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I am arguably one of the biggest GSP fans this site has known only giving way to TonyCPA.
And I am going to give you my opinion as to why GSP should not return and why so many who think he will simply 50-45 everyone is wrong.
GSP's biggest strength during his prime run imo was his transitional game. HIs transitional game allowed him to keep top wrestlers of strikers off their game as GSP was able to dictate where the fight took place and keep them from their strengths.
If he fought a striker who wanted to plant his feet to try and knock him out GSP took advantage of that stance to score the easier td and if he fought a grappler he would force the stand up and kick box him and jab him to death. During that period GSP was one of the least hit fighters in the sport of MMA.
After his ACL surgeries in 2011 and 2014 all that changed. GSP lost his explosiveness and transitional game and guys like Condit and Diaz were able to force him to stand and engage in a striking match. He spent more time standing in those matches then in the most prior and he got hit more in those last fights then in maybe the 10 prior. If you look at history many would argue that Diaz and Condit were arguably his easiest opponents to td in a long time and yet they were forcing the stand up.
So when I see people predicting an easy GSP return and 50-45 against any opponent (Bisping, Lawler, etc) I question if they are considering the post-surgery GSP V the pre surgery GSP? I would say that both Lawler and Bisping end up being striking match due to both having great tdd. And like against Hendricks who also forced a striking match it would be very close and controversial in who wins. Both fights are winnable for GSP but would be nowhere near the walk in the park he had in his prime when both would have to respect the td threat so much more.
People need to recognize the post surgery GSP is not the pre surgery GSP. This GSP has to strike far more and takes far more damage.
And I am going to give you my opinion as to why GSP should not return and why so many who think he will simply 50-45 everyone is wrong.
GSP's biggest strength during his prime run imo was his transitional game. HIs transitional game allowed him to keep top wrestlers of strikers off their game as GSP was able to dictate where the fight took place and keep them from their strengths.
If he fought a striker who wanted to plant his feet to try and knock him out GSP took advantage of that stance to score the easier td and if he fought a grappler he would force the stand up and kick box him and jab him to death. During that period GSP was one of the least hit fighters in the sport of MMA.
After his ACL surgeries in 2011 and 2014 all that changed. GSP lost his explosiveness and transitional game and guys like Condit and Diaz were able to force him to stand and engage in a striking match. He spent more time standing in those matches then in the most prior and he got hit more in those last fights then in maybe the 10 prior. If you look at history many would argue that Diaz and Condit were arguably his easiest opponents to td in a long time and yet they were forcing the stand up.
So when I see people predicting an easy GSP return and 50-45 against any opponent (Bisping, Lawler, etc) I question if they are considering the post-surgery GSP V the pre surgery GSP? I would say that both Lawler and Bisping end up being striking match due to both having great tdd. And like against Hendricks who also forced a striking match it would be very close and controversial in who wins. Both fights are winnable for GSP but would be nowhere near the walk in the park he had in his prime when both would have to respect the td threat so much more.
People need to recognize the post surgery GSP is not the pre surgery GSP. This GSP has to strike far more and takes far more damage.
