For his UFC return, Georges St-Pierre finds inspiration in NFL's Tom Brady

Tom Brady attended UFC 118 when it came to the TD Garden in Boston. (Mike Roach/Getty Images) MONTREAL -- Some fighters prepare for a bout by watching video
For his UFC return, Georges St-Pierre finds inspiration in NFL's Tom Brady
For his UFC return, Georges St-Pierre finds inspiration in NFL's Tom Brady /

Tom Brady attended UFC 118 when it came to the TD Garden in Boston. (Mike Roach/Getty Images)

Tom Brady

MONTREAL -- Some fighters prepare for a bout by watching video of an opponent’s past performances. Others prefer to let their trainers do the film work. Georges St-Pierre might well have found his inspiration, in the lead-up to Saturday night’s welterweight title defense against Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC 154 at the Bell Centre, by tuning his TV to NFL football.

Specifically, games involving the Patriots … especially when the Tom Brady-led offense is on the field.

You see, St-Pierre and Brady have something in common. Or rather, someone: Neal S. ElAttrache.

“Dr. ElAttrache did Tom Brady’s ACL, and he had almost the identical injury to me,” St-Pierre said in a statement issued by the UFC. “Brady came back and was better than ever, so I put my trust in Dr. ElAttrache and I am back 100 percent.”

ElAttrache, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, performed reconstructive surgery on Brady’s anterior cruciate ligament and also repaired his medial collateral ligament after the quarterback was injured in the opening game of the 2008 season. Since returning the following year, Brady has led New England to the playoffs and made the Pro Bowl each season. Last February he brought the Patriots right back to where they were just prior to his injury: the Super Bowl.

St-Pierre, who has not fought in 19 months after injuring his right knee during training for his original date with Condit, might find particular solace in watching Brady’s first game back from injury. Brady, whom teammate Chandler Jones (brother of UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones) says is a huge MMA fan, threw for 378 yards and two touchdowns in a comeback win over Buffalo.

“The knee is like the injury never even happened,” said St-Pierre. “I’ve been out for a year and a half, but I am back. All those who doubted me will have a big reality check, because I’m better than ever.”

How is Carlos Condit supposed to counteract that? Well, maybe he should watch some Eli Manning videos.

—Jeff Wagenheim


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