end his dream. He’s just given me a whole lot of motivation to win this fight. I’m taking everything step by step and I’m focused only on B.J. Penn and I’m going to show him he’s making his biggest mistake.

 

Z-Files: How are you approaching Penn strategy-wise?

GSP: I can’t really say a whole lot about my game plan because I don’t want to give anything away, but I have studied a lot of his fights. He’s a very well-rounded fighter but he does have holes in his game and I’m to use his weaknesses against him. I just can’t tell you what they are.

 

Z-Files: What do you think of the way the UFC is promoting its next show with the whole Canada vs. U.S. angle?

GSP: I don’t really care how they promote it but I do think that more Canadians are going to watch this event than ever before. I’m not fighting for my country, I’m fighting for myself. I do want to see David Loiseau (in his UFC middleweight title fight against Rich Franklin) and Christophe Midoux (who is taking on Tom Murphy) win because they are my friends but on that night I have be selfish and think about my own fight and try to forget about the other fights.

 

Z-Files: How did you feel when you heard that Matt Hughes’s next title defence would be against Royce Gracie?

GSP: I think the marketing of the fight is great because Gracie is a legend, but I just hope that Gracie is in good shape. If he’s in the same shape that he has been for his last fights I think I will be a long night for him. I know that he has worked on his striking and I think his wrestling has improved a lot.

 

Z-Files: A rematch with Matt Hughes would be an amazing fight. How do you see that fight going?

GSP: I definitely think I can beat Matt. I’m not better than some fighters at stand-up or at wrestling or in submissions but I think my strength is that I’m well-rounded and I’m pretty good at everything. I think I can beat him by KO or by submission. I think I’ve become very successful because of being a well-rounded fighter.

 

Z-Files: You really seemed to really make a splash with the fans after completely man-handling Frank Trigg at UFC 54. Did you expect that fight to go that smoothly for you?

GSP: I think maybe I’m a little surprised at how it went. Every time I prepare for a fight I expect to have a three-round war, but if a fight finishes early, I’ll take it. Frank Trigg is a very good fighter but he’s not really good at fighting from the bottom. He’s a great wrestler and when he’s on top he’s got a chance to win, but if you’re able to put him on the bottom then you’ve got a good chance of beating him. I didn’t expect it would be that easy. Maybe the strategy I had made it look that easy but it really wasn’t.

 

Z-Files: You have a great look, a great personality and the fans in both Canada and U.S. love your style and attitude. Could you see yourself moving into acting after your fighting days are over?

GSP: For now my career is fighting, but one day I would like to do movies for sure. I have a nice life now and I’m making good money. It’s not about money for me. If I had the choice of getting $2 million to be an actor and never having to fight again or keep fighting in the UFC, I would keep fighting because I like fighting – it’s what I do. When I started in the sport, I was broke and it was hard for me. I was fighting and working and going to school and now I’m more relaxed and I have a better life than before. But I still love this sport and I still love what I do.

 

Z-Files: But if you did make the jump to movies, who would you want as your leading lady?

GSP: (laughs) Jessica Biel!

 

Z:Files: You mentioned your friends David Loiseau and Christophe Midoux. Another of your friends is UFC veteran Patrick Cote who has a shot at the Maximum Fighting Championship’s world middleweight title on March 10. Will you be coming to watch him?

GSP: I would love to come see Patrick fight in the Maximum Fighting Championship. It all depends on my schedule if can be there or not, but I would love to come. And I would like to say hi to all my fans in Edmonton and thank them for their support.

 

From my corner, it’s not hard to lay down a prediction on this fight. Georges St. Pierre is on his way to the title. B.J. Penn can’t be considered a mere stepping stone to that goal – more of a high hurdle. But when St. Pierre goes over Penn only Matt Hughes stands in his way. And Hughes is no stepping stone or hurdle. He’s a wall. To break through, “Rush” will need jackhammers and dynamite. Funny thing ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­- I believe an explosion is about to occur - one by the name of Georges St. Pierre.

 

Until next time … keep your eyes on the prize.