Shields (crouching) helps GSP (third standing) (Photo: Reproduction Instagram jakeshields)
Canadian Georges St Pierre is just under a month away from returning to MMA after more than four years away. Former welterweight champion, he faces Michael Bisping at UFC 217 for the middleweight title and has used the help of a former rival in preparing to take on the Englishman: Jake Shields, former Strikeforce and WSOF champion, has been training with GSP in recent days and should be part of the preparation camp for the final stretch of training for the duel on November 4th.
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The two faced each other at the historic UFC 129, which at the time was the event with the largest number of fans present: 55,724. It took more than four years for the record to be broken – in 2015, Holly holm knocked out Ronda Rousey at UFC 193 in front of just over 56 thousand people. In 2011, St. Pierre used his jabs to stay away from Shields' sharp ground and won by unanimous decision in a fight criticized by fans and experts. On the same night, José Aldo debuted in Ultimate with a great performance against Mark hominick in the first defense of his featherweight belt.
This time, however, the duels are taking place on the mat, as Jake Shields, normally a training partner of another of GSP's rivals, Nick Diaz, has helped the Canadian in wrestling and jiu-jitsu, indicating that, in fact, St. Pierre's plan for UFC 217 is to invest in his takedowns and his pressure game from above and not in striking, which is his strong point. Bisping. GSP also recruited the help of another former UFC fighter, light heavyweight Francis Carmont, as well as Garry Tonon, a grappling phenomenon, and John Danaher, a disciple of Renzo Gracie and one of the best jiu-jitsu coaches in the world.
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