Silva or GSP? Here we go again...

[The Natural Born Runner]

I've very well aware that this is the age-old discussion and debate in the barbershop of Sherdog.

But, hey... hey we go again!

I've been having a debate with @Perrichet on another "GSP return" related post I made, and I wanted to open it up to the wider audience.

So, who is better? Anderson "The Spider" Silva or Georges "Rush" St. Pierre?

Some simple number/fact breakdowns below, of some categories that I think are important.

Fights - Silva 41 / GSP 27
Career start date - Silva June 97' / GSP January 02'
Wins - Silva 33 / GSP 25
Finishes - Silva 26 / GSP 13
KO/TKO's - Silva 20 / GSP 8
Submissions - Silva 6 / GSP 5
Times lost via finish - Silva 4 / GSP 2
Times lost via KO/TKO - Silva 2 / GSP 1
Times lost via Submission - Silva 2 / GSP 1
Longest win streak - Silva 17 / GSP 12
Length of career in years - Silva 19 / GSP 11

Below are some subjective choices for top 5, most difficult and notable wins for both man:

Silva:

Dan Henderson - Round 2 - submission / Side notes: Title fight to unite PRIDE and UFC titles.
Chael Sonnen I - Round 5 - submission / Side notes: Perennially listed as the best comeback/submission of all time.
Vitor Belfort - Round 1 - KO / Side notes: One of the best KO's of all time, was billed to be Silva's toughest fight.
Rich Franklin I - Round 1 - KO / Side notes: Second UFC fight, KO's long reigning champ in under 3 minutes.
Hayato Sakurai - UD / Side notes: First time Sak ever lost. Anderson winning 168lb title.

Honorable mentions: Leben KO in 0:49, Newton Flying Knee KO, Fryklund back elbow uppercut KO, Franklin Knee KO the second time, Griffin matrix KO, Okami matrix KO.

GSP:

Jake Shields - UD / Side notes: Billed to be his best match-up ever. Borefest, 2 judges scored it 3-2. Pretty close.
Nick Diaz - UD / Side notes: Super dominant performance. Borefest, no action. 90% wrestling for 25 minutes.
BJ Penn II - Round 4 - TKO / Side notes: Great dominant win over long term rival. Caught greasing.
Matt Hughes II - Round 2 - TKO / Side notes: Fantastic win to gain his first UFC title. Beat the former WW GOAT.
Fitch - UD / Side notes: Dominant 5 round beating over perennial top 2 contender.

Honorable mentions: UD over Condit after knee surgery, elbows over Sherk, jabbed the faced off of Koscheck, beating Alves whilst tearing groin, Hughes armbar revenge to take the GOAT title.

My vote is Anderson Silva.

What about you guys?

 

[wilKO]

Both amazing. Anderson for the fact he has top 5 wins in 3 weight classes and he did things we had never seen before in the cage. He finished fights.

 

[JosephTessaro]

Some people will say GSP, some people will say A. Silva.

Next thread...

 

[JosephTessaro]

BTW, I vote for Anderson Silva pre drug test.

 

[Which Doctor]

I always would have said Silva. Until I read your post.

Thanks TS.

 

[Bewareofdawg]

All that and you didn't even list their records?

NVM, I would've picked GSP....but looking at those numbers, you gotta go with Silva.

 

[sirmorbach]

Georges St-Pierre all the way. He has avenged his only two losses and has always showed complete dominance over both strikers and grapplers.

And then of course, I'm not biased at all. My avatar is just a coincidence, naturally. Hahah.

 

[ALAN PARTRIDGE]

I feel this fight may end up happening

I care about this fight

 

[Sonny Qc]

GSP = GOAT

I agree 100% with that ranking below ;

http://www.tapology.com/rankings/top-ten-all-time-greatest-mma-and-ufc-fighters

 

[Sonny Qc]

I feel this fight may end up happening

I care about this fight

Hope Silva win Vs Hall then...

 

[faustian]

I used to pick Silva here b/c I figured prime Silva would beat prime GSP in a fight, but now I'm not so sure. I'm beginning to think there's a good chance GSP would win that fight.

 

[ALAN PARTRIDGE]

Hope Silva win Vs Hall then...

Even if Silva loses to Hall, the fight could more than happen

maybe more likely to even

 

[Deleted member 501827]

Anderson vs GSP must happen. Now or never.

 

[Sonny Qc]

Even if Silva loses to Hall, the fight could more than happen

maybe more likely to even

Anderson Silva last win came 4 yrs ago...
Idk how another loss help.

 

[TCE]

Anderson Silva.

 

[Cowboy Cerroliveira]

Before Anderson fought Da Chris, one could make a compelling case for either guy. However, now I think GSP is the better of the two.

 

[Soul On Ice]

The one that took a few fights in the weight class above his and has more finishes, title defenses.

 

[AKA_Steve_B]

I started to dislike GSP around 1/2way thru his 'reign' -- he just kept playing it so safe , unlike before where he earned the nickname "RUSH"


I would pick Silva ( in prime ) , before everything got questioned about him
( sexual enhancements or steroids or the such...)

 

[killerkalibur]

Both are equal in my mind and this topic has been beaten to death. What I have noticed is fighters tend to say that Anderson Silva is the best of all time more often than they mention GSP. Part of it could be the fact that Anderson captured the imagination of everyone. During his run, he seemed unbeatable. On the other hand, while GSP had a long reign of beating fighters, in the back of my mind there was always the though that it is possible he could loose.

If GSP comes back and losses that should not change people mind about the greatness of his legacy. In the same light, Anderson Silva losing streak should not take away from his era as one of if not the best fighter in the game.

 

[ALAN PARTRIDGE]

Anderson Silva last win came 4 yrs ago...
Idk how another loss help.

cos GSP might be more tempted to take the fight with Silva on all these losses