St-Pierre using Koscheck's trash talk as motivation

TORONTO - In Georges St-Pierre's mind, being a champion means always acting with class and professionalism.

But the charismatic and articulate UFC welterweight champion admits trash-talking Josh Koscheck is getting into his head with his personal attacks against the 29-year-old Montreal native. And St-Pierre is using as motivation in preparation for his title defence against the brash challenger in December.

"I always train hard and never underestimate my opponent but when you have a guy who says a lot of bad things, and I'm not going to hide it, a lot of stupid things about me and tries to insult me it gives me extra motivation," said St-Pierre, in Toronto to take part in a symposium conducted by Gatorade, one of his sponsors. "He's thinking that he's getting into my head but getting into my head for a fight is a good thing because I think about him all the time.

"It's extra motivation and that's a good thing."

Not that St-Pierre needs it. He's currently ranked as the world's top welterweight by numerous MMA publications and last year won Fighter of the Year at the world MMA awards.

But the outspoken Koscheck (15-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) has wasted no time providing St-Pierre (20-2 MMA, 15-2 UFC) with bulletin board material since earning the title shot with a victory in May over Paul Daley in UFC 113.

Shortly after the win over Daley, Koscheck discussed accusations within mixed martial arts that the muscular five-foot-10, 170-pound St-Pierre had experimented with steroids and said he'd be in favour of submitting random blood tests to make sure both fighters are clean heading into their fight.

Koscheck quickly apologized for his remarks.

Then earlier this month, Koscheck said on Twitter he had "a frenchy's ass to kick."

"This is personal stuff," St-Pierre said. "I believe as a professional you should not say something like that.

"He's not the only guy who has said stupid stuff like this to me, I'm used to it. And I'm smart enough to fight him smart and not fight him with emotion and make a mistake. But when it's time to punch him, just the little extra motivation I'm going to have at the end of the punch to twist my knuckle into the head, it will be good thing. It will give me an extra power edge.''

This isn't the first time opponents have tried trash-talking the heritage of St-Pierre, who has a fleur-de-lis tattooed on his calf.

Matt Serra, upset at comments by St-Pierre after his UFC 69 title loss to Serra, told a radio show: "Drink your red wine, go to your hockey game and shut up," while referring to the Montreal fighter as "Frenchy."

St-Pierre also complained prior to UFC 65 that Hughes told a Los Angeles station the French have no heart.

St-Pierre went on to beat both for the title.

St-Pierre and Koscheck have met before, with the Canadian taking a close but unanimous decision at UFC 74 in August 2007. The fight was St-Pierre's first after losing to Serra four months prior.

St-Pierre said he fully understands the role fighters have to actively promote their bouts but added issuing personal attacks crosses the line.

"It (trash talk) is needed for some guys like Josh Koscheck but it's not needed for someone like me," St-Pierre said. "I'm very skilled, I can make the fight interesting and I don't need to talk smack to sell a fight.

"I'm from a traditional martial arts background and the first thing you learn is respect so I give respect to every one of my opponents. Even if my opponent disrespects me I respect him because I don't want to go down to this level. Also, because I have an image to provide as a champion as well as a well-spoken person for the sport.''

St-Pierre says while his focus remains firmly on Koscheck, he does have loftier goals, like becoming the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the sport's history.

"I have not reached that goal yet," he said. "Every champion has fights that make him a great champion and are highlights.

"I want to have those highlights and some of those fights in my career. Of course, you have to beat the best guys in the sport.''

So would that include a dream bout with Brazilian Anderson Silva, the UFC's middleweight champion?

"I don't know if that's going to happen," St-Pierre said. "It's not on my radar right now. Maybe one day it will be, we'll have to see what happens.

"Right now, I'm thinking about Josh Koscheck. There's a lot of guys in my division and I think it's disrespectful to think about going ahead of these guys because they're much better than people think and people don't give them enough credit."