Dana White Believes GSP Cornerman Cheated
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
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ST. PIERRE FILES RESPONSE TO PENN'S ALLEGATIONS
Following the filing of a letter with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on behalf of B.J. Penn a few weeks ago, the camp around Georges St. Pierre has done the same. Head trainer Greg Jackson, cornerman Phil Nurse, holistic healer Steven Friend, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach John Danaher, responded in kind to the Commission.
In the letter, Camp St. Pierre says they "vehemently deny any allegation as to the intentional and illegal use of 'grease' for Georges' benefit during UFC 94." The statement goes on in great detail, with supporting letters from St. Pierre's coaches, that it was his skill and training that made him the better fighter over Penn that night, not the application of Vaseline.
The controversy stems from cornerman Phil Nurse being seen between rounds using his hands to apply Vaseline to St. Pierre's face then placing them on the welterweight champion's chest and back. Penn's camp has alleged since the incident that the application of the Vaseline was done intentionally as to give St. Pierre an advantage over the Hawaiian, thus negating his guard game on the ground.
The filing by Camp St. Pierre talks in great detail about the breathing technique used by Mr. Friend that was implemented by Phil Nurse during the fight, and how this technique has been used in previous MMA fights, by other fighters as well.
Mr. Friend in his letter to the commission tells about his introduction to the sport of MMA by UFC president Dana White, and his work with previous athletes such as Randy Couture, using a similar breathing technique.
After witnessing St. Pierre's fight against Jon Fitch in August 2007, Mr. Friend noticed some problems with the Canadian's breathing during the bout and intervened with a technique to help him before and during the fight.
"After what I witnessed at the Fitch fight, I was adamant with George and his corner that this technique be implemented before and during the B.J. Penn fight," said Mr. Friend in his letter. "Consequently on the afternoon before the fight, I prepared Georges' corner, and in particular Phil Nurse, on how to administer this technique of rubbing the back correctly."
St. Pierre's lead Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, John Danaher, a Renzo Gracie prodigy, also stepped in to defend his fighter's position throughout the fight as well as pointing out that Penn has actually "never controlled an opponent from guard position in a way that led to the finish of the match, or even a decisive attack that turned the course of a match in his entire MMA career."
Danaher goes on to note the claims of Penn's camp that the UFC lightweight champion was unable to use his "rubber guard" game in the fight due to St. Pierre's alleged infraction. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach in the letter talks about the famed guard game developed by Eddie Bravo, and explains that while the "high guard" of B.J. Penn shows extraordinary flexibility and skill, "Mr. Penn is not a user of the rubber guard system."
In the end, the team of trainers stepping in for St. Pierre in this situation simply state that it was their fighter's training and skill set that got him past Penn that night, and not some form of cheating.
The closing of the letter to the commission states in response to Penn's claims, "we strongly believe that we have done nothing to violate Nevada State Athletic Commission rules, or to otherwise impugn the outcome of UFC 94, the integrity of the UFC, or the sport and that the letter constitutes nothing more than Mr. Penn's desperate attempt to protect his reputation and commercial value after being totally dominated by a superior athlete."
The letters were sent to Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer, who could bring both St. Pierre's and Penn's claims before the commission at a later date.
Following the filing of a letter with the Nevada State Athletic Commission on behalf of B.J. Penn a few weeks ago, the camp around Georges St. Pierre has done the same. Head trainer Greg Jackson, cornerman Phil Nurse, holistic healer Steven Friend, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach John Danaher, responded in kind to the Commission.
In the letter, Camp St. Pierre says they "vehemently deny any allegation as to the intentional and illegal use of 'grease' for Georges' benefit during UFC 94." The statement goes on in great detail, with supporting letters from St. Pierre's coaches, that it was his skill and training that made him the better fighter over Penn that night, not the application of Vaseline.
