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UFC Welterweight Champion Georges "Rush" St. Pierre returned to the Octagon Saturday night at UFC 111 for the first time in eight months after recovery from a torn abductor muscle. Facing off against tough talking Brit Dan Hardy, the prevailing belief among MMA fans and journalists was that St. Pierre was simply the much better fighter and Hardy not much of a challenge.
That belief was proven at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
St. Pierre made things look easy in a five round clinic over Hardy, retaining his Welterweight Championship to judges scores of 50-43, 50-44 and 50-45. There wasn't a moment in the fight where the outcome was in doubt, as Hardy was incapable of stopping the takedowns of St. Pierre and, once on his back, unable to get himself back up to his feet.
St. Pierre didn't just coast in the fight, either. Two submission attempts by the Champion would have caused many a fighter to tap, but Dan Hardy showed immense heart and refused to submit, though his face expressed clear agony at moments.
The first of the submissions nearly ended the fight in the first round. After dominating the action on the ground, taking Hardy's back and constantly improving position, St. Pierre threw his legs over for an armbar and contorted Hardy's arm in sickening fashion. But the challenger wouldn't fold.
After another round and a half of St. Pierre retaining top control, he grabbed hold of a kimura and wrenched Hardy's arm behind his back. Again, Hardy was in clear pain, but he refused to submit. St. Pierre continued this dominant top game throughout the rest of the fight, and though he was upset with himself for not finishing the fight, a lot of credit needs to go to Dan Hardy for surviving.
With the win St. Pierre has now defended his UFC Welterweight Championship for a fourth straight time, and he continues to solidify himself as one of the most dominant Champions in UFC history.
Penick's Analysis: Hardy was just completely outclassed in this fight. Even in the brief moments they were standing, GSP beat Hardy to the punch and then took him down at will. Hardy probably should have tapped to that kimura, but he decided to risk the injury to continue. It may have been a dumb show of stubbornness on his part, as he could have seriously injured both of his arms in those two holds, but he certainly won over some fans for being a very ballsy challenger. He was nowhere near being on GSP's level, and it was just clear in every second of that fight. People will criticize GSP for being a "boring" fighter after this, but it was exciting for much of the dominating five rounds and that label is unwarranted.
[Georges St. Pierre art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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