UFC and MMA Thread

Condit is the real deal - very well rounded, but still couldn't take what GSP had for him. Granted he did have GSP in mild trouble, but not enough there to put it away.

I am not surprised by Hendricks. He was an OUTSTANDING collegiate wrestler, and genetics blessed him with a great chin and a great fist.

You can't forget that GSP is also an outstanding wrestler - he completely neutralized Kos and Kos was also an NCAA champ. At times I think people underestimate how good GSP is with wrestling, because his striking and BJJ is also exemplary.

The only thing that will beat GSP is time. At this point, no one in the weight class has the tools.

 

Unfortunately, we have come to the point where GSP does what he does so well, and he completely dominates the elite of the weight class, yet people judge his fights simply on whether he finishes the opponent or not. I find this to be ridiculous.

At this level, the competition should be incredibly difficult to finish. If they aren't, they should not be in there fighting for the belt. Guys like Condit do not get finished. Guys like Diaz so very rarely get finished. That's just how life is at the top of a division. I guarantee you GSP would love nothing more than to finish off his opponents, but he will not make a stupid move to try and accomplish that. He is a smart fighter, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I was very impressed how GSP stood up with Diaz, an opponent who many would call the best boxer in his division. He nailed Diaz very nicely so many times. He made Diaz change the way he boxes simply because of how quickly GSP closes the distance and lands his strikes. I think this is the 1st time in a long time where I saw Diaz holding his hands in a defensive position for the majority of the time instead of his usual taunting by waving his hands around.

Then on the ground, another dangerous place to go with Diaz, GSP handled himself perfectly, never really getting into danger, regardless of Diaz's non-stop working and attempts to secure a submission. I'd say the way Diaz was working on the ground, he would have submitted 99.9% of any other WWs.

GSP neutralized Diaz in all of his dangerous areas, yet smartly looked for opportunities to finish him. The fight was non-stop action, on and off the ground. Anyone who calls that boring should perhaps go find another sport to follow. This was MMA at its highest level.

 

50-45 unanimous decision with Diaz playing turtle the majority of time= boring. Condit at least stunned gsp with high kick.

 

Mma at its highest level? Lmao you need to check your vision. Diaz was totally overmatched and he shouldn't even have been in the same ring as gsp. Hendricks would at least have knocked Diaz out IMO. Gsp is a great fighter but his style isn't exactly the most fan friendly. He neutralizes his opponent's strengths and capitalizes on their weaknesses. Staying out of boxing range was very crafty against Diaz.

 

Yes, but it's not about excitement - it's about wins. I get the idea of the fans and making it exciting, but that means bupkus if you lose.

 

Turtle? I saw Diaz working his ass off on the ground. You seem to think that a high level of drama somehow automatically equates to high level MMA, and anything less is just boring. Maybe you should start watching WWE......at least that way, you will get all of the drama you need.

So if a fighter completely dominates Nick Diaz, a fighter who is considered one of the top fighters in the world, what level of MMA does Diaz's opponent need to possess to dominate Diaz?

I'll get immense satisfaction after GSP dominates Hendricks........

 

Which WILL be the case. Hendricks is solid, but has but one chance - a Matt Serra type knockout. Otherwise, ZERO chance.

I wouldn't be surprised if GSP totally dominates the wrestling portion, which should be Hendricks strength. In this fight, it's not.

 

Agreed.

To me, Hendricks is the new Koscheck. Similar levels of wrestling, dangerous KO power in the one hand, and that's about it. And we all know what GSP did to Koscheck - twice.

 

Ya like I said you need to check your vision. I and a lot of other MMA fans saw GSP take Diaz to the ground at will and smother him for the majority of the fight. Diaz may have been working his ass off on the ground but he was pretty much ineffective. Maybe you're a noob to the MMA game, but I remember fights where GSP was throwing 100 elbows with devastating efficiency. His strategy has changed obviously and he gets the wins, can't argue with that. However, for you to insinuate the Diaz was performing high level MMA is inane. He was coming off a loss and a one year suspension and it certainly showed in the ring.

Don't tell me to watch WWE. I've been training muay thai and boxing for the past 7 years and take private lessons from a professional MMA fighter. What's your credentials besides being completely wrong about BOTH Diaz and Hendricks. Go back and check your threads from last week.

 

GSP has great wrestling skill which people often underestimate. I agree that Hendricks best chance is an overhand #2 like Hendo but I highly doubt GSP will put himself in range for a Big Rig KO. Watch GSP go for the takedown and pit his grappling skills against Hendricks.

 

I don't think there are too many people left who underestimate GSP's wrestling, except perhaps for highly decorated wrestlers like Hendricks. I'm sure Kos underestimated GSP their 1st fight. That didn't prevent GSP from putting Kos on his ass the 2nd fight too.

