• UFC 137

Condit is not my friend - St-Pierre

Georges St-Pierre has cut through any suggestions that he won't be 100 per cent motivated to beat Carlos Condit at UFC 137, insisting the challenger is "not my friend".

St-Pierre and Condit go head-to-head for the welterweight title on October 29. However, it won't be like any normal championship bout, with the two rivals both trained by the same camp.

In the past the likes of Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch have vowed never to fight one another, but Condit has always said he would be happy to fight St-Pierre. And in the champion's eyes, there will be no sentiment on the night.

"He's not my friend, and I don't put any emotion in, but I believe I will have the key to victory," St-Pierre said. "I do believe I will be able to knock him out or submit him. I will remain the welterweight champion."

Condit promises to make an intriguing fight in St-Pierre's latest title defence, providing a threat both when standing and on the mat. Unlike some of GSP's other title defences, when he either struck exclusively against Jake Shields or wrestled relentlessly against Dan Hardy, the champion knows he'll be tested in a number of areas by his team-mate.

"In the ranking, I do believe Carlos Condit was the number one contender," St-Pierre said. "In the eyes of everyone and the UFC, Carlos Condit was the one that deserved a shot. I believe Carlos poses problems to me that I haven't seen.

"I'm going to have to deal with a guy that has knockout power, very technical striker and a great ground game as well. Unpredictable fighter."

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