Vegetarians in one corner, meat eaters in the other. Oh yes, the UFC match between Jake Shields and George St. Pierre at the Rogers Centre on April 30th, 2011 is more than just another UFC clash….
Sorry about the German subtitles…I guess it just speaks to the popularity of the sport. Which diet is better, and who will win?……..
On April 30th, 2011 Canada’s own George St. Pierre (21-2-0) will square off against Jake Shields (24-4-1). As a casual fan of UFC it is difficult to offer an educated preview of this match, but I will do my best.
If you are unfamiliar with the “sport” of mixed martial arts, then you might not be aware that this is the first UFC fight in Ontario, Canada. Surprisingly Ontario is the largest per capita viewer and purchaser of UFC pay-per-view events in the world.
This excerpt from bloody elbow says it best.
Ultimate Fighting Championship has written a new chapter in the record book, selling 55,000 tickets for UFC 129 at the Rogers Centre in the company’s long-awaited Toronto debut. While final gate numbers haven’t been tallied for the April 30 card, the sold-out event generated between $10 million-$11 million dollars at the live gate.
As you can see this fight is a monumental moment for the UFC, and George St. Pierre who is not only one of UFC’s most beloved fighters, but a proud Canadian.
Creating storylines for this event is not difficult. Examining an interesting subplot however, seems more fun for me.
Vegetarian vs. Meat Eater
In addition to being a fierce competitor Jake Shields is a life long vegetarian, and an outspoken one at that. He is part of a growing fraternity of vegetarians in the pro ranks of MMA.
He claims that he has never eaten meat in his life, citing his parents views regarding cruelty to animals.
The treatment of animals may be inhumane, but that message seems strange coming from a person that beats the ***T out of people for a living.
During his PETA Interview Jake proclaimed,
“I’m living proof that you can run further, train harder, and pack a meaner punch without eating animals. I’m Jake Shields, and I’m a vegetarian”
Meat Eater
On the other side we have George St. Pierre (GSP) who admittedly loves McDonalds, and is often quoted as saying he is genetically blessed. I have no choice but to support GSP, considering he is a Canadian boy, and meat lover.
GSP says his favourite food of all is a traditional French Canadian dish that his mother makes called Tourtiere, which in English is referred to as meat pie.
When asked in an interview by MMA Memories what his favourite breakfast cereal is, he replied,
“My favorite breakfast is two eggs, sausage, bacon, cheese, potato, fresh fruit, big glass of orange juice – all the things.”
One thing is for sure, George St. Pierre lives his life to the fullest as you can see in this clip.
- Whether you are a vegetarian, or meat eater you probably think your diet is the best. I’m sure George and Jake will not be thinking about this when they battle on April 30th at the Rogers Centre, but their diets will play a vital role in preparation for the event. I can’t wait!
All storylines and subplots aside, this should be a spectacular event. I would love to hear your thoughts on the match, or their diets.
So who’s it going to be…
George St. Pierre (The Meat Lover) or Jake Shields (The Vegetarian)?
Cast your vote in the comments section.
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Cheers,
Jordan
I am always surprised by how many athletes are vegan/ vegetarians. Although I am not one, I know that protein sources can still be found in a vegan diet.
I have to give these guys and ladies credit for sticking to this diet regimen as it requires discpline.
-Sam
I don’t think I could give up meat for a long period of time. Most of my research suggests there is no reason to, but I may try it as a challenge in the future.
I guess this proves (on some level) that animal protein isn’t required to train at an elite level, disproving a lot of what we’re told (meat, meat, meat).
I’d be interested to see Jake’s meal plan, just to see exactly how much he has to eat to keep his weight up (I bet A LOT).
I agree Brock, Jake Shields is probably eating A LOT! I’ve got to go with GSP still, I like his outlook on life!
Nice post. Though I’m not a vegetarian myself its nice to see elite level athletes proving that you don’t need meat for top performance (My money is still on GSP though).
Michael
I am mot a vegetarian either, but I am with you. It is nice to know that people on all diets can compete at a high level. GSP all the way!
Hey Jordan,
Cool post.
I have gone vegetarian a few times over the last few years to see what it would be like, mostly to see if it would improve my healthy/energy levels. I felt fine but it’s definitely a lot more work to make sure you are getting enough protein.
I’ve also gone a year just eating fish in place of any other meat, again I felt fine. I eat meat, mostly fish and organic chicken, but also eat red meat once a week.
I would be interested to know when vegetarian/vegan athletes became vegetarians/vegans. If you had already built up a good amount of muscle and conditioning and then became a vegetarian it would be a lot easier than becoming one and then trying to build up and train as an athlete. It can be done, but it’s much harder.
