UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre, one of the most dominant fighters in the history of MMA, would rather relax with a discussion of philosophy or a trip to a museum on his days off than take in a sporting event.

Hard to believe? 

Just ask St. Pierre. He is, after all, a self-confessed nerd.

"I don't like to tell people that very much, but I am," St. Pierre said when asked if he considered himself a nerd by ESPN. "I don't really watch sports. I watch the Canadian version of the Discovery Channel. Ask me a question about the Jurassic period or the Cretaceous period and I probably could answer it."

St. Pierre, who first won the UFC's welterweight title in 2006, once considered a career in paleontology instead of fighting. Although these days his training keeps him very busy, his early love of science has never waned.

"Seriously, I'm into paleontology," St. Pierre stated. "That's the study of prehistoric life. I'm into philosophy. And psychology, too."

Whenever he can, the Montreal, Quebec native likes to take a little time away from the gym to enjoy some of life's more cerebral pastimes.

"When I train, I love to take time off and fly to the Natural History Museum or an exhibition," said St. Pierre. "I just love that. When you know your past, it will help you with your future."

Although it's hard to believe that someone with St. Pierre's good looks and accomplishments would ever have trouble meeting the right somebody, he insists it's not been easy for him.

"That's why most of my friends are not fighters," St. Pierre explained. "Most of my friends are nerds like me. That's why I have a hard time finding a girlfriend. I need someone to talk science with. I'm married to my work right now. But you never know. One day I could wake up and just do something different. Life is so unpredictable."

St. Pierre (20-2) will defend his title against Josh Koscheck (15-4) on December 11 at UFC 124 in Montreal.