Sports

UFC’s St-Pierre on criticism that he doesn’t finish enough fights: ‘I agree’

Georges St-Pierre has heard people’s gripes that he doesn’t finish enough fights. And one of the best MMA fighters to ever grace the cage isn’t just OK with them.

“I agree with the criticism,” St-Pierre told The Post by phone Wednesday. “I want to do better. I want to give more entertainment to the fans.”

The UFC welterweight champion has won his last nine bouts, but all except three were by decision. Since being knocked out by Long Island native Matt Serra in 2007, St-Pierre has had a conservative style, usually taking opponents to the ground quickly with his dominant wrestling.

The Montreal native, who has been out for a year and a half with a torn ACL, vows to be “more opportunistic” against Carlos Condit when the two fight for the undisputed UFC welterweight belt at UFC 154 on Nov. 17 in GSP’s hometown.

“’Ive been training to jump more on opportunites that are open to me,” St-Pierre said. “I’m still gonna fight my fight, but I’m going to be more opportunistic.”

St-Pierre, 31, says it bothers him that people keep talking about a potential fight between him and pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva. Silva’s camp has repeatedly harped on that fight sometime next year and UFC president Dana White said it is a real possibility if St-Pierre beats Condit.

“I hate that,” St-Pierre said. “They talk to me about the next fight and I’m not there. Like I’m supposed to win easy, like it’s a joke. Carlos Condit is a dangerous guy. I always respect my opponent. My life is on the line.”

St-Pierre (22-2) joked that everyone wants to fight him because he’s one of the biggest pay-per-view draws in UFC history.

“Name the top guy and they’ve said they want to fight me,” GSP said with a laugh. “They want to make the money. It’s normal. I understand why they want to fight me.”

As for fighting Silva, St-Pierre said it “depends on the time.”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I haven’t thought about it. I know he’s a big guy. I have to sit down and analyze it.”

GSP says his knee feels like “the injury never even happened.” But he agrees wholeheartedly with people who have dropped him down their pound-for-pound lists because he hasn’t fought in so long. St-Pierre said at a press conference last month that he feels like he’s coming into the Condit fight as the challenger.

“It’s normal,” he said. “I haven’t fought in a year and a half. Pound for pound doesn’t really exist.”

Although, he added that he would put New Jersey native and former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar near the top of any such ranking.

St-Pierre has said in the past that when an opponent trash talks him, it motivates him even more. Condit is more like him, though – very respectful. That hasn’t altered GSP’s fire.

“Being the UFC champion, I don’t need more motivation of that,” he said. “That’s my dream. That’s why I work so hard.”

mraimondi@nypost.com