Is GSP's wrestling better than his striking?

[Tookish]

Im reposting this from the heavies to get some (hopefully) more qualified answers to the second part of my question:

Title pretty much says it. Ive been thinking about this recently; GSP has a more extensive background in striking and Ive always thought of him as a striking, probably the best rounded striker in the game, but primarily a striker nonetheless. However, it seems pretty clear that GSP is the best wrestler in mma these days (does anyone disagree?) and I think he wrestling skill now outshines his striking as his best polished skill set. Thoughts?

Furthermore, how good is GSPs striking? He's got a good jab, lead leg kick and loves the superman punch but im rarely floored by his displays on the feet (save the headkick to hughes).

 

[boxer steve]

I thougt he was a submission man early in his carrer. Frank trigg fight as example. His stiking is very good. Sets up combos not just random bombs.

I thought I heard the announcer say that he has gotten so good at wrestleing he was considering going to the olymipics in wrestleing for Canada.

Didnt really answer your question but these are my thoughts.

 

[Sinister]

His background is in Striking Arts, but he's extremely ground-savvy, even moreso now than ever before. I don't think he's the best Wrestler in MMA, but definitely one of the better grapplers and probably THE best all-around Fighter combining both.

And the first Hughes fight floored me with his stand-up. Footwork, jabs, leg-kicks, most of them perfectly timed, takedown defense, and he finished the fight with a kick to the face. Remember when NO ONE did that in MMA, let alone to a Matt Hughes?

 

[Tookish]

His background is in Striking Arts

Thank goodness someone realizes this. Ive had about a dozen responses in the heavies thread with jackasses saying hes not even primarily a striker...after my head exploded I wrote an entire response, then checked myself and decided there was no way I could win with those people...

 

[devante]

yeah he is a striker, that is why his striking is so crisp; but i might say his groundwork/wrestling is better than his standup, he has been on the ground w/really good wrestlers (kos/trigg/hughes) and judok (karo). In each instance he dominated them; i have yet to see him hold his own w/a really good/accomplished striker, when he fought spratt he shot in and went for the rnc.

 

[boxer steve]

Fight finder says he is jujitsu. I thought his primary was some form of karate. Either way he is a very savy and skilled fighter. I have been a fan for a while.

 

[XJ3B]

GSP main strength can be whatever he wants

 

[Sinister]

Fight finder says he is jujitsu. I thought his primary was some form of karate. Either way he is a very savy and skilled fighter. I have been a fan for a while.

Kyokushin I believe was his beginning in the MA World.

 

[MrNutHugger]

Well, it seems less likely that someone will overcome him on the ground with his two last wins over top notch grapplers, than on their feet were Serra beat him. Put it this way: he might only rarely be overcome by a Serra, but next to never by a Hughes.

 

[Chute Stomp]

Waaay better than his striking. GSP is a ground and pounder first and foremost. His striking is decent though and he's very light on his feet.

The times when GSP got away from his GnP'ing roots is the only times we have really seen him in danger. It not even close. When he takes people down he's a submission and a GnP threat. He's almost never in danger on the ground. Course the one Matt Hughes mistake.

 

[Mithra]

His leg kicks are good, hands are average...

His wrestling is WAY better than his striking

 

[Gavin Smith]

I too believe that his wrestling has now over taken his striking as the strongest aspect of his mma, although he is from a striking back ground he's developed his wrestling and graplling to the point where he should be able to cope with any one on the ground now.
GSP is the most well rounded fighter in mma, imo.

 

[eljamaiquino]

His background is in Striking Arts, but he's extremely ground-savvy, even moreso now than ever before. I don't think he's the best Wrestler in MMA, but definitely one of the better grapplers and probably THE best all-around Fighter combining both.

And the first Hughes fight floored me with his stand-up. Footwork, jabs, leg-kicks, most of them perfectly timed, takedown defense, and he finished the fight with a kick to the face. Remember when NO ONE did that in MMA, let alone to a Matt Hughes?

That Hughes fight was the second one BTW.

GSP was a Kyokushin man, but I think the division shaped what he became. Rememebr that he lost to Hughes the first time, and he had to fight a slew of wrestlers back to the top. Hughes, Sean Sherk, Frank trigg, Josh Koschek, all had to be defeated. GSP obviously specialized in wrestling in order to beat those guys. You're not going to win at 170 unless you have decent wrestling. There's just way too many good wrestlers hanging out in that weight class. He's a prime example of working on your weaknesses instead of your strengths.

It's to the point now where his wrestling is indeed much more dominant than his striking. He is the best wrestler at that weight class. Best wrestler in MMA? I would think he's very close. Remember that he's taken down everyone he's attempted. Josh Koschek and Matt Hughes are all-american Champs, and Kos went undefeated in one year in wrestling.

Who would you say is a better wrestler than him in MMA? Other than Randy, and maybe Lindland, there aren't too many. Definitely none better at 185 and down currently...

 

[Sinister]

That Hughes fight was the second one BTW.

The first one he won, better?

GSP is a ground and pounder first and foremost.

