“A few years back Diego Sanchez had enough grease on him to lube up a semi. His corner was greasing him up so Nick (Diaz) wouldn’t submit him. At the time the commission and public wasn’t as hip as to how this could affect the outcome of the fight and they got away with it. Now these guys are acting like they didn’t know what they were doing. Glad the truth is coming to light.” –Cesar Gracie

Last weekend, as Dave reported, one of the most anticipated rematches in MMA history came to a halt as BJ Penn’s corner retired him after a brutal four round beating at the hands of Georges St. Pierre. Now (as he predicted) the aftermath, regarding video of St. Pierre’s cornermen applying Vaseline to St. Pierre’s back and shoulders, continues to grind on.

JD Penn and company made their case to the NSAC earlier this week, assuring fans that “we are not trying to make excuses, GSP was the better fighter that night… we just wish his cornerman didn’t cheat…”

Now, the MMA world, including GSP’s previous opponents, are coming out of the woodwork to offer their perspectives on “Greasegate,” and enough trash has been talked back and forth that both parties are ready to step in the cage again.

First, Matt Hughes reported on his blog that he agreed with Penn’s earlier assessment that “GSP was a little greasy, but was the better man that night.” He also offered some insight from his bouts with the Quebec native:

I’m not the only one who has said that GSP felt greasy during a fight. I know Matt Serra has mentioned it and, even in their first fight, I think BJ said something. I’m not saying GSP did something wrong and I’m not saying that it would have changed any outcomes of any fights; but what I am saying is, for my last two fights against Georges, he felt greasy.

Jason “Mayhem” Miller, who fought St. Pierre in his only UFC bout, wrote an article entitled “If You’re Not Cheating, You’re Not Trying” for Fight! Magazine last year. He named no names, but described a “megafight” thusly:

After a couple more stiff elbows to my
grillpiece, I felt the familiar slick that I would get every day at kickboxing practice on my nose and eyes, only it was on my opponents neck, now up 2 rounds, Vaseline! Greasy bastard, I thought.

Of course I yelled to the ref, “Hey! He is greased up!” but much like anyone else watching me get pounded, he didn’t give a damn, and replied with “He’s ok!” Followed by another smash to the face. Yeah, ok for HIM, but I’m taking a beating over here and can’t hold onto the bastard.

Did I ever bitch about it afterwards? Nope. Why? What’s the point? Would it put the toothpaste back in the tube? No. As far as everyone saw, I lost the fight, fair and square. Would it have made a difference if he wasn’t greased up? Maybe, but honestly probably not. He was the better man that night, plain and simple. He bent the rules, not broke them, and when you get away with it, it isn’t called cheating.

Miller reprinted the article at the Underground Forum earlier this week, adding it “seemed appropriate now…”

Frank Trigg was reportedly more succint, describing GSP as a “greasy MF” on Tagg Radio… but frankly, I can’t be bothered to listen.

Not everyone is buying this. Cutman Jacob “Stich” Duran, who worked in Penn’s corner last weekend, dismisses the claims as excuses. “If you have a window of opportunity to make an excuse… I’d probably do it too if I got beat up by him.”

Maybe he’s right. Will any of this result in an overturned decision, as in Nick Diaz’s bout with Gomi last year? It’s possible, but not likely. I agree that it wouldn’t have affected the bout’s outcome.

Now, Penn has released the following statement on his website:

“For the past several days I have been reading statements made by St. Pierre and Greg Jackson about our fight on January 31. St. Pierre claims that he is “not a cheater” and that he and Greg Jackson will have “no problem with a rematch in the summer of 2009.” To the untrained eye the grease might not look like much, but every grappler knows the effect that it has. Being able to apply your submissions and sweeps or just being able to hold on to your opponent to defend yourself from being hit is absolutely critical! There is a reason why you are not allowed to put grease anywhere on your body except for the area around your eyes. Because of the grease applied to St.Pierre’s Body the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s executive director, Keith Kizer has stated that the Penn-St. Pierre fight “definitely wasn’t fair”. I hereby accept George St. Pierre and Greg Jackson’s challenge for a fight in the summer 2009. Lets call Dana now and set it up.”

Let’s be honest, there’s nothing more to be learned from a third fight between these two. I’m of the opinion that last Saturday’s bout would have been a bit closer without a greased St. Pierre, but does anyone really think the outcome would have been different? There’s no retribution in this.

Still, the folks crying “sour grapes” are missing the point, too. This problem has existed for years, from the days Wanderlei Silva left a puddle of grease in the ring against Mike Van Arsdale. It’s good to see the NSAC taking it seriously. The Penn camp is in the right when they state, as JD Penn did earlier this week: “Everyone is putting a lot of time and money into making this sport legit, for someone to do this only hurts the credibility of the sport.”

So forget a rematch. If I were Penn, I’d allow the commission to recover that credibility, and then go back to being the best lightweight in the world. That should be redemption enough.