Mike Winkeljohn: Carlos Condit Wants to Punish Georges St. Pierre When He Shoots at UFC 154

“Georges is the best in the world at what he does, but at the same time, we know what he does,” Mike Winkeljohn, Condit’s trainer, told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Rewind” show. “He does that, and hardly anybody’s been able really to stop it, but with that being said, Carlos has got something for him. Every time he wants to shoot in, we want to not give him the proper distance. We want to not be there when he does shoot, but when he does, we want to have something there for him.”

St. Pierre and Condit meet Nov. 17 in Montreal. The bout marks St. Pierre’s first since tearing his ACL. While the welterweight champion was on the sideline, Condit used his movement and striking to outpoint Nick Diaz and claim the interim title.

“He definitely followed my game plan for Nick Diaz to a T, but with that being said, it’s different with Georges,” Winkeljohn said. “Nick comes back from the dead. I think Carlos can unload on Georges and do damage early, and that will pay benefits as we go on … . You will see a different fight that way. The way to fight Georges is not to back away and touch him because he’s going to eventually take you down and ride out a decision that way and he could finish you. Georges is great in many different positions, but the way to beat Georges is to hurt him.”

To that end, Condit has been working on all facets of his game, including his jiu-jitsu.

“That’s what this fight is going to come down to: Carlos can strike from so many places,” Winkeljohn said. “He can hurt you in so many ways. What people have forgotten is that early in Carlos’ career, he was tapping people out left and right. Carlos is great with his submissions and working on them daily.”

That doesn’t mean Condit wants to be on his back, trying to lock up triangles, though. He’ll look to use his wrestling defense as well as his striking and his timing to thwart St. Pierre’s takedowns. And even though the Condit camp respects St. Pierre’s striking, at the end of the day they’re confident he’s going to try to move the fight to the ground.

“He wants to time Carlos’ footwork to come forward and shoot on Carlos,” Winkeljohn said. “There’s no doubt about it. He’s got to close the gap. Carlos is longer -- we know that, so that’s what we’re looking for. Things are going to happen when one of the two guys close the gap.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:58).