Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre has become one of the most successful fighters in the history of the organization since first stepping inside the Octagon against Karo Parisyan at UFC 46: "Supernatural" on Jan. 31, 2004.
In hindsight, the event name couldn't have been dubbed any more perfectly because more than nine years after first stepping foot in the eight-walled cage, the 31-year-old has turned into a supernatural talent and is one of the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters to ever walk the planet.
St. Pierre (23-2) has done it all inside the Octagon, and this Saturday night (March 16, 2013) at UFC 158: "St. Pierre vs. Diaz," the French-Canadian will look to further add to his tremendous resume with a victory over arch nemesis Nick Diaz at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Every time "Rush" steps in the cage it is a monumental occasion for the sport, and with one of the most significant bouts of his career just around the corner, what better time than now to take a closer look at all the achievements St. Pierre has under his belt thus far.
Follow me as we go "Behind the Numbers" for St. PIerre:
General Statistics
- Undefeated record (4-0) when fighting in his home country of Canada. St Pierre has fought three times in Montreal and once in Toronto. UFC 158 will mark his fifth career bout north of the border.
- UFC 158 will be St. Pierre's 20th bout under the UFC banner, tying him with Chris Lytle, Chris Leben, Rich Franklin and Frank Mir for sixth all-time. Tito Ortiz holds the record with 27 UFC appearances.
- The longest tenured active welterweight on the UFC roster at nine years, one month and 16 days (as of UFC 158).
- The fourth most in total fight time in UFC history at 4 hours, 38 minutes, 12 seconds. B.J. Penn holds the record with five hours, three minutes and 51 seconds.
- The second most wins of any fighter in UFC history at 17. St. Pierre will have the chance to tie Matt Hughes' record of 18 UFC victories with a win at UFC 158.
- St. Pierre has fought in the main event in 12 of his 19 UFC appearances. The only time St. Pierre has not fought in the main event in his last 12 fights is at UFC 100 when Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir for the heavyweight championship served as the main event.
- St. Pierre currently has the second longest win-streak of any active UFC fighter at 10. UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is first with 16-straight UFC wins.
- The third longest win-streak of any fighter in UFC history at 10. St. Pierre will have the chance to tie Royce Gracie for second on the list with 11-straight wins at UFC 158. Silva is first with 16-straight wins.
Championship Statistics
- Along with Carlos Newton, St. Pierre is one of only two Canadian UFC champions in history.
- One of only five fighters in UFC history to become two-time champion along with Randy Couture, Tim Sylvia, Cain Velasquez and Matt Hughes.
- Currently tied with Matt Hughes for the most total welterweight title defenses in UFC history at seven. St. Pierre can break the record with a win at UFC 158.
- St. Pierre's seven consecutive title defenses are the second most in UFC history and the most ever in a row in the welterweight division.
- Second to Anderson Silva for the most wins in a UFC championship at 10, Silva has 11. Can tie this record with a win at UFC 158.
- Second to Randy Couture for the most championship fights in UFC history at 12. "The Natural" fought in 15 championship bouts.
- Along with bantamweight king Dominick Cruz and heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez, is one of three current UFC champions to have avenged all of his career losses
In-Fight Statistics
- The most completed takedowns of any fighter in UFC history with 75. Lightweight Gleison Tibau is second in this category with 66 completed takedowns.
- The highest takedown accuracy in UFC history at 78.1 percent. Nate Marquardt is second in this category at 73 percent.
- The fourth best takedown defense in UFC history at 88 percent. Tibau holds the record at 93.1 percent.
- The third best significant striking defense in UFC history at 75.6 percent. Jon Madsen in first in this category at 81.4 percent.
- The most total strikes landed in UFC history at 2188. Jon Fitch is second in this category with 2185 total strikes landed.
- The most significant strikes landed in UFC history at 1048. B.J. Penn is second with 858 significant strikes landed.
- Tied with five other fighters for the fourth most fights to go a decision in UFC history at 10. Jon Fitch and Sam Stout hold the record with 13.
- Won five fights in a row by decision, equaling 125 minutes of fighting with finishing an opponent, a current UFC-high. Lightweight champion Benson Henderson is second in this category at 120 minutes.
- Averages the longest fight time in UFC welterweight history at 14 minutes and 39 seconds. Carlos Condit is second at 14 minutes and 37 seconds.
- Has the sixth most submissions attempts of any fighter in UFC history at 22. Chris Lytle is first in this category with 31 submission attempts.
What does all this mean? It means Georges St. Pierre is a one-of-a-kind fighter and without question the greatest welterweight to ever compete step foot inside the Octagon.
But you already knew that, didn't you?