The controversy stems from cornerman Phil Nurse being seen between rounds using his hands to apply Vaseline to St. Pierre's face then placing them on the welterweight champion's chest and back. Penn's camp has alleged since the incident that the application of the Vaseline was done intentionally as to give St. Pierre an advantage over the Hawaiian, thus negating his guard game on the ground.
The filing by Camp St. Pierre talks in great detail about the breathing technique used by Mr. Friend that was implemented by Phil Nurse during the fight, and how this technique has been used in previous MMA fights, by other fighters as well.
Mr. Friend in his letter to the commission tells about his introduction to the sport of MMA by UFC president Dana White, and his work with previous athletes such as Randy Couture, using a similar breathing technique.
After witnessing St. Pierre's fight against Jon Fitch in August 2007, Mr. Friend noticed some problems with the Canadian's breathing during the bout and intervened with a technique to help him before and during the fight.
"After what I witnessed at the Fitch fight, I was adamant with George and his corner that this technique be implemented before and during the B.J. Penn fight," said Mr. Friend in his letter. "Consequently on the afternoon before the fight, I prepared Georges' corner, and in particular Phil Nurse, on how to administer this technique of rubbing the back correctly."
St. Pierre's lead Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor, John Danaher, a Renzo Gracie prodigy, also stepped in to defend his fighter's position throughout the fight as well as pointing out that Penn has actually "never controlled an opponent from guard position in a way that led to the finish of the match, or even a decisive attack that turned the course of a match in his entire MMA career."
Danaher goes on to note the claims of Penn's camp that the UFC lightweight champion was unable to use his "rubber guard" game in the fight due to St. Pierre's alleged infraction. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach in the letter talks about the famed guard game developed by Eddie Bravo, and explains that while the "high guard" of B.J. Penn shows extraordinary flexibility and skill, "Mr. Penn is not a user of the rubber guard system."
In the end, the team of trainers stepping in for St. Pierre in this situation simply state that it was their fighter's training and skill set that got him past Penn that night, and not some form of cheating.
The closing of the letter to the commission states in response to Penn's claims, "we strongly believe that we have done nothing to violate Nevada State Athletic Commission rules, or to otherwise impugn the outcome of UFC 94, the integrity of the UFC, or the sport and that the letter constitutes nothing more than Mr. Penn's desperate attempt to protect his reputation and commercial value after being totally dominated by a superior athlete."
The letters were sent to Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer, who could bring both St. Pierre's and Penn's claims before the commission at a later date.
With response from St. Pierre's camp filed, NSAC sets March 17 review
While many questions have been brought forth by both B.J. Penn and Georges St. Pierre's camps following their UFC 94 main-event bout, the time has now been set to start getting answers.
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the NSAC will be reviewing the Jan. 31 bout at their next official meeting, set for March 17.
The review follows weeks of accusations and rebuttals, but does not guarantee the allegations of excessive "greasing" of St. Pierre will be immediately resolved.
Penn's camp initially filed a letter which served as an official request of a formal investigation just days after the UFC 94 bout. In the letter, Penn's attorney, Raffi A. Nahabedian, alleged that St. Pierre's team applied excessive amounts of Vaseline to the fighter's shoulders and back between rounds in an effort to gain an unfair advantage.
The letter went on to explain that St. Pierre was very slippery during the bout, and that the condition rendered Penn unable to properly implement his preferred Brazilian jiu-jitsu strategies.
Penn's camp would then plead their case in the court of public opinion with a nearly seven-minute video montage of clips of the Vaseline apparently being applied, commission executives wiping St. Pierre down, interviews with St. Pierre's former opponents, including Sean Sherk (who jokes that St. Pierre seemed oiled up), as well as other excerpts from recent coverage of the incident.
While obviously one-sided in nature, Penn's video has been widely viewed since its relief and proven persuasive with many fans.
Though the original request for investigation was not considered an official complaint, Kizer immediately requested responses to the letter from the members of St. Pierre's team. That response came in the way of a 17-page statement from St. Pierre's camp which included supporting statements from cornermen Phil Nurse and Greg Jackson.
