UFC
UFC 124 PREVIEW: Georges St. Pierre improving his punching power and finishing ability heading into showdown with Josh Koscheck
Dec 7, 2010 - 11:40:28 PM UFC 124 PREVIEW: Georges St. Pierre improving his punching power and finishing ability heading into showdown with Josh Koscheck

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

While UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre is widely considered one of the best MMA fighters in the world, he has received a lot of criticism in recent bouts for not finishing fights.

But heading into his UFC 124 bout with Josh Koscheck, that's something that St. Pierre says he's been focusing on.

"The main thing I've been working on for this fight has been my finishes. My knockout power and my finishes," St. Pierre said on a conference call on Monday. "I want to finish fights. I want the killer instinct. If I have the chance to finish the fight, I’m going to take it."

In attempting to improve his finishing ability, St. Pierre has enlisted the services of famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach, and St. Pierre points to Roach's coaching as a major improvement in his game.

"Before I knew him I thought I knew boxing, but I didn't," St. Pierre said. "I've been working a lot on punching power... A lot of the mechanics I was doing was wrong and [Roach] helped correct me. In my first fight with Josh, when I was striking, it was to set up my takedowns. This time, it will be to knock him out."

"If i get an opportunity to finish I'll be able to do that a lot better this time."

Penick's Analysis: St. Pierre's got the ability to finish, he's always had it, he's simply been up against some very tough competitors and has been content with domination through five rounds. But I'd expect to see an improved striking game from St. Pierre, and I think it's wrong for so many to forget his fight with Jon Fitch. Especially Koscheck. St. Pierre doesn't need to take Koscheck down to win this fight, despite Koscheck believing that will be St. Pierre's gameplan. I'm sure he feels his striking game is better, but I'm not so sure that's the case. I think an exciting fight is in the cards on Saturday, though, and this is going to be one of the biggest fights the UFC has had all year.

[GSP art by Travis Beaven (c) MMATorch.com]