UFC star St. Pierre likely to be cleared - Sports

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Mar. 18, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

UFC star St. Pierre likely to be cleared

Penn's complaint doesn't faze commission chief

By ADAM HILL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

Ultimate Fighting Championship

BJ Penn arrived at a Nevada Athletic Commission meeting Tuesday morning armed with a team of lawyers and enough evidence and documents to enter a full-scale trial.

But after more than two hours of discussion regarding a complaint filed against UFC fighter Georges St. Pierre, the commission's executive director sounded largely unswayed.

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"I have no plans to bring a complaint against anybody in this matter," Keith Kizer said.

Penn is seeking action against St. Pierre, who defeated Penn on Jan. 31 at the MGM Grand Garden for the Ultimate Fighting Championship's welterweight title. Phil Nurse, one of St. Pierre's cornermen, can be seen in tape of the bout rubbing the fighter's back and shoulders after applying Vaseline to his face.

Vaseline may be applied only to a fighter's face, since a slippery substance on the body makes certain grappling maneuvers difficult to accomplish.

Penn, his lawyer, trainer and even his mother made passionate statements to the commission about what they felt was an egregious example of cheating.

The meeting in the Grant Sawyer Building before the five-member panel was just a review of the facts of the fight. No further items are scheduled on the matter for future commission meetings, but that could change.

Either Kizer or one of the commissioners would have to file a formal complaint for further hearings to be conducted. Given Kizer's comments, that scenario appears to be a long shot, meaning Penn's camp is unlikely to get the loss thrown out or see action taken against St. Pierre.

More likely, Penn's efforts might lead to a change in rules as to how Vaseline can be applied in the course of a fight.

"They could make regulatory changes, they could issue some sort of directive to me or the inspectors or the referees to handle situations differently if they so desire," Kizer said of the commission's options. "I don't think they've made any conclusions as to that regard."

Penn's attorney said Kizer's position is unacceptable.

"What I would like to know is, how did Keith Kizer make any of these determinations? How did he come to the conclusions he came to, and what did he review? It's beyond comprehension," Raffi Nahabedian said.

He added that the infraction should be treated similarly to a positive steroid test. He applauded the actions the California State Athletic Commission took against boxer Antonio Margarito and his camp after an illegal substance was found in his hand wraps. Margarito and his trainer had their licenses revoked for at least a year.

"Thank God that wasn't Keith Kizer. Truth be told, what would Kizer have done?" Nahabedian said.

The videotape showing the alleged incident was shown during the meeting. Nurse admitted his actions did not "look good" but maintained his assertion that the contact with St. Pierre's neck, back and shoulders was part of a breathing exercise.

Penn's handlers claimed the tape showed "prejudicial angles" and did not show evidence from the actual fight or just how much the Vaseline aided St. Pierre. They said they would leave their own tape, as well as other supporting evidence, with the commission.

St. Pierre did not attend the meeting. His lawyer, Steve Pacitti, said: "If there was an unfair advantage, it was merely Georges' size and skill on that night."

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. AxMan wrote on March 18, 2009 02:14 PM: Penn is drinking too much coconut juice, and needs to fly back to the land of palm trees. Penn was overwhelmed by GSP, and this was no fight. Penn just had his arms up the entire fight, blocking punches from GSP, unitl Penn's corner would not allow Penn to continue. Penn never tried to grapple, so any slippery back would have made no difference. I doubt GSP needs to play any tricks, but Penn does look tricky. Sore loser. Don't come back to Vegas. pdog wrote on March 18, 2009 01:49 PM: bj bj bj , who are you going to cry to next ? To bad so sad the better man won again ! Losing more and more respect for bj everyday . Hopefully this will be the end of the drama plaid out by by and his mamma . rmolnar wrote on March 18, 2009 01:36 PM: The UFC seems to be just a few steps from professional wrestling. AxMan wrote on March 18, 2009 12:52 PM: He has been drinking too much Coconut juice and needs to go back to the land of palm trees. I saw the "fight", but it was not much of a fight. Penn was overwhelmed. He basically just held his arms up to block punches from GSP until the "fight" was over. I don't recall any attempt at Penn to graple, because as I said he was too busy blocking punches from GSP until the fight was over. In fact, Penn's crew called the fight over, seeing that he was getting his butt kicked. Any residue on GSP's back would therefore have made NO difference. This is a JOKE, right? david wright wrote on March 18, 2009 11:24 AM: the point is not he cheated. the champ cheated angel buxton wrote on March 18, 2009 10:38 AM: give me a break bj penn looks like such a sore looser. not 4 one minute do i think gsp is a cheater if anything it was unintentional. I also see matt hughes commented on his last 2 fights with gsp,he said their last 2 fights, george was greasy so why is he saying it now instead of then. what about all the other fights gsp has had to fight, no has said a word. as far im concerned its a bunch of poor loosers. Jerry Wayne wrote on March 18, 2009 08:50 AM: BJ Penn lost that fight because he was boozing the night before and GSP is twice his size. give it up wrote on March 18, 2009 08:47 AM: Penn got his mama involved? Wow he's lost alot of respect in my eyes. Bringing his mama to fight his battles. Thomas A. Carpenter wrote on March 18, 2009 06:06 AM: B.J. Penn got spanked ! And now he's whinning about it. The fear in B.J.'s eyes that night told the whole story... I'm at the wrong place, at the wrong time with the wrong guy!! Man up B.J., train hard and come back again, maybe next time. Bill P. wrote on March 18, 2009 04:03 AM: This is GREAT News, just proving a pathetic attempt on BJ Penns part to soften the blow on his meager performance that night where he was out manned, out gunned and OUT CLASSED by G.S.P. I guess that's what happens to a cocky, loud mouthed fighter who could not produce the results he so touted all over national TV during the UFC pre fight shows ! BRAVO G.S.P !!!