GSP's punching power.

[servel20]

The one thing that surprised me the most about the fight was Johny Hendricks's ability to absorb all punches from GSP with virtually no visual damage.

I remember back in the day Georges used to hurt guys with strikes, he's a lot more technical with his Kickboxing nowadays, but he rarely hurts guys.

The last guy he dropped was Jon Fitch, he did hurt Jake Shields but it wasn't significant.

Why did he lose his striking power?

He tagged Hendricks with right hooks that basically made Hendricks laugh. Only once did I notice Hendricks grimace when getting tagged.

It was the obvious difference between both. When GSP tagged Hendricks it didn't back him up, when Hendricks tagged GSP, it made him retreat immediately.

I gained 100% more respect for Georges, he showed how resilient he really is and how his chin isn't glass. IMO he lost the fight but deserved the win.

War GSP

 

[TheComebackKid]

He's a) fighting better opponents and b) not putting his full power behind the strikes.

 

[dbsh510]

Getting older and never was a huge puncher, plus his last three fights were against guys who take a tremendous shot.

 

[Uncommon Valor]

It was the beard.

 

[CruzMMA]

He's a) fighting better opponents and b) not putting his full power behind the strikes.

Spot on, in his early ufc days he used to swing recklessly

 

[servel20]

Spot on, in his early ufc days he used to swing recklessly

You could still put full power and be technical at the same time. It's just sad.

 

[AllHailKrull**]

jab,jab,jab,jab.

 

[kiljoy]

Never been the same fighter since Serra knocked him out. He's to cautious of getting hurt so never commits to his strikes. this 50% and 70% power talk is all crap. to many people listen' to rogan. you can punch or you can't.

 

[That209]

He rung Johny's bell pretty good in the 5th right before the TD

 

[ostlerrage]

He's never been a power puncher. He has the reach and muscles but it doesn't come together to give him ko power. Hendricks hits like tyson.

 

[numskully]

jab,jab,jab,jab.

yep

 

[xn7]

hendricks just has a insane chin. he got tagged many times

 

[Pengu]

how can you lose the fight and still deserve to win?????

 

[kiljoy]

easy to stay out of harms way at the end of a jab, it's the second thing they teach in boxing after keep ya guard up. he's a smart fighter not a brave one.

 

[thomnasty]

Looked like Gsp lost his power after Hendricks wobbled him in the second and was never able to get comfortable again. Watching the fight he seemed to lack the snap in his strikes he usually has.

 

[snizzar]

He never head 1 punch KO power but he was able to finish people with a combination of strikes. A lot of it has to do with the intent of his punches/committing to them (as cliche as it may sound). Earlier prior to his title reign he was a confident striker, and planted his feet/sat down with his punches/kicks. He was actively looking to set up power strikes with killer intent, like setting up his high kicks. The thing is, when you commit to hard strikes like that, you open yourself to take more damage if you get countered as opposed to if you just stayed on the balls of your feet throwing quick punches to better evade/stay defensive minded. That's the trade off in striking unless you got stupid power/chin or the up most confidence in your skills that your counter will land.

That being said my opinion is that GSP's power never really went away, he just opted for a more defensive striking/grapple first style to minimize his chances of losing.

 

[kiljoy]

hard to land a decent punch when you spend the whole fight backpeddling. unless your muhammed ali

 

[kiljoy]

He never head 1 punch KO power but he was able to finish people with a combination of strikes. A lot of it has to do with the intent of his punches/committing to them (as cliche as it may sound). Earlier prior to his title reign he was a confident striker, and planted his feet/sat down with his punches/kicks. He was actively looking to set up power strikes with killer intent, like setting up his high kicks. The thing is, when you commit to hard strikes like that, you open yourself to take more damage if you get countered as opposed to if you just stayed on the balls of your feet throwing quick punches to better evade/stay defensive minded. That's the trade off in striking unless you got stupid power/chin or the up most confidence in your skills that your counter will land.

That being said my opinion is that GSP's power never really went away, he just opted for a more defensive striking/grapple first style to minimize his chances of losing.

great post. he keeps winning for a reason cause he doesn't take to many risks. and ya right he was never a truly great hitter

 

[robbie]

GSP has good power (not elite power) when he throws true power shots which are infrequent. When he landed a flush right cross, Hendrick's head snapped back like you would expect. I think GSP fights cautiously with a lot of jabs for control purposes and the biggest factor in lack of KO strikes is his reluctance to throw multi-punch combinations. The first good punch staggers the opponent and then you wade in with the hooks, upper cuts, etc. to finish off the opponent. I can't remember the last time GSP waded in to finish with a large flurry of punches/kicks.

 

[Bushpig]

Pre serra gsp turned jay hierons lights out