Also included were statements from the developer of the "breathing technique" St. Pierre's camp asserts was falsely observed as Vaseline application, Steven Friend, and St. Pierre's grappling coach John Danaher. The entire response has been posted for public viewing by the Los Angeles Times.
The response insists that all parties involved had no intentions of participating in unfair or illegal actions and even goes so far as to offer a series of steps the NSAC could implement to ensure there are no further incidents involving a controversial application of Vaseline.
St. Pierre's camp has also allegedly released a video compilation of its own showing the described breathing technique developed by Friend used in several situations. The video is available for public viewing on YouTube.
For his part, UFC President Dana White has said the incident was an unfortunate -- and unnecessary -- factor in what should have been a celebration of an epic battle.
"[St. Pierre's cornerman] didn't have to put grease on him," White recently told The Canadian Press. "Georges St. Pierre was winning the fight, he was dominant in the standup and on the ground. To have a fight or a fighter like St. Pierre tainted over a stupidity, I hate it. It sucks."
The March 17 hearing will be another step in the NSAC's quest to determine what, if any, disciplinary measures should be taken in response to Penn's allegations. With Penn's camp still intending to file a formal complaint, the meeting is not expected to be the last we hear of the slippery situation.
While many questions have been brought forth by both B.J. Penn and Georges St. Pierre's camps following their UFC 94 main-event bout, the time has now been set to start getting answers.
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the NSAC will be reviewing the Jan. 31 bout at their next official meeting, set for March 17.
The review follows weeks of accusations and rebuttals, but does not guarantee the allegations of excessive "greasing" of St. Pierre will be immediately resolved.
Penn's camp initially filed a letter which served as an official request of a formal investigation just days after the UFC 94 bout. In the letter, Penn's attorney, Raffi A. Nahabedian, alleged that St. Pierre's team applied excessive amounts of Vaseline to the fighter's shoulders and back between rounds in an effort to gain an unfair advantage.
The letter went on to explain that St. Pierre was very slippery during the bout, and that the condition rendered Penn unable to properly implement his preferred Brazilian jiu-jitsu strategies.
Penn's camp would then plead their case in the court of public opinion with a nearly seven-minute video montage of clips of the Vaseline apparently being applied, commission executives wiping St. Pierre down, interviews with St. Pierre's former opponents, including Sean Sherk (who jokes that St. Pierre seemed oiled up), as well as other excerpts from recent coverage of the incident.
While obviously one-sided in nature, Penn's video has been widely viewed since its relief and proven persuasive with many fans.
Though the original request for investigation was not considered an official complaint, Kizer immediately requested responses to the letter from the members of St. Pierre's team. That response came in the way of a 17-page statement from St. Pierre's camp which included supporting statements from cornermen Phil Nurse and Greg Jackson.
Also included were statements from the developer of the "breathing technique" St. Pierre's camp asserts was falsely observed as Vaseline application, Steven Friend, and St. Pierre's grappling coach John Danaher. The entire response has been posted for public viewing by the Los Angeles Times.
The response insists that all parties involved had no intentions of participating in unfair or illegal actions and even goes so far as to offer a series of steps the NSAC could implement to ensure there are no further incidents involving a controversial application of Vaseline.
St. Pierre's camp has also allegedly released a video compilation of its own showing the described breathing technique developed by Friend used in several situations. The video is available for public viewing on YouTube.
For his part, UFC President Dana White has said the incident was an unfortunate -- and unnecessary -- factor in what should have been a celebration of an epic battle.
"[St. Pierre's cornerman] didn't have to put grease on him," White recently told The Canadian Press. "Georges St. Pierre was winning the fight, he was dominant in the standup and on the ground. To have a fight or a fighter like St. Pierre tainted over a stupidity, I hate it. It sucks."
The March 17 hearing will be another step in the NSAC's quest to determine what, if any, disciplinary measures should be taken in response to Penn's allegations. With Penn's camp still intending to file a formal complaint, the meeting is not expected to be the last we hear of the slippery situation.
