UFC champ awes mixed martial arts fans

MANILA, Philippines –  Reigning UFC welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre ended his short three-day visit in the country with a training exhibition witnessed by thousands of mixed martial arts fans at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of Asia yesterday.

The Quebec native demonstrated his standup skills with muay thai trainer Sheewin Srisuk and later the Brazilian jiu-jitsu with a training partner named Jeff to the delight of the crowd that packed the spacious venue.

“Kamusta po kayo (How are you),” St. Pierre greeted his fans.

“I’m really a shy person but when I saw you people my first reaction was ‘Oh my God’ what am I gotten into,” he added.

St. Pierre, who will stake his title for the seventh time in a row, will return to the Octagon on Dec. 11 in UFC 124 in his hometown Quebec against Josh Koschek, whom the former already defeated in UFC 74 in Las Vegas via a unanimous decision.

“He (Koschek) kept on saying bad things about me but I will not say anything against him. I’ll just let this do the talking,” said the man everybody calls GSP pointing to his right fist.

St. Pierre was so happy with the experience that he is planning to come back.

“This is my first time in the Philippines and in Asia. The welcome, the food, the people and the weather are great. Maybe I’ll return here for a vacation,” said St. Pierre. “Or maybe I’ll fight here in Manila in the future.”

The event was made possible by Balls Sky Cable 34, television giant ABS-CBN’s sports cable channel, and Colt 45 with support from Accel, Sportshaus, Rexona Men, The Philippine STAR and the UFC magazine.

The Canadian fighter arrived Friday to promote one of the world’s fastest growing sports, which could be seen live in Asia in two years time.

Zuffa, LLC, an international media company that owns the UFC, has set up a regional office in Beijing, China, hoping to strengthen its fan base and finally hold fights in the region.

There were actually plans to hold fights here as early as two years ago when UFC chief executive officer Lorenzo Fertitta visited the country along with the legendary Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell.

But it didn’t materialize due to the unstable world economic condition.

Sky Cable 34 Balls and UHL channel Studio 23 have been airing UFC fights for almost three years now.