ICON
24-08-2006, 11:37
Georges St. Pierre's "Rush" to recovery from a severe groin pull will not happen fast enough to rematch UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes (Pictures) on September 23, the UFC announced on its Web site Wednesday afternoon.
Filling the vacated slot to face Hughes is the only man to beat the champion mixed martial artist since March 2001: Hawaii's B.J. Penn (Pictures).
On Saturday, Sherdog.com first reported the severity of St. Pierre's groin injury and, subsequent a hard workout on Aug. 23 intended to test the pull, the possibility that Penn would take his place.
Penn defeated Hughes by submission in January 2004 to capture the UFC belt. Yet stalled contract negotiations between Penn and the UFC saw the fighter relinquish the belt and sign a three-fight deal with K-1.
During his time with the Japanese promotion, Penn went 2-1, defeating Duane Ludwig (Pictures) and Renzo Gracie (Pictures) while falling short on points to a much larger Ryoto Machida (Pictures).
The 27-year-old from Hilo fought a fourth fight outside the UFC, decisioning Rodrigo Gracie (Pictures) in his family's Rumble on the Rock promotion.
After settling lawsuits related to his previous contract with the UFC, Penn and the Las Vegas-based promotion agreed to a new deal in November 2005.
Penn returned to the Octagon in March of this year, losing a razor-thin split decision to St. Pierre, which set-up the Canadian's second now-delayed shot at Hughes' title.
Filling the vacated slot to face Hughes is the only man to beat the champion mixed martial artist since March 2001: Hawaii's B.J. Penn (Pictures).
On Saturday, Sherdog.com first reported the severity of St. Pierre's groin injury and, subsequent a hard workout on Aug. 23 intended to test the pull, the possibility that Penn would take his place.
Penn defeated Hughes by submission in January 2004 to capture the UFC belt. Yet stalled contract negotiations between Penn and the UFC saw the fighter relinquish the belt and sign a three-fight deal with K-1.
During his time with the Japanese promotion, Penn went 2-1, defeating Duane Ludwig (Pictures) and Renzo Gracie (Pictures) while falling short on points to a much larger Ryoto Machida (Pictures).
The 27-year-old from Hilo fought a fourth fight outside the UFC, decisioning Rodrigo Gracie (Pictures) in his family's Rumble on the Rock promotion.
After settling lawsuits related to his previous contract with the UFC, Penn and the Las Vegas-based promotion agreed to a new deal in November 2005.
Penn returned to the Octagon in March of this year, losing a razor-thin split decision to St. Pierre, which set-up the Canadian's second now-delayed shot at Hughes' title.