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Originally Posted by Brad McCray
The Rodney Dangerfield of mixed martial arts is hoping to finally find some respect next week at UFC 84 in Montreal. Welterweight champion Matt Serra, the most underappreciated and maligned champion in the promotion’s history, is an underdog – again -- to Georges St.Pierre, much like he was on April 7, 2007, when Serra shocked the world by demolishing St. Pierre at UFC 69.
“I am the MMA version of The Cinderella Man, except my fight didn’t go the distance,” Serra said.
Serra hasn’t fought since beating St. Pierre. He was scheduled to fight Matt Hughes in December, but got hurt. St. Pierre stepped in and destroyed Hughes to set up the rematch. In the ring after the win, St. Pierre sloughed off the interim title belt and acknowledged Serra as the true champion.
“It was a classy thing to say,” Serra said. “But, hey, it’s the truth. When you beat the man, you’re the man. Matt Hughes was the man and he got beat soundly by GSP. I knocked out GSP, so I am the man right now.”
After losing to Serra at UFC 69, however, St. Pierre’s took a different tact. He blamed his loss on his training and lack of focus, dissing Serra in the process.
“Afterward he made up some excuses, but he apologized,” Serra said. “He is a young guy who got the belt at an early age. There’s no reason for me to be angry at him. It’s not like Matt Hughes, who I think is a moron. GSP is a good guy.”
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