Issue 141
May 2016
Following rumors of a return at UFC 200, FO reviews the attributes that made ‘Rush’ the greatest welterweight of all time
Anatomy of an icon
Contender mindset
First in and last out of the gym, GSP adored training, pushed himself in every session and put in the hours to rectify any holes in his game. It made him perhaps the most complete mixed martial artist ever.
Role model
GSP was also a winner outside the Octagon, always helping with community causes and forever giving to his legion of fans. He was never in trouble and was a vocal advocate of PED-free competition.
Awesome athlete
As well as having the skills, ‘Rush’ had the strength and endurance too. He lifted like an Olympian in the weights room, embraced cutting-edge sports science and pioneered gymnastics training for MMA.
Winning mentality
When St Pierre’s mental strength was questioned following his defeat to Matt Serra he came back stronger. He consulted a sports psychologist and emphatically avenged his loss.
Boxing clever
‘Rush’ worked with the very best coaches from every field, including Hall of Fame boxing coach Freddie Roach. Under his tutelage, GSP added further to one of the best striking arsenals in the game.
Takedown titan
Due to his Olympic caliber wrestling – Georges flirted with trying out for the Canada during his UFC career – he boasted arguably the greatest double-leg takedown the Octagon has ever seen.
Georges St Pierre officially retired from MMA with a 25-2 record in November 2013, following a narrow points victory over Johny Hendricks that secured the ninth defense of his 170lb UFC title. Since then, hardly a month has gone by without media reports of his return. The most successful welterweight in MMA history has the perfect platform to come back this summer, at the marquee UFC 200 event in Las Vegas. It feels like now or never, but will ‘Rush’ return?
8 things you need to know about Kevin Randleman
1. Number 10
The former UFC heavyweight champion grew up as the second youngest in a family of 11 children.
2. Buckeye best
He owns four of the 10 quickest pins in Ohio State University wrestling history. The fastest: eight seconds.
3. Tough as nails
The OSU Buckeye won the NCAAs in his junior year despite dislocating his jaw during competition.
4. History maker
‘The Monster’ was the fifth UFC heavyweight champion and only the second to defend the belt.
5. Mirko KO!
Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ was a -450 favorite in their Pride 2004 Grand Prix fight, but was KO’d in 117 seconds.
6. Tiny paws
Randleman had incredibly small hands for a heavyweight, describing them as “iddy biddy” mitts.
7. Watch my back
The lion-eyes tattoo on his back, done during a trip to Brazil, were a tribute to his uncle who wore similar ink.
8. MMA tragedy
Randleman is the second former UFC champion to have died following Evan Tanner in 2008.
Tune in, walk out
Gangster, gangster
Don’t be no cholo, hit the cage with some proven rap classics
1) El Chapo - The Game ft. Skrillex
Conor McGregor’s fixation with Joaquin Guzman continued with a remix of his usual walkout track to include a cut named after the infamous drug lord. But like the Mexican cartel king, ‘The Notorious’ fell at UFC 196, courtesy of Nate Diaz’s DEA ground game. However, the power of the track proved once again that when it comes to pitching for battle few musical genres compare to the power of rap. With that in mind FO have composed a playlist featuring some of the best hip hop walkouts in MMA.
2) I’m A Soldier - 2Pac
The only way to begin is with Nate Diaz’s own infamous West Coast rap track.
3) Kick in The Door - Notorious BIG
Leading 145lb’er Frankie Edgar’s East Coast theme tune means business.
4) Run the Jewels - Run the Jewels
Jason High’s UFC walkouts were often better than his performances.
5) Work - Gang Starr
Jeremy Stephens’ rap game, like his fight game, is tight and grimy.
6) Right Above It - Lil Wayne ft. Drake
Daniel Cormier’s UFC 192 walk set him up for his 205lb belt defense.
7) Feel Me Flow - Naughty by Nature
Mark Hunt’s ’95 sizzler had the Aussie fans bouncing in the aisles at UFC 193.
8) Get It - Run the Jewels
They don’t call Rose Namajunas ‘Thug’ for nothing. Bad beats are mandatory.
9) Victory - Puff Daddy
Rashad Evans’ last entrance was to the sounds of this killer Rocky anthem remix.
10) We Must be Heard - DJ Drama ft. Ludacris
After three false starts, Danny Martinez found the soundtrack to Octagon success.
Trash talkin’
Coming up Trump
1) MMA’s most vocal sound out about the Republican presidential hopeful
That awkward moment when you think you are watching a UFC event and it turns out to be a Trump Rally.
Adam Hunter
2) I’m a Trump guy. I wasn’t in the beginning, of course, I’m Mexican when he said we need to take all the Mexicans out of the United States, well good luck on that one. They’ll find a way to get back here anyway.
Tito Ortiz
3) I wouldn’t trust that guy with running my country. I don’t want no reality TV star to be running my country!
Ronda Rousey
4) The Muslim ban and all the hate Donald Trump created, now I’m training with a bodyguard on the matt!
Siyar Bahadurzada
5) The whole thing is like a really bad reality TV show. #Americas NextTopReptile
Dan Hardy
6) People are really jazzed about Trump, because he just opens his mouth constantly and says just idiotic, inane stuff. It’s almost so over the top that I almost don’t believe he really believes that. He might be trolling a bunch of people.
Josh Barnett
