St. Pierre won't need surgery

A groin injury GeorgesSt. Pierre sustained in his battle with ThiagoAlves will not sideline him for as long as expected, manager Shari Spencer announced in a press release Saturday.

The 28-year-old UFC welterweight champion was in the third round of his third title defense at UFC 100 when the injury occurred.

"I don't remember exactly, but when I was on the bottom, in my guard, and Thiago pushed my knee down and I heard my groin, my abductor snap," said Pierre at the post-fight press conference. "I heard a noise and it was pretty bad."

St. Pierre reported the trouble between rounds to trainer Greg Jackson, who had choice words for the champ in maintaining composure.

"(Jackson) says to me, 'I don't care! Hit him with it!'" continued St. Pierre. "So I was like I guess I have to go back there and finish the fight. That's the gameplan."

St. Pierre left the press conference shortly afterwards to be examined by doctors, still in great pain.

A recent MRI indicated that no surgery would be required to repair the damaged muscle, said Spencer. After "a brief rehabilitation," the MMA star should be back in the gym.

Talk of a superfight between St. Pierre and middleweight champion AndersonSilva intensified after last Saturday's fight, but St. Pierre declined to make any promises on its possibility.

"It's a question of timing," he told Joe Rogan in the Octagon. "I walk around at 185 pounds. I am not that big for a welterweight either, so if I move up, like I said, I don't fight to be champion anymore because I am a champion. If I do it, it's for a challenge, but I am going to have to take the time to gain weight and really take care of business."

UFC president Dana White has also announced that the winner of MartinKampmann vs. Mike Swick at UFC 103 will be the next challenger to St. Pierre's crown.