Why was Hendricks only a small underdog against GSP?

[medium rare]

Hendricks closed as low as +155 but GSP had fought fighters on longer win streaks like Hardy, Alves, Shields etc. but was a huge favorite over all of them.

Diaz +465
Condit +286
Shields +405
Koscheck +390
Hardy +550
Alves +250

On paper, Hendricks wasn't any different from the dudes GSP had 50-45'd with ease like Koscheck

D1 wrestlers with overhands

 

[Bk98]

If you were watching MMA at the time ignoring records or whatever fluff. You could tell that Hendricks was a huge threat to GSP and was no surprised how much damage he did in that fight. He was an absolute beast.

 

[JabToucher]

He was the lesser fighter. He got a few knock outs early.

 

[Benoitthegr8]

Johnny had dat Death Touch

 

[medium rare]

Johnny has Day Death Touch

So did Koscheck, Alves, and Condit

 

[SuperNerd]

He's a bigger, better wrestler than Koscheck, and a better punch.

Georges retirement rumors were going on too.

 

[aali14]

GSP has looked noticably worse since his knee surgery, maybe Nick Diaz stuffing his takedowns swayed the odds a little.

 

[SuperNerd]

So did Koscheck, Alves, and Condit

No.

 

[Paulo Odbelis]

Kos was 9-1 at the time with his best win being Diego Sanchez, Hendricks was on a 6 fights win streak including wins over Kos, Fitch, and Condit

 

[Dave Poodle]

Cos he refused testing

 

[ExitLUPin]

Ppl forget Kos arguably beat Hendricks and prolly should've got the decision

Hendricks was a more technical sturiker by the time he fought GSP. He used angles really unorthodox for his setups, had some good leg kicks too ppl forget about. He was nasty in the clinch too which most of GSPs opponents weren't. His wrestling was comparable to Kos but he was bigger and not as reliant on explosion

 

[TripTictonic]

Johnny up to that point was clearly a better and more dangerous fighter than anyone GSP had faced in a longtime, if not ever. Stylistically, he matched up better than anyone Georges had faced since Koscheck, except Hendricks was definitely a better fighter than Koscheck by the time he got his title shot. Hendricks wasn’t going to stand there and get jabbed in the eye for 5 straight rounds. Couple that with the fact that GSP was slowly looking less dominate in his wins, wether that was injuries, burnout, or just competition catching up, all the things were pointing to Hendricks being a hard fight for GSP. I remember picking GSP to win, but I knew Johnny was a dangerous fight for him. Wether GSP actually won that fight will be one of the biggest MMA debates of all time (I think Hendricks won, but I don’t think it was a robbery necessarily). Regardless of the results from the judges, I think how that fight played out is just another example that oddsmakers know their shit more often than not.

 

[ArmenianAssasin]

So did Koscheck, Alves, and Condit

he had the wrestling credentials on paper to be able to fight the take downs

plus the power and striking ability to end it on the feet

everyone else was missing one of the above

 

[SuperNerd]

Ppl forget Kos arguably beat Hendricks and prolly should've got the decision

Koscheck's arrogance and confidence has costed him a lot imo.

That fight was winnable.

 

[SuperNerd]

Johnny up to that point was clearly a better and more dangerous fighter than anyone GSP had faced in a longtime, if not ever. Stylistically, he matched up better than anyone Georges had faced since Koscheck, except Hendricks was definitely a better fighter than Koscheck by the time he got his title shot. Hendricks wasn’t going to stand there and get jabbed in the eye for 5 straight rounds. Couple that with the fact that GSP was slowly looking less dominate in his wins, wether that was injuries, burnout, or just competition catching up, all the things were pointing to Hendricks being a hard fight for GSP. I remember picking GSP to win, but I knew Johnny was a dangerous fight for him. Wether GSP actually won that fight will be one of the biggest MMA debates of all time (I think Hendricks won, but I don’t think it was a robbery necessarily). Regardless off the results from the judges, I think how that fight played out is just another example that oddsmakers know their shit more often than not.

+ the "surprise" "off riddium" TD wasn't going to be as effective against Hendricks.

 

[Mondo Freaks]

Maybe because he was KOing top welterweights like Kappmann and Fitch

 

[Post 2 Decision]

Worst stylistic matchup

Great wrestler with heavy hands, his run to the title was impressive

 

[Johnnny]

 

[Perrichet]

Should have been the favourite. He was knocking guys out for fun while GSP was looking out of sorts in the Condit and Diaz fights

 

[sampuncher]

They knew Hendricks was on the good stuff.