Legendary MMA coach Firas Zahabi says actor Keanu Reeves copied one of his techniques for the ‘John Wick’ franchise.
UFC Hall of Famer Georges St-Pierre is arguably one of the greatest fighters of all time after a legendary career inside the Octagon. But his success likely wouldn’t’ve produced the same results without his star-studded team at Tristar Gym, led by top-tier coach Firas Zahabi.
St-Pierre is one of a handful of fighters to earn UFC titles in multiple weight classes during his career. After a lengthy hiatus following a close welterweight title defense against Johny Hendricks, St-Pierre returned at UFC 217, dethroning then-middleweight titleholder Michael Bisping for the 185 lb belt.
Zahabi is known for his unorthodox training methods and slew of top talent he’s helped grow inside the gym, including his younger brother Aiemann, who returns at UFC 315 later this month against Jose Aldo. But according to Zahabi, not all of his techniques have been learned and perfected solely inside the gym’s walls.
Firas Zahabi accuses Keanu Reeves of ‘ripping off’ one of his techniques for ‘John Wick’
Actor Keanu Reeves is one of the most successful action stars to hit the big screen, after memorable performances in ‘The Matrix’ and the ‘John Wick’ movie franchise. His movies are known to include high-octane drama and action, and he’s trained in some martial arts during his film career to pull off his own stunts.
But according to Zahabi, one of Reeves’s on-screen techniques came from Tristar.
During a recent upload to the Tristar Gym YouTube channel, Firas Zahabi accused Reeves of plagiarism.
“It was a great move, it’s called the web guard. I used to call it the web guard. I used to rush people punching and kicking and then whenever they would grab a hold of me, if they grabbed me with an underhook, I would jump web guard,” Zahabi explained. “If I grab them with an underhook, I could also do it, so it didn’t matter to me, which is what I loved. As soon as we tied up, I could get the fight to the ground.”
“I put this move out of circulation,” Zahabi continued. “But then a man by the name of Keanu Reeves, the man actually dared to rip me off. Now, I’m used to the white man stealing from me, but if he’s a fellow Lebanese, that’s the problem. Now that I know he’s a fellow Lebanese, I must insist that I collect from him. When the white man steals from me, I’m not so upset. I expect it! But a fellow Lebanese? This cannot go unpunished. He jumps web guard in the movie. Long story short, Keanu, you owe me massari.” (h/t MMA Mania)
Luckily, it appears Zahabi’s claims aren’t from a hostile side, and Reeves hasn’t responded to Zahabi’s remarks. Reeves has attended several high-profile UFC events, including multiple International Fight Week cards in Las Vegas.
Georges St-Pierre advised Tom Aspinall amidst the prolonged Jon Jones wait
As Zahabi prepares his brother and other gym members for their upcoming fights, St-Pierre remains sidelined from combat sports, and a fighting return is unlikely. But St-Pierre keeps a keen eye on what’s happening in MMA, including the ongoing Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga.
Since Jones defended the UFC heavyweight title in November, discussions of a potential super fight with Aspinall haven’t slowed down. Aspinall is the UFC’s longest-reigning interim titleholder, stemming from his knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295.
St-Pierre recently advised Aspinall not to focus on securing the Jones fight, and to open his mind to other potential options in the heavyweight division. If Jones walks away, Ciryl Gane and other top heavyweights are waiting in the wings for a shot at the belt.