No he's not. First and foremost would and should refer to what he's most familiar with, which are striking Arts. Also I think it's funny people are saying his Wrestling is better because only recently has he really been training Wrestling as hard as he has, specifically increasing takedown defense. Rogan I believe was making references to his ability to defend himself against much much more experienced Wrestlers, which suggests to me that Goerge is a bit like Roy Jones when it comes to Wrestling. Roy wasn't extremely schooled in HOW to Box, as much as he was extremely athletic and naturally gifted with things like speed and punching power. George doesn't have nearly the experience and schooling that guys like Hughes and Evans have, but he's reportedly (and shown in fights with Hughes and Koscheck) able to avoid takedowns and take them down at will. For once I agree with Rogan in saying it appears currently to be mostly attributed to his speed and athleticism. But I wouldn't go as far as to say he's better at Wrestling than striking.

 

[furdog]

GSP was a Kyokushin man, but I think the division shaped what he became. Rememebr that he lost to Hughes the first time, and he had to fight a slew of wrestlers back to the top. Hughes, Sean Sherk, Frank trigg, Josh Koschek, all had to be defeated. GSP obviously specialized in wrestling in order to beat those guys.

No. GSP started training with the Olympic team way back when he was fighting in TKO. He has been a great wrestler ever since. He probably added wrestling to his game because he knew it was important--that's what got him into the UFC.

 

[furdog]

No he's not. First and foremost would and should refer to what he's most familiar with, which are striking Arts.

GSP is familiar with everything. He trains zero kyokushin now by the way--his striking comes from sparring with pro boxers in the Montreal area, and training muay thai with a good trainer. Please, no more of this "GSP started with karate so he is a karate practitioner." He does not do karate anymore, nor do you see many karate techniques in the ring. He trains boxing with pro boxers several times per week.

Also I think it's funny people are saying his Wrestling is better because only recently has he really been training Wrestling as hard as he has, specifically increasing takedown defense.

This is wrong. You are speaking about him as if you know anything about his history, but this is wrong. He has been training with the Olympic team since he was back in TKO.

 

[FIGHTING TALK]

his wrestling is definitely better than his striking. without a doubt.

 

[eljamaiquino]

No. GSP started training with the Olympic team way back when he was fighting in TKO. He has been a great wrestler ever since. He probably added wrestling to his game because he knew it was important--that's what got him into the UFC.

Yes, but do you mean that his wrestling hasn't improved since then? Obviously it has. He took down Pete Spratt in their fight, so he obviously did takedowns before then. You haven't disagreed with anything I said. His wrestling WAS good, now it's even better than it was. No-one said that he hadn't trained wrestling before, just that he was a striekr first...

 

[Sinister]

GSP is familiar with everything. He trains zero kyokushin now by the way--his striking comes from sparring with pro boxers in the Montreal area, and training muay thai with a good trainer. Please, no more of this "GSP started with karate so he is a karate practitioner." He does not do karate anymore, nor do you see many karate techniques in the ring. He trains boxing with pro boxers several times per week.





This is wrong. You are speaking about him as if you know anything about his history, but this is wrong. He has been training with the Olympic team since he was back in TKO.

First of all, you're attempting to put my words together in a way that they weren't intended and you know it. So if you're going to be picky about what's being said, don't read whatever you like.

Since when do Pro Boxers kick people in the face and legs? Since when do they use back-kicks (which he has used)? For someone so on the up-and-up on his History, you sure don't recall a lot of what he does in his Fights.

I'm aware he spars with Alcine, and I even defended his decision to do so on another board, thanks.

As far as his Wrestling, even if he did train with the Olympic team way back when, the point was that now he's focused MORE on his Wrestling and takedown defense. I think that point can be argued looking at what he's done in the UFC, to say his Wrestling hasn't drastically improved more recently since as an above poster mentioned, he's had to take on Wrestlers primarily, then it stands to reason he's been focusing more on it. Not only that, but that's what's being said about his training.

I don't think training with the Olympic Team way back when has given him the ability to handle Wrestlers like Sherk, Koscheck, and Hughes, I think a recent focus on keeping the fight on the feet combined with talent has done so.

 

[furdog]

Since when do Pro Boxers kick people in the face and legs? Since when do they use back-kicks (which he has used)? For someone so on the up-and-up on his History, you sure don't recall a lot of what he does in his Fights.

First of all, you're attempting to put my words together in a way that they weren't intended and you know it. So if you're going to be picky about what's being said, don't read whatever you like.

Good argument though. "Since when do boxers kick people in the head?" Great argument!

As far as his Wrestling, even if he did train with the Olympic team way back when, the point was that now he's focused MORE on his Wrestling and takedown defense. I think that point can be argued looking at what he's done in the UFC, to say his Wrestling hasn't drastically improved more recently since as an above poster mentioned, he's had to take on Wrestlers primarily, then it stands to reason he's been focusing more on it. Not only that, but that's what's being said about his training.

This is all completely unfounded and based on your speculation. You don't know whether he has trained more often with wrestling lately or not. And all of this is beside the point--what was under question is whether his wrestling is better than his striking. I don't give a flying fuck whether you think he had to focus on wrestling "more recently." The fact is that he has been training with Olympic wrestlers for years, and it has made wrestling his best asset, clearly better than his striking. Even if he had to focus on wrestling a lot more lately--well then good for him! It has just made his dominant strength even greater. Key thing to take into account here is that it's his dominant strength.

I don't think training with the Olympic Team way back when has given him the ability to handle Wrestlers like Sherk, Koscheck, and Hughes,.

Neither do I. I think his continued training has given him that ability. Because of his continued training over the years with great wrestlers, he is able to outwrestle guys like Matt Hughes and Kos. And because of this continued wrestling training with Olympians, his wrestling is better than his striking.