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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Mike Pyle went on the attack against his UFC 133 opponent Rory MacDonald in a blog penned for ESPN.com this past week, and essentially acted incredulous at the fact that most have pegged MacDonald the favorite in their fight.
Citing his vast experience edge and the fact that he's been fighting since MacDonald was a child, Pyle made his case for why he simply feels he's better than MacDonald. In his own blog at Sportsnet.ca, MacDonald has responded to Pyle's experience claims, and makes the case that his training with high level fighters at Montreal's TriStar Gym, including UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, helps his training and experience come along at a higher pace.
"My next opponent Mike Pyle likes to talk about experience a lot and constantly highlights the fact that he has plenty of it and I don't," MacDonald wrote. "Well, that's fine. I understand that. The guy is 35 years of age and has a wealth of fights under his belt. I respect his experience and I respect the journey he has gone on in this great sport."
"When we fight at UFC 133 on Aug. 6 in a couple of weeks, I'd like to think I can beat him and claim some of that experience from him. I'm also planning on showing him just what I've learned along the way. After all, when you're training with the guys I'm training with, your speed of development and experience works at 10 times the rate of most normal fighters."
MacDonald says he's improved leaps and bounds since he began work at TriStar, and he feels that he's coming along and doing exactly what Pyle said in his blog he needed to do.
"Year-by-year my skill-set improves leaps and bounds, but since I arrived at the TriStar gym in Montreal last August my game has gone through the roof," MacDonald said. "The rate of improvement has just accelerated even further and I'm now gaining the kind of experience, in both the gym and in fights, that Pyle says I need to accumulate over time. I'm a far better fighter now than I was this time last year, as I'm mixing with a better class of fighter and coach and have also added numerous tools to my game."
He then turned his attention in the blog to St. Pierre and just what he's learned from working closely with one of the top fighters in the sport's history.
"I went to all his training sessions with him and watched and studied the way he went about work," MacDonald explained. "I'd then pick his brain on the journey to and from the gym. I followed him everywhere for a good few months and really got a priceless insight into how a great champion trains and lives. You pick up so much experience from just talking to guys like Georges. He would talk to me about how he prepares, how he deals with nerves and everything else in between. No question went unanswered and it was a huge benefit for me."
"Georges is like no other training partner," MacDonald continued. "He is not only very accommodating and personable, but he also happens to be the best fighter on the planet. You couldn't ask for a better guy to show you the ropes. He's an amazing person and one of my best friends. I now know that in order to reach the level Georges is at right now I have to do everything he does and more. He lives and breathes his career and the sport and leaves nothing to chance. He's the most dedicated and hard-working guy I have ever seen. If you're not willing to sacrifice and dedicate yourself to the game the way Georges does then don't expect to reach the same level.
"He also does it right. While other guys are out lifting weights and trying to just get the "look," Georges will be studying and perfecting his art. He knows what is important and what isn't. He is both a great athlete and a great technician."
With the relationship developing between the young protege and the Champ, MacDonald addressed the issue of whether he'd ever consider fighting St. Pierre. Much like others that have been in his spot with teammates and close training partners, the 22-year-old welterweight said it's something he'd avoid. In the same breath, MacDonald admitted some lofty goals for his career.
"If anything, I would move up in weight and fight for the middleweight or light-heavyweight belts instead [of fighting St. Pierre at welterweight]," he wrote. "I'm not scared to move up in weight."
"By the time my career is over, I'd like to say that I'd competed at welterweight, middleweight, light-heavyweight and even heavyweight. I'd love to do something like that."
Penick's Analysis: MacDonald was already a phenomenal talent before heading to the TriStar gym, and being able to work with one of the best fighters in the world on a day to day basis is something that gives him an edge. Not many fighters get the chance to learn from one of the world's best, and if St. Pierre's influence can bring him along on a faster path he could be a scary talent in short order. This fight with Pyle is a big step, and if he can pass the test he'll move on to the next level up.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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