Integrated Sports Media (ISM), the undisputed distribution champion of mixed martial arts and boxing fights in North America, announced today that it will present a one-hour special featuring Georges “Rush” St. Pierre’s six non-UFC fights, including his first five and rarely seen 2002 debut, prior to him developing into the Pound-for-Pound King of MMA.
“George St. Pierre: Rush To The Top” will be exclusively distributed in the United States by ISM, premiering in April for viewing on both cable and satellite pay-per-view on the following dates: DirecTV and DISH Network (April 1), Avail-TVN (Apr. 11) and iN DEMAND (Apr. 12), as well as via Video On Demand, for only $9.95. Check listings for replays through the entire month of April and into May.
“We’re thrilled and privileged to bring this unique footage of St. Pierre, the No. 1 ranked welterweight in the world and reigning UFC champion in the 170-pound division, to MMA fans in the United States,” ISM president Doug Jacobs said. “This exciting six-fight package is where it all started for one of the greatest MMA fighters of all-time.”
St. Pierre, who sports an amazing 21-2-0 career record (8 KOs, 5 submissions), started learning Kyokushin karate from his father at the age of seven in order to defend himself from a school bully. He later studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), wrestling and boxing. Today, he holds a third-degree black belt in Kyokushin, as well as black belts in BJJ and Gaidojutsu.
The 20008 & 2009 Canadian Athlete of the Year had his first amateur MMA match at the age of 16. St. Pierre made his MMA pro debut January 25, 2002, defeating previously unbeaten (4-0) Ivan Menjivar, in Montreal, by first-round technical knockout (punches) in UCC 7: Bad Boyz.
Five months later in Gatineau, Canada, Georges captured the UCC (Canadian) Welterweight Championship, forcing Justin Bruckmann (4-1) to submit (arm-bar) in the opening round in UCC 10: Battle for the Belts 2002.His first and only UCC title defense came October 11, 2002 in Montreal, when St. Pierre stopped Travis Galbraith (5-1) in the first round at UCC11: The Next Level.
MMA’s future superstar next took on Thomas Denny, who was riding a three-fight win streak January 25, 2003 into UCC12: Adrenaline in Montreal. It took Georges two rounds to win for the first time as Denny was defeated by technical knockout on cuts. Denny was a US citizen so the fight wasn’t for St. Pierre’s UCC title belt.
In his fifth pro match and last non-UFC fight, “Rush” took on UFC veteran Pete Spratt, who was coming off of a victory by submission in UFC 42 against Robbie Lawler, who went on to capture the Elite XC middleweight title. St. Pierre locked-in a rear naked choke against Spratt (12-6), who tapped-out at 3:40 of the first round in their November 29, 2003 fight in Victoriaville, Canada on the TKO 14: Road Warriors card.
St. Pierre made his UFC debut two months later en route to becoming arguably the greatest all-around fighter in MMA history. Three fights after making his UFC debut, GSP bounced back from his first pro MMA loss (Matt Hughes, 1st round submission – arm-bar) in his last non-UFC fight at TKO 19: Rage, in which he defeated Dave Strasser by first-round submission (Kimura) in Montreal.
His most notable victims reads like a list of the true MMA elite, including B.J. Penn (twice), Matt Serra, Matt Hughes, Dan Hardy, John Fitch, Thiago Alves, and Josh Koscheck. Georges is 8-2 in UFC title fights and he is scheduled to next defend his title belt April 30 headlining UFC129 against Jake Shields in Toronto.
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