Jon Fitch just made some pretty big claims.
The longtime welterweight contender, first in the UFC and now with World Series of Fighting, recently reminisced over his 2008 title bout with Georges St-Pierre. And though Fitch lost that fight by unanimous decision, he did make it reasonably close, thanks to his sludgy grappling game.
But in comments made to Steve Juon of MMA Mania, Fitch took it a step beyond moral victory, asserting that the fight had long-lasting effects on the champ:
I think that I broke him in that fight. He never fought the same way again. He started fighting very safe, very cautious. He stopped finishing people. I think I got into his head that fight, and that's why I wanted to fight him again so bad. That first fight I had zero defense on the feet. Everything he threw landed.
At a glance, the numbers appear to lend some support to Fitch's case. Before his fight with Fitch, GSP earned 12 of 17 professional wins by stoppage. In the eight fights since, all were victories but only one ended inside the distance.
.@jonfitchdotnet thinks he 'broke' @GeorgesStPierre, ready for 'big' @OkamiYushin #WSOF24 http://t.co/ijR81vOoKu pic.twitter.com/DQnwmM1gts
— MMA mania (@mmamania) October 6, 2015
However, an objective observer might suggest that there were other reasons for the shift. The pressure to remain champion, combined with an overall shift toward avoiding injuries, may also have been a factor.
Still, the soundbite from Fitch is an interesting one. With St-Pierre currently on what increasingly appears to be a long-term hiatus from the sport, Fitch may not get his rematch any time soon. But a man can hope.
While Fitch was at it, he speculated on what might have forced GSP to the sidelines. Fitch, who is a plaintiff in a major ongoing lawsuit against UFC parent company Zuffa, said St-Pierre was unhappy with the state of affairs in the world's largest MMA promotion.
I don't think he was happy with Zuffa, like a lot of fighters are not happy with them. I hope he lets his contract expire with them and is free and clear of them. He could come back and promote his own show in Canada like [Floyd] Mayweather does and make $20-30 million a fight.
