GSP x BJ I or GSP x Hendricks: What these GSP versions was harder to beat?

[DanDragon Machi]

Bettween these two differents moments of GSP career what version was better?
Athleticism x Experience

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

He won both fights.... so both?

 

[Typrune Goatley]

The GSP that fought BJ the first time was his absolute physical prime but hadn't fully peaked yet in overall skills.

The GSP that fought Hendricks had compromised knees and wasn't quite as explosive as he was a few years prior, but was still an absolute beast and his fight IQ was maxed out from so much experience by this point.

If I had to pick between these two, I might lean towards the younger GSP just because of the youth, explosion and healthy knees.

Neither of these are the peak version of GSP.

Peak version of GSP would probably be somewhere in the middle of his title reign. His fight against Thiago Alves at UFC 100 is the first that comes to mind. Also when he dominated Fitch.

The loss to Serra really changed his fighting style and he became even more safe and more difficult to defeat. He had a great run but then his last few fights against Condit, Diaz and Hendricks you could tell he was slightly fading (and those were also 3 tough opponents in their primes TBF)

 

[ejazahmednit]

I would say Hendricks just because that was a way harder opponent

 

[Morning Star]

The 2nd one by far. The Serra fight help GSP improve more than any fight in his career.

 

[SalvadorAllende]

I would say Hendricks just because that was a way harder opponent

Exactly. Hendricks wasn't an overhyped LW.

 

[Koya]

The GSP that fought BJ the first time was his absolute physical prime but hadn't fully peaked yet in overall skills.

The GSP that fought Hendricks had compromised knees and wasn't quite as explosive as he was a few years prior, but was still an absolute beast and his fight IQ was maxed out from so much experience by this point.

If I had to pick between these two, I might lean towards the younger GSP just because of the youth, explosion and healthy knees.

Neither of these are the peak version of GSP.

Peak version of GSP would probably be somewhere in the middle of his title reign. His fight against Thiago Alves at UFC 100 is the first that comes to mind. Also when he dominated Fitch.

The loss to Serra really changed his fighting style and he became even more safe and more difficult to defeat. He had a great run but then his last few fights against Condit, Diaz and Hendricks you could tell he was slightly fading (and those were also 3 tough opponents in their primes TBF)

The GSP that demolished Koschek in their second fight was pretty good too

 

[UkraineFreightTrain]

I'd take the 1st BJ Penn version of GSP. He never quite looked the same after tearing his ACL

 

[krelianx]

I would say Hendricks just because that was a way harder opponent

Reading comprehension is not your strength.

 

[Michael Wetzel]

The GSP who fought Penn was motivated and had a killer instinct. By the time GSP fought Hendricks he had been mentally checked out for some time. He was content with lay and praying opponents for 5 rounds, and discussed retirement.

 

[mister piscadinha]

late stage gsp was less explosive and way more hittable

 

[Hymen Crusher]

Better fighter older gsp. He would have worked over his younger self. More exciting pre serra I think that gsp is one of the most exciting mma fighters of all time. Was A level at everything and a A+ mma athlete.

 

[cmw43]

The GSP that fought BJ the first time was his absolute physical prime but hadn't fully peaked yet in overall skills.

The GSP that fought Hendricks had compromised knees and wasn't quite as explosive as he was a few years prior, but was still an absolute beast and his fight IQ was maxed out from so much experience by this point.

If I had to pick between these two, I might lean towards the younger GSP just because of the youth, explosion and healthy knees.

Neither of these are the peak version of GSP.

Peak version of GSP would probably be somewhere in the middle of his title reign. His fight against Thiago Alves at UFC 100 is the first that comes to mind. Also when he dominated Fitch.

The loss to Serra really changed his fighting style and he became even more safe and more difficult to defeat. He had a great run but then his last few fights against Condit, Diaz and Hendricks you could tell he was slightly fading (and those were also 3 tough opponents in their primes TBF)

The Fitch fight was a beatdown, I don't know how Fitch survived it to the decision.

 

[MigitAs]

Nobody talks about how fucking juiced up and roided Hendricks was in that fight and the Lawler fights; guy fucking deflated after and was never the same.

 

[chinarice]

Late stage GSP fought smarter but pre ACL surgery GSP was a better fighter.

 

[HNIC215]

 

[ejazahmednit]

I would say Hendricks just because that was a way harder opponent

Reading comprehension is not your strength.

Thank you for your assesment
Beating a harder opponent in my book means you are a better version of yourself
Yes GSP in the BJ fight was younger, had better knees but was far from the technician and MMArtist that he was when he was when he fought Hendricks
The GSP that fought BJ would not be able to beat Hendricks