What Hendricks will learn when he fights GSP is that there is certainly a difference between college/Olympic wrestling and MMA wrestling........

There's no doubt GSP will look to grapple with Hendricks, but I think we'll see a fair bit of striking as well.

 

I'm not convinced it was so much Diaz's ring rust.

Diaz was attempting to use his "high level MMA", but was unable to overcome GSP's skills. Diaz was suspended, but he was healthy, and could have kept in as good shape as he cared to. He is a professional, and has an excellent camp behind him, and had plenty of time to prepare for this fight. A fighter who wasn't as high level as Diaz is would have gotten finished early in the fight. His MMA was high level, but certainly more defense than offense.

I don't believe that the outcome of this fight would have been much different if Diaz had never been suspended, or wasn't coming off a loss.

 

I think what Hendricks adds to his arsenal is one punch knock out power and a fairly intimidating stand up game compared to Koscheck. I would say their grappling skills are a wash both being well-rounded collegiate wrestlers. Agree on the vast difference between collegiate wrestling and MMA/BJJ.

I would like to see some striking but GSP will be crafty and stay out of boxing range like he did against Diaz. I think one way of doing this is closing the distance with "dirty boxing" or going for the takedown. If GSP is going to lose it's getting KO'd like against Serra, if the fight goes to decision he is extremely difficult to outpoint IMO.

 

Difficult to say as it's all conjecture. I don't buy his excuse that his training camp was compromised by teammates Shields and Melendenz being busy with their upcoming bouts. GSP makes everyone else look weak or unprepared. Look how awesome Condit is and look what GSP did to him. GSP showed minimal ring rust, if any rust was evidence it was being on the receiving end of Condit's high kick and he recovered impressively.

If GSP gets by Hendricks and Ellenberger, I would really like to see him fight Anderson but it may all be wishful thinking.

 

Interesting fight card for this weekend's "World Series of Fighting 2".

Andrei Arlovski versus Anthony Johnson. Is this Johnson's 1st fight at HW, or is Arlovski dropping to 205? No matter, it should be interesting to watch.

Paulo Filho is fighting as well. Whatever happened to this guy? Isn't he considered to be one of the very best BJJ guys out there? Why is he not in the UFC?

 

Agreed!

 

But don't forget that GSP was rumored to be trying out for the Canadian Olympic Wrestling team. I don't know if it's really "true", but no one laughed at the idea. As a former wrestler, I also know that Canada isn't known for it's wrestling prowess, but rest assured an Olympic team is made up of OUTSTANDING wrestlers - that goes for Canada or any other nation.

I believe that GSP - with a little training - compete at that level. I'm not saying he'd win, but I think his freestyle skills are underestimated. Forget about his MMA skills - that's otherworldly.

That's what I meant about underestimating him. We wrestle what's called "folkstyle" here in the States (as well as freestyle) - it's quite a good base for MMA, and I think the collegiate guys believe it's an edge against GSP - which is a mistake. In my opinion, as good as Hendricks is as a wrestler, I'd take GSP over him at this point.

 

Damn Arlovski is still fighting? LOL

 

^ +1. This is what I meant as far as "underestimating" GSP's ground game.

 

Anyone get a chance to catch the World Series of Fighting 2 last night on NBC Sports Network. HORRIBLE match-up but some good names. Main Event was Arlovski vs Anthomy Johnson... Yes the 170lb Johnson who got cut from the UFC cause he couldnt ever make weight. Well Fellas he is a Heavyweight now. AND HE BEAT ARLOVSKI via Dec (I guess thats not saying much). I was excited to see Fhilo fight again. WASTE!!!! He NEEDs to retire. On his back all 3 rounds getting punched (again) JZ also fight... LOST 1st rd. Cut. anyway, That being said, It was better than anything else on TV.
Ooops, I almost forgot, Josh Burkman vs Aaron Simpson was a good fight while it lasted. Burkman won a TKO (high kick) 1st. Rd. I guess he fights Fitch in June.

 

Good card for sure.
Filho looked like crap- had nothing. Time to hang it up...

 

Gustafsson out. His teammate Ilir Latifi meets Mousasi in UFC on FUEL TV 9 main event instead.

Armen, your boy needs to kick some serious ass.

 

He has no choice at this point. He has to perform.

 

Anyone following "The Ultimate Fighter"?

Remember the name "Uriah Hall". This kid is outstanding, and I have very little doubt he will be a UFC Champ soon enough. The guy is an animal.

 

I did finally watch it.

Filho? What a joke. He is only a shadow of his former self now - what a shame.

Johnson is undersized as a HW, and admitted that himself. Perhaps LHW is ideal for him.

The Burkman finish was very nice indeed.......