Let's face it - All three of the GOATs are Cherrypickers

[Coolidge]

GSP avoided Anderson Silva like the plague, but now that Bisping is champion, suddenly GSP is interested in fighting for the MW belt. Huh?

Anderson Silva went up in weight three times. How is it that with a division as stacked as Light Heavyweight, we only got to see him fight James Irvin, Forrest Griffin, and Stephan Bonnar, as opposed to Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell, etc? More recently, he had been lobbying for a fight with Welterweight GSP, but had to ultimately settle for Nick Diaz, even though Jon Jones is ready and waiting at LHW.

Fedor has more cherrypicked opponents on his resume than some fighters have fights.

...

Perhaps they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have without playing it safe and recognizing their limitations?

 

[Sad Panda]

And jon jones?

 

[Akabignasty]

 

[Coconut Joe]

C'Mon Coolidge....

 

[Martinezzz]

Jon Jones is GOAT

 

[Fahrenheit1221]

I'll bite.

GSP has fought as tough of a schedule as anyone in MMA history. The only person comparable is Jon Jones. The only knock anyone can have against GSP is that he wasn't consistently finishing his opponents.

Anderson didn't cherry pick anything. It isn't his fault that MW was weak when he reigned. He's not a LHW. Dude used to fight at Welterweight... Some of the guys you listed he would have probably dismantled in his prime but obviously he wouldn't have fought Lyoto because of their friendship.

Fedor... There is no denying it... His resume is as padded as Miguel Torres.

 

[MatRat75]

Anderson fought all kinds in MW but is a cherrypicker. GTFO TS.

However, GSP today is a bum/cherry picker, going after Bisping all of a sudden.

 

[Primitivo]

Easy to go up with the Viagra, bro.

 

[DS7]

Take a shot every time you see a thread about GOAT`s on sherdog...

 

[BigTruck]

So ooook you're saying they are transformers?!?!?!?!

 

[FrontNakedChoke]

GSP avoided Anderson Silva like the plague, but now that Bisping is champion, suddenly GSP is interested in fighting for the MW belt. Huh?

Anderson Silva went up in weight three times. How is it that with a division as stacked as Light Heavyweight, we only got to see him fight James Irvin, Forrest Griffin, and Stephan Bonnar, as opposed to Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell, etc? More recently, he had been lobbying for a fight with Welterweight GSP, but had to ultimately settle for Nick Diaz, even though Jon Jones is ready and waiting at LHW.

Fedor has more cherrypicked opponents on his resume than some fighters have fights.

...

Perhaps they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have without playing it safe and recognizing their limitations?

When it comes to fighting at a higher weight, yes.

Floyd Mayweather is the best example of picking the right opponent at the right time. People who will fight anyone anywhere any time have a higher probability of losing, imo.. so If you're looking for GOAT status you're probably looking to cherry pick at least a little bit.

 

[accolyte1022]

Take a shot every time you see a thread about GOAT`s on sherdog...

The Dos Equis guy couldn't handle that.

 

[Fergelmince]

 

[FrontNakedChoke]

Take a shot every time you see a thread about GOAT`s on sherdog...

add in "P4P" and we'll really get the party started

 

[LukeSkyRutten]

GSP avoided Anderson Silva like the plague, but now that Bisping is champion, suddenly GSP is interested in fighting for the MW belt. Huh?

Anderson Silva went up in weight three times. How is it that with a division as stacked as Light Heavyweight, we only got to see him fight James Irvin, Forrest Griffin, and Stephan Bonnar, as opposed to Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell, etc? More recently, he had been lobbying for a fight with Welterweight GSP, but had to ultimately settle for Nick Diaz, even though Jon Jones is ready and waiting at LHW.

Fedor has more cherrypicked opponents on his resume than some fighters have fights.

...

Perhaps they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have without playing it safe and recognizing their limitations?

Irvin was to counter an Affliction card on short notice. Bonnar was to save a card on short notice. Rashad turned down the fight with Anderson which is the reason he faced Irvin.

In fact: Vera, Thiago Silva and Jardine were offered, and turned down that fight.

 

[Sonny Qc]

Gsp want to comeback and face the champion at a higher weightclass .

Yeah Gsp is cherry picking for a comeback fight after 3 years.

gtfo.

 

[Wayne Brady]

Can we just round up all of these idiots and force them to fight to the death?

 

[Coolidge]

Conor's foray into LW/WW failed miserably, but at least he had the cojones to try and prove his mettle. That's more than I can say about our GOATs, sadly.

 

[HHJ]

GSP avoided Anderson Silva like the plague, but now that Bisping is champion, suddenly GSP is interested in fighting for the MW belt. Huh?

Anderson Silva went up in weight three times. How is it that with a division as stacked as Light Heavyweight, we only got to see him fight James Irvin, Forrest Griffin, and Stephan Bonnar, as opposed to Rashad Evans, Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Chuck Liddell, etc? More recently, he had been lobbying for a fight with Welterweight GSP, but had to ultimately settle for Nick Diaz, even though Jon Jones is ready and waiting at LHW.

Fedor has more cherrypicked opponents on his resume than some fighters have fights.

...

Perhaps they wouldn't have gotten as far as they have without playing it safe and recognizing their limitations?

There are different reasons and situations for some of these fights though. Pride liked to give people squash matches,because a violent ko provides footage to build guys up. If your company says heres a squash match,and heres a bunch of money,why would you not take it? Some fights like the fedor zulu fight were thrown together because they lost another fight on the card,and they needed a big name. Anderson,was running out of interesting fights in his div. so he went up and took fights at LHW cos the oppurtunity was there,and the UFC was cool with it.
GSP doesnt have the belt anymore,so he is flexible on the fights he could take. Some people feel that everyone has to follow this UFC title model where they can only fight the #1 contender for their belt and thats it. But really a fighter is there to take the fights that make the most money,so when they retire,they still have some. Its no surprise,what GSP is trying to do here. He has nothing to prove,no title restrictions,and wants to take a fight that will make him the most money,that can be realistically won.

 

[The Accuser]

GSP didn't cherry pick during his title reign.

Also, he didn't call out Bisping, he answered to Bisping's callout. Which still leaves the questions unanswered how fighting the champ of a higher weight class could constitute "cherry picking".