Georges``Rush`` St. Pierre - Yahoo Sports

LAS VEGAS – Georges "Rush" St. Pierre is back, if he really ever was gone at all.
The former UFC welterweight champion was the subject of ridicule after his upset loss to Matt Serra at April's UFC 69, even though it was just his second loss in 15 professional fights.

"Every bad loss adds humiliation," St. Pierre said. "But it was probably the best thing that ever happened."

The St. Pierre who rocketed his way to the title was in peak form at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday night. Already regarded as one of the world's top pound-for-pound mixed martial artists, the 26-year-old Quebec native took a few new tools out of his kit to beat Josh Koscheck.

St. Pierre set the tone early in the first round by scoring a takedown. He wasn't able to do much with his advantage, though, as Koscheck used strong defense to keep his opponent from doing much damage. After getting back to his feet, Koscheck went for a takedown. St. Pierre sprawled to avoid the first one, but Koscheck stuck with it and scored a slam. Two of the three judges gave Koscheck the first round.

The second round featured a ground fighting clinic from St. Pierre. He used a low kick to set up a takedown, then spent the rest of the round dominating the action. Three times St. Pierre managed to sink in a Kimura. When GSP wasn't working Koscheck's right arm, he was offering a steady mix of punches and elbows from the top position.

"It was a strategy," GSP said. "Kos is a very good wrestler. By being a good wrestler, he is not used to fighting from his back. My game plan was to push him from his comfort zone. That's what I did, and it works very well."

Koscheck had his moments in Round 3 and engaged St. Pierre in several solid standup exchanges. But St. Pierre sprawled to avoid a Koscheck takedown attempt, ended up on top on the ground and finished the match in total control.

"With one minute left, I was like, 'Hey Georges, congratulations,' " Koscheck said. "He said, 'What?' and next thing I knew I get hit with an elbow. … Georges St. Pierre, he's a true champion, and he was a better man."

St. Pierre instituted several changes in the wake of his title loss to Serra. He parted ways with his Canadian trainers and affiliated with Greg Jackson's camp in New Mexico, which also is the home of Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine. He also started seeing a sports psychologist.

"I cannot promise you I can't win all my fights, that is impossible," St. Pierre said. "But I can promise you will see the real GSP, 100 percent every fight."

St. Pierre is slated to get a welterweight title shot against the winner of the Serra-Matt Hughes match slated for UFC 78 in Newark, N.J., in November.