Georges St. Pierre knee injury healing fast, hopes to be back for UFC 154 in Montreal

UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre is, in fact, a freak of nature.

He seemed to confirm as much at today's (March 21, 2012) UFC 149 press conference when he told the media and fans his doctor has informed him his knee injury is healing faster than anyone he's ever seen before.

That doesn't mean the Canadian superstar is in "rush" to get back inside the Octagon, thought.

Indeed, there's still plenty of work to be done and his rehab, while coming along nicely, is not yet close to being complete. And considering the severity of his injury, combined with his age, there's simply no reason to take any chances.

St. Pierre is hoping, however, to return in 2012, particularly at the UFC 154 event now scheduled for Nov. 17 in Montreal. At least, that's what he said at today's presser:

"My rehab is going really well. The doctor says it is the fastest they've ever seen. I'm halfway through my rehab and I can't push too much. I have to wait the minimum amount of time that I'm allowed to start training again. I'll be training full out in July and hopefully I'll have a chance to fight in front of my Canadian fans in November."

Sounds like a plan. But the best laid and all that.

Awaiting St. Pierre when he does finally return is Carlos Condit, who won the Interim welterweight championship after a grueling five round affair against Nick Diaz back at UFC 143 on Feb. 4 in Las Vegas.

"The Natural Born Killer" opted to sit on the sidelines in lieu of risking his chance to dethrone the longstanding king of the 170-pound division. It's difficult to blame him for such a thing but it will have been nine months of inactivity for Condit if the might gets made for Nov. 17.

Then again, St. Pierre will have been riding the pine for well over a year. And so it may come to be that the two best welterweights in the world won't only be fighting each other, but ring rust, as well.

Better sooner than later, right?