"Georges is looking fantastic as always. You're going to see GSP look better than ever. Dan Hardy is a very good striker, a very good standup fighter. I don't think he's better than Georges in wrestling or Jiu Jitsu, but he's definitely a very dangerous striker and that's something that we're going to have to exploit on fight night, but I think Georges can attack him from too many places and I feel Georges has many many advantagesÂ… I don't see Georges quitting the UFC and pursuing a wrestling career at all," stated top MMA trainer Firas Zahabi as he talked about UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and his upcoming title defense against Dan Hardy. Check it out!
PC: How is everything going Firas?
FZ: Fantastic man. How is everything with you?
PC: Everything is going great my man. Kenny Florian told me that you are a genius, so what's one million timesÂ…I'm not going to test it out (laughing).
FZ: I don't want to take the test now (laughing).
PC: Kenny said you are a very intelligent man and not just in mixed martial arts. You had your first fight with him as his head trainer. What did you think of his performance against Clay Guida?
FZ: I thought it was complete. He did a lot of the stuff that we had been working on. I changed up his style a little bit. He was jabbing a lot and he learned how to box properly. I was really happy that he knocked Clay Guida down. I was really happy about that because he's never dropped a guy like that. Clay Guida has an incredible chin.
PC: Was it uncomfortable, or at the very least a little awkward, for you to train in an opposite corners than Greg Jackson?
FZ: Yeah it was and to be honest, it wasn't supposed to work out that way because me and Greg, we work together very closely. Me and Greg are on the same team and it just really worked out that way because at the end of the day, we want what's best for the fighters and that's the backbone of our team; we want what's best for the fighters. Originally, it was supposed to be me in Kenny's corner only. It was kind of putting the coach's needs ahead of the fighter, so we decided to do what's best for the fighters. I was happy we did it, but I really don't think it's going to happen again. Me and Greg talked about the situation and in a way, it's good because it just shows that our team is growing and getting stronger and stronger and hopefully the top guys are going to be with us. If they seek our help, that's going to happen sometimes.
PC: Was it important for Kenny's fight to go into the 2nd round so you could work with him in between a round, being that you were with him for the first time?
FZ: No. I would have been satisfied if he would have finished the fight in the 1st round. I never encourage my guys to try to finish a fight fast or try to drag it on and let it go. I really believe you have to treat a fight like a wave and you gotta surf the wave. You don't let it take you wherever you want, but you can't expect it to go a certain way either. The coach's job is not just to coach during the fight, but it's the months of preparation prior to the fight. Me and Kenny worked well together leading up to that point, so I just wanted to get the win I didn't need to see anymore. I wanted him to be impressive and I think that he was.
PC: What would you like to see the UFC do with Kenny next?
FZ: I want to change one thing at a time with his style. I want to keep improving his hands, his wrestling and just make him an all-around fighter over the years. I want to take him to the next level and make him better everywhere.
PC: Georges St. Pierre is back in the gym. How is he looking and what do you think of Dan Hardy as an opponent?
FZ: Georges is looking fantastic as always. You're going to see GSP look better than ever. Dan Hardy is a very good striker, a very good standup fighter. I don't think he's better than Georges in wrestling or Jiu Jitsu, but he's definitely a very dangerous striker and that's something that we're going to have to exploit on fight night, but I think Georges can attack him from too many places and I feel Georges has many many advantages.
PC: Georges has received a ton of accolades this year and a lot of doors opened up for him. What do you feel keeps him grounded, because he never seems affected by the fame?
FZ: He was raised really well. He was raised in a small town and his parents are very good people. They raised him right and they taught him values. They just taught him all of the basics of having values and he's been like that his entire life, so I don't think there is anything that can happen that will change that.
PC: There has been a lot of talk about GSP vacating his title and training for the Olympics. How realistic is that?
FZ: I don't think it isÂ…I think it was blown out of proportion. I don't see GSP relinquishing his title and trying out for the Olympics. I think it was just blown out of proportion. He was just saying like it's one of his goals. Georges is very goal oriented; he has many goals. The guy wants to do everything and now he's doing MMA. Maybe in the future, depends on how everything goes, that may be a possibility too, but that thing was really blown out of proportion. I don't see him quitting the UFC and pursuing a wrestling career at all!
PC: Although Jon Jones looked great, you have to be a little disappointed at the way the Hamill fight ended and that the Commission wouldn't review his case?
FZ: Jon is handling it with grace. He's going to be back up here training soon. If you're going to lose, that's the best way to lose. The guy did everything. He didn't even give Matt Hamill a chance to get going. He lost hisÂ…I guess he kind of forgot about the rule in the heat of the moment and he kind of lost his head. He apologized for it and he took the disqualification well. He will be back stronger than ever and he's going to win a lot of fights impressively and nobody will remember his disqualification.
PC: I have never seen Hamill handled so easily, not even in the Rich Franklin fight, so I'm sure you were impressed with his effort.
FZ: I remember Roy Jones during his prime and he lost one fight due to disqualification and then he came back and knocked the guy out in 1 round. I really feel Jon is in the same situation. He didn't lose the fight because he wasn't the better fighter; he lost the fight because he beat himself. He disqualified himself by breaking the rules, even though it was unintentional. It happens and he will bounce back he will get some great wins and people won't remember this at all. It won't affect his fighting legacy.
PC: Well, as fast as you are producing great fighters, we may have to bring you on every week. Good luck with your upcoming fighters. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
FZ: (Laughing) I can't think of anything. Thank you Percy.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]