Was GSP still in his peak wh in Hendrick's fight?

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Physically, GSP wasn't quite as explosive after his knee injury in 2011.

Mentally, GSP was talking about retirement leading up to the Condit fight one year prior, and by the time he fought Hendricks his "personal issues" (i.e. getting his current wife pregnant) were the tipping point.

That being said, Hendricks would've still been a very tough matchup even against a prime GSP.

Hendricks and Lawler would have always been tough match ups for GSP cause of the TDD, striking, power, strength and being southpaws. It's a shame we didn't get to see GSP vs Lawler.

 

[Bork Neslar]

Yes, of course he was in his prime.

 

[tequilaboy]

Hendricks had some advantages in that fight if you know what I mean.

His handwraps???

 

[fishbisquit]

He was 30 how more prime can he be???

He showed better boxing against Bisping 4 years later

In that fight GSP looked slow and plodding. He was not meant to be that size.

 

[Christhammer]

in all seriousness though, GSP was still in his physical prime but he was admittedly mentally exhausted from defending the belt for so long. By the time hendricks and him faced off, GSP was half out the door retired and his motivation to fight was fading.

32.5 years of age is a lot older for a guy that relies on other worldly timing and speed than your average bloke.

 

[Doctor Grudge]

GSP wasn't in his prime. Hendricks would have been a hard fight for him regardless though. Those WEC boys were problems.

 

[TRYHARD 2001]

He was close enough to his peak in terms of athleticism, fight IQ, etc to consider him almost at his peak. The reason this fight was so tough for him (and by tough I mean he lost 3 rounds and didn't deserve the decision) was because of Bigg Rigg. That guy, at his peak (which was unquestionably this fight with GSP) was truly impressive. People have all touched on the incredible wrestling pedigree and crazy KO power, but I don't feel enough emphasis is put on how freakin' strong Hendricks was at his best. This is the only fight I can remember where GSP was getting pushed around, reversed, and shoved against the cage. Johny had an observable strength advantage over Georges and that played a lot into the success he enjoyed in this one.

It was a close, competitive fight but, after watching that fight probably 6 times, I can not see how the judges found three rounds to give to GSP here. In hindsight, was GSP a little faded? Sure, but that's not the main reason this was such a tough fight for him. Credit where credit is due, Johny was also that damn good... for a far more limited time frame.

To this in a very short amount of time.

They are not the same.

 

[dog y]

All you have to do is look at it against Carlos, Nick Diaz, I mean, he was actually struggling to get the takedown against Diaz. I think GSP pretty much retired after the Johnny Hendricks fight because he just knew he wasn’t that guy anymore. He had declined.

Still beat Bisping haha

 

[IloveTHIS]

little bit of A little bit of B

GSP was slowing down physically bure more importantly was absolutely checked out mentally and simply didnt want to be there.

I think if bought fought at their peaks GSP wins a clear UD like 8/10 times despite a really hard stylistic matchup


still an absolute travesty that A) Hendricks was robbed of being the man to dethrone GSP and B) we didnt get a rematch of champ PigRigg vs a motivated challenger GSP

honestly Hendricks was done fucking dirty at his championship run. lost out on the legacy and financially defining fight of being the man to beat GSP and was also absolutely robbed in his loss to Lawler. one of the worst decisions of all time. Two championships straight up stolen from Hendricks. how the fuck could anyone stay motivated and hungry after that? even PigRigg lost his appetite

 

[acannxr]

I can not see how the judges found three rounds to give to GSP here

Rounds 2-5 are actually very easy to score (Hendricks 2&4, GSP 3&5), it all depends on how you score the first round (which is a toss up).

 

[cheesus]

and was also a southpaw.

People sleep in Prime Big Rig.

2x NCAA Division I gold and 1x silver
3x Big 12 gold medalist

Elite wrestling, very heavy for WW, one punch KO power,

Yeah he was a great fighter, prime Hendricks would've beaten Woodley, Hughes & Edwards and probably Belal.

 

[JBJ was here]

In that fight GSP looked slow and plodding. He was not meant to be that size.

GSP almost dropped the fight because his weight gain wasn't working and weighed a full 1.5 pounds more than his average WW fight night for his fight with Bisping. Certainly his weight was not meant to vary by that much.

 

[Cuttyrock]

why people dont get banned for this shit. lets say aspinal is on the juice

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Yes, of course he was in his prime.

Yeah cause most people are in their primea after 2 major knee surgeries.

 

[VAfan]

Hendricks had some advantages in that fight if you know what I mean.

hilarious how they never want to mention this in the midst of all the hate.

 

[Mike]

Yeah cause most people are in their primea after 2 major knee surgeries.

It's crazy how many people just act like those ACL tears didn't happen or don't matter. One of the biggest career killing injuries across all of sports and he tore both of them yet people say he was in his prime.


It's nonsense.