Oh yeah, Team St. Pierre
Thanks for your insight David. I am eating close to the way you explained and feel pretty good! In the case of Jake Shields it has been a life long practice. Other MMA stars admitted to going vegetarian to save money while climbing up the ranks…ended up liking it and kept at it. Interesting stuff!
GO GSP!
I’ve never really thought about the difference between the two diets in terms of athletic ability. Clearly both guys are gifted and driven, which probably has more to do with their success than their sources of protein and fats. I wonder though if there is a psychological edge to either diet? Animals often have a distinct behavioural pattern and are more aggressive and lethal if they’re carnivores compared to herbivores, right? So GSP might be subconsciously more aggressive than Shields (and you would think a herbivore with the last name “Shields” would be more defensive anyways). I know you’re big on the psychology of fitness and the subconscious nature, so let me know what you think.
I love the diversity in topics too, you’re always cooking something fresh! Keep it up.
I believe that aggression isn’t directly tied to diet, nor is it the most important characteristic of an MMA fighter. I’m not a huge fan, but from what I have seen aggression matters, but not as much as tactics. Some of the moves these guys pull off are wild! They are using their heads more than I initially thought.
Thanks for the compliments brother.
Cheers,
Jordan
I remember reading about how the trend in MMA was to be vegetarian. Definitely surprised me but highlights how different diets can help different people get in elite physical condition.
Jordan,
I hope the meat eater kicks the sh*t out the tree hugging sissy.
Ok. I’m just kidding! I don’t really have an opinion on who wins. Just trying to stir up a little controversy for you!
-Kelly
Hey, really great blog posts… I’ve enjoyed reading through your blog because of the great style and energy you put into each post. I actually run AceHealth.org, a blog of my personal research and experiences. If you’re interested, I would love to have you on as a guest blogger. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Dave,
It is definately and emerging trend in MMA, and some people like Jake Shields are very outspoken about it. We’ll see if this trend continues.
Kelly,
A little controversy is always great! Hopefully your prediction is correct!
Bob,
Thanks for the kind words! I will contact you!
Cheers,
Jordan
Hey Jordan
Don´t know much about MMA, still love my old school boxing!!
so not sure who will win this. Regarding the diet issue they both look in tremendous condition so I really don´t know how diet would set them apart. I am intrigued that there is growing trend for vegetarianism in the sport as this would imply there is an advantage for eating this way but there is none that I know of.
cheers
Howard
Howard,
I’m not the biggest fan of MMA either, but the event is happening in my neck of the woods, and is a pretty big deal here apparently. I think it is great that elite athletes can compete using a variety of diet plans! Still cheering for the meat eater though!
Jordan
Why do I suddenly feel like a double cheeseburger?!
I have struggled with the issue of veggie vs. meat for nearly two decades. My wife’s doctor has been a long time veggie promotor, which is fine. However, it is dangerous when consideration is not adequately given to why people are making such dietary choices (or for that matter, our daily options of consumption). Beyond the obvious ethical implications of our diets, there exists a vast array of reasons for making such a drastic change. I say “drastic” in that our diets have such an overwhelming impact on our lives. In the case of my wife, her choice for making this dietary change was less about the consumption of food and more with the consumption of media.
Again, that is not to say that going veggie is bad, it just needs more consideration than most people give it. Too many people do not take into consideration the psychological and sociological impacts that diet has on the self, and within our Western culture non-the-less.
Choice. It can be a powerful tool, when tempered with honest and intelligent reflection. As for myself, I have a simple motto:
“I like my food to bleed”.
Sorry PETA, but I likes my meat.
OK, now its getting weird… I need an adult.
PEACE OUT
Kipfer! Thanks for the thought provoking comment. I agree that people rush into a decision to eat a certain way based on unfounded research. If people do the research then make an informed decision, they will be much better off.
Love my meat as well!
Jordan
Well, it seems that not many people rush into a meat-eating diet without research because it is the default one that it heavily advertised and widely accepted as normal without any research whatsoever.
Even as a vegan, one would have to carefully plan a diet and go out of one’s way to induce a protien deficiency. B-12 deficiencies are cheifly caused by parisites, not diet. They are as common among meat-eaters as vegetarians.
I grew up as a meat eater, but I’ve been eating vegan for the last four years. I’ve noticed my endurance has improved as a vegan, I do not struggle with being overweight, and my relative strength has improved. (“relative” meaning in relation to my body weight. I can do more pull-ups and push-ups now, but I am not sure if the absolute amount of mass I can lift would be greater.)
Anyway, these world-class athletes would probably be better at their sport than 99.9% of the population no matter what diet they eat.