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Georges St-Pierre has all the confidence in the world in his abilities and trainings when he steps foot inside the Octagon.

As the reigning UFC welterweight champion, and with a 24-2 record and 11-fight win streak, that should be obvious.

However, GSP recently told Inside MMA that he has to deal with another feeling as he prepares that walk to do battle.

I try to be confident, but deep down inside, I’m afraid. I’m afraid to get knocked out, afraid to get humiliated, afraid to have done all that work and put all that effort for nothing, and not be as good as people expect me to be. That’s why I’m afraid. It’s not really being afraid of my opponent. I’m afraid of not performing the best as I should. And I think it’s the same fear that keep me sharp, keep my reaction time better, and make me perform better.

St-Pierre is expected to square off with Johny Hendricks later this year. Since returning from a knee injury, he has downed both Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. Also, GSP has released a book and will be featured in the next Captain America movie.

Kind of interesting to hear St-Pierre reveal his feelings just seconds before battling an opponent. He seems so confident and sure of himself at that time from afar.

Dan Hardy has tried his best to take his recent medical news in stride.

“The Outlaw” was diagnosd with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, which affects his heart. The condition forced him out of a planned fight earlier this year, and currently is keeping him out of the Octagon.

Hardy, though, appeared on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience recently and confirmed plans to continue testing to see what steps he can take.

I’m going to go back and get some more tests done. [UFC CEO] Lorenzo [Fertitta] has a special cardiologist that he wants me to go and see, so I’m going to get that done and just kind of see what my options are. I don’t see the point in having the surgery done if I have to have it done to carry on fighting. It just seems pointless to me.

Hardy is just 30 years old and has won his last two fights after a four-fight losing skid nearly cost him a spot in the UFC. Back in 2010, he challenged Georges St-Pierre for the UFC welterweight title.

Does it seem like a smart move for Hardy to get back into the Octagon? I for one hope he can, as long as it is safe for him to compete.

Chris Weidman has every right to be upset about the general lack of interest in his fight with Anderson Silva, but he’s not. I really like his attitude about this. Fans still seem more interested in Silva fighting just about anybody but Weidman. I’m guilty of this too; my ears perk up anytime I hear something about Silva/GSP or Silva/Jones, Silva/Weidman not so much. In all seriousness, that’s not fair to Weidman.

Jake Ellenberger is likely 1 to 2 fights away from a title fight, and up first is Rory MacDonald. Ellenberger feels he’s faced tougher guys than MacDonald, and that his own experience will lead him to victory over the young MacDonald.

Welterweights Thiago Alves and Matt Brown will square off in August, as MMAFighting.com reported over the weekend.

The card, UFC on FOX Sports 1, takes place August 17 from Boston’s TD Garden.

Alves is set to return for the first time since early in 2012, as he underwent surgery to repair his PCL and ACL in his knee, along with a torn pectoral muscle. “The Pitbull” is 19-9 in his career, and 2-2 in his last four.

Brown, meanwhile, has won five straight, including a recent win over Jordan Mein. He is 17-11 in his career.

Jake Ellenberger has some strong remarks for fellow Top-10 UFC welterweight Rory MacDonald.

“I think he’s definitely a young up and comer, but nothing special,” said Ellenberger, during a recent interview with MMA Opinion. “I’m not really sold on him. In my opinion, the only Top-10 guy in our division he’s fought, he’s lost to, and that’s Carlos Condit.”

The two are set to meet in July at UFC on FOX 8, and Ellenberger believes with a win, he’ll become the No. 1 contender to the title.

Ellenberger has posted two straight wins since a loss to Martin Kampmann last year, including a finish of Nate Marquardt in March. He seems to believe much of the “MacDonald hype” is generated because of his training at Tristar gym in Canada alongside UFC champ Georges St-Pierre.

It’s still surprising to me, for some reason some people in this industry think he’s a top five guy, which I don’t even think he’s a Top-10 guy. But, for some reason he has a lot of hype. It must be because he trains with GSP. And he trains at that, whatever, he trains at that gym. I think I have fought and defeated tougher opponents in my UFC career than Rory MacDonald. But I never had a choice in who I fight, you know. He’s the name they gave me and I was all for it. Just let me know when and where.

It’s kind of weird to hear someone rag on their opponent’s standing when a win could vault him into title contention.

Diego Sanchez, a former No. 1 contender in the UFC’s lightweight division, will return to action in August at UFC 164.

Sanchez defeated Takanori Gomi earlier this year in Japan, improving to 13-5 in the UFC and 24-5 in his MMA career.

“I did like I always do and said, ‘Look, you’re the man Joe (Silva). You’re the one who makes all these big matchups. There are plenty of good fights out there,’” Sanchez said, during a recent appearance on MMAjunkie.com Radio.

The 31-year-old has gone 3-1 in his last four fights, with the lone loss coming via decision to Jake Ellenberger. He fought BJ Penn for the UFC lightweight crown in 2009.

There are plenty of names at 155 for Sanchez, but one match I would mind seeing booked would be “The Dream” vs. Nate Diaz. Sanchez had plenty to say previously about the Diaz brothers, and you just know that would be an awesome scrap.

At UFC 34, Matt Hughes took his first crack at UFC gold against Carlos Newton. We know the rest of the story…

It appears as if those initial Brazilian reports about Josh Koscheck and Demian Maia being added to UFC 163 are true, as MMAFighting.com is also now confirming the bout.

While it makes little sense in terms of the direction both fighters are going, the welterweights appear on a collision course for August 3 and Brazil. No location has been announced for the event.

Koscheck (17-7) is a former No. 1 contender in the 170-pound division, but has lost two straight, including a devastating defeat at the hands of Robbie Lawler earlier this year.

Maia, though, has won three straight to improve to 18-4 since moving down from middleweight. He is also a former title contender, having been defeated by Anderson Silva.

Marcus Davis, who competed for several years with the UFC, has signed an extension with Bellator MMA.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the deal recently, and added that Davis (21-9) will be competing in the upcoming fall lightweight tournament.

Proud to officially announce @irishgrenade has signed a long-term deal w/@bellatormma. Class act & super exciting fighter. Fall LW tourney!

— Bjorn Rebney (@BjornRebney) April 27, 2013

Davis had his Bellator debut end in a no-contest, as he landed a low blow to Waachiim Spiritwolf and the bout was called.