St. Pierre hones his skills in Brazil

[T]

sherdog.com - RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) arrived in Brazil on Tuesday, but not for its beaches. The Quebec native has already begun training with a cast of Gracie Barra black belts in preparation for the upcoming bout with Jon Fitch (Pictures) at UFC 87 "Seek and Destroy" on Aug. 9 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

"I came to train and improve my Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Gracie Barra," St. Pierre said. "The black belts have a unquestionable level (of skill) and I am looking to get a better game for my fight."

While the Canadian stays in Rio de Janeiro to sharpen his ground skills, he has also assumed a full training routine with Gustavo Machado (Pictures) and Aloisio Barros.

"They are two very good fighters and it is important to spar with them to get prepared," Sherdog's No. 1-ranked welterweight said.

St. Pierre isn't limiting his training in Brazil to one style. He also boxed in Nobre Arte, rolled with Gracie Barra Combat Team members and had a wrestling clinic with Adrian Jaoude, the brother of Olympic wrestler and International Fight League veteran Antoine Jaoude (Pictures).

"His wrestling skills are fantastic," Machado said of St. Pierre.

St. Pierre will leave Rio de Janeiro on June 10.

Smart move. Pierre wins via what ever he wants. This guy is an animal that only Penn can tame. As the Penn fight is more likely to happen than the Silva fight.

I wonder if he will go back there to train if the Penn fight happens?

[ChrisAM90]

Yeah, I've know he's been down in Brazil, he's coming straight to Virginia after that for a seminar with my gym, chyeah.

[Nate_Deezy]

HAHA YEAH! I train at Gracie Barra in Bloomington, IL. GSP is part of the GB family now too.....that's awesome.

[WinnipegRush]

Gotta love GSP baby!!!!

[singinkangaroooo]

what i love about GSP is he isnt resting on his past acheivments... he continues to search for the best out there so he can train and improve... its cool to show that he travels the world to find new training partners and stuff its cool

Originally Posted by nate_deezy

HAHA YEAH! I train at Gracie Barra in Bloomington, IL. GSP is part of the GB family now too.....that's awesome

i go to ISU and have a buddy that signed a contract down there.. now idk if it was your gym or not PM me the diff gyms in the area maybe you know him

[LethalStriker]

GSP used to drive down to NY to train with Renzo Gracie team(prior to the Serra fight). Been training with Jackson's team and now going to Brazil to train with Gracie Barra. You have to respect a guy who's a Top 3 P4P fighter who's still constantly trying to improve.

[Palma]

This could be bad news for Fitch... I wonder if he's finally training with a gi...

[LethalStriker]

GSP already has his Brown Belt from Renzo, I wonder how far off he's from getting his Black Belt.

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by Palma

This could be bad news for Fitch... I wonder if he's finally training with a gi...

That's exactly what I was about to post, I wonder if GSP is training gi or no gi.

I think GSP wins the Fitch fight by outclass. Not domination like GSP dominated Matt Serra or an old and apathetic Matt Hughes, but outfighting Fitch at basically every dimension of MMA for 25 minutes.

[Palma]

Originally Posted by Diegonightmare

That's exactly what I was about to post, I wonder if GSP is training gi or no gi.

I think GSP wins the Fitch fight by outclass. Not domination like GSP dominated Matt Serra or an old and apathetic Matt Hughes, but outfighting Fitch at basically every dimension of MMA for 25 minutes.

We'll see, but I think the biggest advantage Fitch has going into this fight is his grappling (very under rated imo)... If GSP get's better then Fitch is at that aspect then I think GSP will pull off a decision. And before someone chimes in: No... GSP is not better then Fitch in terms of BJJ at this point, but he might be soon.