SMELL OF UFC SUCCESS IN AIR
St-Pierre works out ahead of title fight
Montreal’s Tristar Gym is not a very nice place.
Located on the top floor of a three-storey building on Ferrier St. off Décarie Blvd., it looks like part gym/part torture dungeon. It reeks of body odour and the pop-up air fresheners scattered around the gym tapped out a long time ago in a total mismatch.
But the Tristar Gym is a very special place for UFC superstar Georges St-Pierre.
“This is my house,” the StIsidore native said.
Marc Bergevin wasn’t the only one to hold a news conference Monday in Montreal and while there was more focus on the Canadiens GM, there was also a large media turnout at the Tristar Gym to watch St-Pierre’s open workout ahead of UFC 217 on Nov. 4 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. That’s where St-Pierre (25-2-0) will make his return to the octagon after a four-year absence to fight champion Michael Bisping (31-7-0) for the UFC middleweight title.
“Here is a hardcore gym,” StPierre said about Tristar. “That’s where fighters are built … that’s where they are forged. That’s how it is, man. Fighters, normally they’re not forged in nice, clean and spoiled gyms. This is a fighter gym.”
And it definitely smells like it.
St-Pierre has built his own private gym — he calls it a “studio” — so he can hold workouts alone with his trainers and practise some secret moves.
“I don’t say it’s a gym because you guys are all going to show up on my doorstep and I don’t want that,” he told the media.
St-Pierre added that any time word spreads that he will be working out at Tristar, fans show up outside to greet him.
Whether you’re a fan of the UFC or not, the reality is that StPierre is the most famous athlete in Montreal — and probably Canada. You can go almost anywhere in the world and say his name and people will know who he is and where he’s from. It’s not the same with Carey Price or Max Pacioretty ... or Marc Bergevin.
The UFC has become a worldwide phenomenon.
When asked if he can go anywhere in Montreal without being mobbed, St-Pierre said: “Montreal is different … I can go anywhere. They recognize me sometimes, but it’s different. Actually, in some other cities I’m more popular.”
It was sort of funny to watch St-Pierre enter the Tristar Gym behind a bodyguard. You’d think if there’s one person who doesn’t need a bodyguard it would be St-Pierre. But believe it or not, there are people in public who will sometimes want to challenge the UFC star, so it’s necessary to have someone around to step in.
Is St-Pierre’s bodyguard tougher than him?
“He’s pretty tough,” St-Pierre said with a laugh. “He’s a tough guy.”
The last time St-Pierre was in the octagon was Nov. 16, 2013, when he won a split decision over Johny Hendricks at UFC 167 for his ninth consecutive defence of the welterweight title. But fame, fortune and life in the UFC spotlight had caught up with St-Pierre, who said he needed to step away because his life had become “completely insane” and a “freaking zoo.”
Asked how he has changed since then, St-Pierre said: “I’m the same guy, I’m just more happy. My life is easier now. I’m very happy.”
He looks happy, smiling and laughing throughout his bilingual news conference. But at age 36, why would St-Pierre want to put his body through another beating in the octagon — win or lose?
“To become the first after four years, coming back at the Madison Square Garden in front of everybody, fighting for the title I never had before,” he said, his voice getting louder with each word. “The middleweight title against Michael Bisping, who got the most wins in UFC history. Why should I not come back?
“I think I would be a fool,” he added. “A lot of people want to be in my shoes, but I’m lucky it’s me that had the opportunity to do that . ... This is crazy, it’s a great event. I will have memories for the rest of my life.”
St-Pierre admitted he has some concern about his health later in life, but added he has seen many doctors and that if a CT scan had shown signs of serious brain trauma he wouldn’t be fighting. St-Pierre added if he loses to Bisping he will retire and he will definitely not fight past age 40.
St-Pierre will have a tough fight against the 38-year-old Bisping.
“He’s very well-rounded,” St-Pierre said.” He’s got a lot of experience and he’s the champion for a reason ... he’s got the heart of a lion. This is the toughest fight I’ve had and I don’t ask for nothing less than this.
“I’m very scared and stressed and I’m afraid to fail,” he added. “But that feeling makes me better.”
So does the Tristar Gym — no matter how bad it smells.
The middleweight title against Michael Bisping, who got the most wins in UFC history. Why should I not come back? I think I would be a fool.