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SPORTS & HEALTH THE ONTARION
1 0 | K AE PE R NI CK BOOK
1 4 | ROC K C L IMBING WALL
@ Ont ar i on _ S p o r t s
O PI N I O N
Retaking his MMA throne: Georges St-Pierre returns UFC 217 MAIN EVENT PREVIEW JA N A N S H OJA D O O S T
IT’S ABOUT TIME that Canadian
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is on everybody’s lips again. Georges St-Pierre (GSP), a former welterweight champion in the UFC and Canadian icon, will be fighting after four years of absence at UFC 217 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 4. GSP’s fights have never disappointed fans, but this time around, things might have an interesting twist. After retiring in 2013, GSP has decided to get back into the octagon once again to prove that he’s still got it. The UFC matchmakers, however, aren’t making it any easier on GSP, as they have lined him up against one of the toughest brawlers in the entire organization
The Quebec native George St-Pierre returns to the octagon after coming out of retirement at age 36. | PHOTO COURTESY OF BJ PENN
— Michael Bisping, the current UFC middleweight champion. The middleweight division is higher up in the MMA weight classes, with the fighters weighing in at 185 pounds, compared to the welterweight class’ 170 pounds. Although GSP has fought in welterweight for most of his professional fights, the transition to middleweight isn’t necessarily a bad thing for him, since he could deploy the extra weight to strengthen his strikes and takedowns.
To overcome challenges presented by Bisping, GSP needs to organize a game plan to outsmart his opponent, while maintaining his stamina throughout the fight. Firstly, GSP should never underestimate Bisping: he needs to be cautious at all times — Bisping is notorious for strong counterpunching. To make himself distinguishable in this fight, GSP must var y his st yle by switching back and forth between strong striking and grappling.
If GSP is able to catch him off guard, Bisping’s counterpunches may be mitigated. Another thing that GSP needs to watch out for is his energy management. He will have to conserve by knowing when to attack with full power. Not only does he have to box efficiently and throw fewer punch combinations, he will also have to ensure accuracy and power each time, as Bisping is known to have a tough chin. The same concept applies to
grappling: GSP mustn’t hold back on shooting for takedowns. While wrestling with Bisping, GSP needs to do the least amount of work possible, but just enough to ensure dominant submission positions on the ground. Bisping is one heck of an opponent, but GSP has done this before. Without a doubt, he will do it again. On Nov. 4, history will be made and we will all behold the remarkable comeback of the great Georges St-Pierre.
PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR
U o f G s t u d e nt , Va l e r i e L i ny, s h a r e s t h o u g ht s o n K a e p e r n i c k . PHOTO BY MATTEO CIMMELLARO
Liny notes, “maybe the book deal will help the movement he started by attracting more media. I don’t think the movement will affect him from getting a job at the NFL, I think [given] what he’s already done, this will [increase] his chances for standing up for [the black community].” Sam Boston, a fourth year real estate and housing student, said
he will buy the book because what Kaepernick is doing is “amazing.” He continued that Kaepernick’s voice will “definitely be heard.” Boston believes the book will “help his movement, because everyone is talking about it and hopefully it brings a change.” “I hope he gets a job with the NFL, because he is a good player [and] just because he stands up
Students react to Colin Kaepernick’s book deal CONTROVERSIAL PLAYER RECEIVES DEAL AMIDST GRIEVANCES WITH NFL B U KO L A TO LU Y E M I
COLIN KAEPERNICK has recently
inked a book deal worth just over $1 million with Random House imprint One World. Kaepernick, the ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback, launched the current movement of NFL players protesting during the nat iona l a nt hem, a nd mo st recently, has filed a controversial collusion grievance against league owners. He’s still looking for a job in the NFL after opting out of his
49ers contract earlier this year. The Ontarion was able to speak with some students about whether they will buy and read the book, and if they think the book will hurt Kaepernick’s chances of getting a job. Valerie Liny, a fourth year applied human nutrition student, said that she might not buy the book, not because she is against Kaepernick, but because she is “not much of a reader.”
against them, doesn’t mean he should not have a job,” Boston said. It is still unclear as to when the book will be released and what the content of the book will be; however, it is clear that people are already interested in the speculation of a book written by one of the most outspoken political players in the NFL.