• UFC 129

Shields will be distracted by hype - GSP's trainer

Georges St Pierre's experience could prove key at UFC 129 © UFC

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Georges St-Pierre's trainer believes the Canadian's big-fight experience will prove the difference when the champion defends his welterweight crown against Jake Shields at UFC 129.

While St-Pierre is a veteran of big fights and the media hype that goes hand in hand with such an event, Shields has admitted he is struggling to get used to the "crazy" pre-fight publicity.

And Firas Zahabi believes it is for this reason that St Pierre will have the upper hand when the pair enter the Octagon on April 30.

"I can tell you, the first time we had Primetime around it was a lot harder," Zahabi told MMA Fighting. "It was just more stress. Now, it's the third time we've had them around, and we've had the Countdown so many times, just various other camera crews in our gym so many times, we're accustomed to it. Now it doesn't bother our training camp at all.

"I wish we knew back then what we know now. The only important thing right now is Jake Shields. The other stuff, it isn't going to be a factor for us. Maybe in the early stages of your career, having people supporting you gives you more motivation and makes you put more energy into your career, but these are things that don't affect our team anymore."

Zahabi is well aware that St Pierre will have his work cut out against Shields, who is unbeaten in 15 fights since 2004, but he believes that the first to show sign of weakness will be punished.

"Georges is a pressure fighter and so is Jake Shields," he said. "The first guy, in my opinion, to show signs of wear from the pressure is going to lose. It remains to be seen who that's going to be.

"Georges and Jake Shields both like to get in your face and keep the pressure on. That's what's going to happen, but there's going to be one guy on the offense and one on defense. It might seesaw back and forth for a while, but one guy is going to break eventually and end up spending more time on defense. That's the first sign of somebody breaking. You're going to know what's going to happen after that."

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