What made GSP so ahead of the curve?

[Askren’s chin]

How was GSP so much better than not just his contemporaries, but also modern fighters? It doesn’t make sense he was so good. Was it his athleticism? Was it his work ethic? What are your thoughts?

 

[Fatality]

Game planning, him and his team had everything planned out so well that as long as he kept to the plan it was very difficult for him to lose.

 

[TerrorTimmy]

I think it was the fact that he wasn't tied to his original style. So many fighters, even if they train other things, really only specialize in one thing. GSP saw his own weaknesses and worked at them. He never stopped learning new things. How many fighters really learn entirely new skill sets when they're already on top of the game? Not many.

What did Askren ever learn during his entire career? All he did was train wrestling. GSP trained everything, even gymnastics and other non-fighting physical activities just to train his body more.

 

[HHJ]

The takedown was the great equalizer. Whenever his opponents tried to go for the win,he shut em down with it,and they had to work just to try and get up and if they did,he would stand up w em again till they got comfortable and put em down again. He knew how to fight from range so he could be ready for em when they rushed in.

 

[Askren’s chin]

Game planning, him and his team had everything planned out so well that as long as he kept to the plan it was very difficult for him to lose.

I think it was the fact that he wasn't tied to his original style. So many fighters, even if they train other things, really only specialize in one thing. GSP saw his own weaknesses and worked at them. He never stopped learning new things. How many fighters really learn entirely new skill sets when they're already on top of the game? Not many.

What did Askren ever learn during his entire career? All he did was train wrestling. GSP trained everything, even gymnastics and other non-fighting physical activities just to train his body more.

The takedown was the great equalizer. Whenever his opponents tried to go for the win,he shut em down with it,and they had to work just to try and get up and if they did,he would stand up w em again till they got comfortable and put em down again. He knew how to fight from range so he could be ready for em when they rushed in.

He was a truly intelligent fighter who understands what MMA is about and how to utilise his strengths. What a GOAT.

 

[HHJ]

He was a truly intelligent fighter who understands what MMA is about and how to utilise his strengths. What a GOAT.

GOAT ST Pierre TELLEMENT

 

[MuayThaiBX]

He was the most well rounded fighter in a division that had mostly specialists. He had little to no weaknesses and his opponents had pretty clear weaknesses that he could exploit. Also had about the best physique and athleticism in the division. That certainly played a bit part too.

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

The Michael Jordan of MMA

 

[Askren’s chin]

He was the most well rounded fighter in a division that had mostly specialists. He had little to no weaknesses and his opponents had pretty clear weaknesses that he could exploit. Also had about the best physique and athleticism in the division. That certainly played a bit part too.

NO KNOWN WEAKNESSES true king! Gsp put the “martial arts” in “mixed martial arts”. A TRUE TITAN of the FIGHT GAME.

 

[Barteh]

The Michael Jordan of MMA

I thought that was Travis Lutter. I guess he was the Michael Jordan of BJJ after all.

 

[HHJ]

He was the most well rounded fighter in a division that had mostly specialists. He had little to no weaknesses and his opponents had pretty clear weaknesses that he could exploit. Also had about the best physique and athleticism in the division. That certainly played a bit part too.

People thought this was the future of MMA,that GSP's would grow on trees. But it didnt exactly happen that way

 

[puppybird]

Karate

 

[JonJonesNeedle]

Explosive Takedown + Lay and Pray

 

[13 others]

Id say incredible fight IQ and always looking to train with the best in every discipline. He always made sure he was never the best guy in the room when training.

 

[C0NCH3TO]

Matt Serra.

 

[Brutus.......]

I think it was the fact that he wasn't tied to his original style. So many fighters, even if they train other things, really only specialize in one thing. GSP saw his own weaknesses and worked at them. He never stopped learning new things. How many fighters really learn entirely new skill sets when they're already on top of the game? Not many.

What did Askren ever learn during his entire career? All he did was train wrestling. GSP trained everything, even gymnastics and other non-fighting physical activities just to train his body more.

You could see that attitude when he was TUF coach, the willingness to try new things and bring in the best people to learn from.

Like getting the drunken French Muay Thai guy to school his team.

 

[JustBleed69]

How was GSP so much better than not just his contemporaries, but also modern fighters? It doesn’t make sense he was so good. Was it his athleticism? Was it his work ethic? What are your thoughts?

Multiple things, but in short I think mainly:
Student of the game
Always evolving
Gameplanning for specific opponents
Learns from mistakes
Superior athleticism
Impeccable timing
Well rounded
Fight IQ/ Decision Making

Also GSP constantly sought out the best in their respective fields to coach him

 

[Barteh]

People thought this was the future of MMA,that GSP's would grow on trees. But it didnt exactly happen that way

I remember all the excitement about Rory and the general hype about "just imagine when these guys will come up who trained all round MMA since they were 10 years old".

It looks like you can't be elite at everything at the same time. So the blueprint seems to be that fighters are the best at one discpline while being above average in other discplines. GSP's wrestling gave him the edge, if you look at today you see the same with most champions. Adesanya is a specialist striker who developed great TDD. Usman is a specialist wrestler who developed good enough striking to outbox other wrestler and BJJ artists.

 

[HuskySamoan]

GSP was ahead of the curve in training quite obviously. He was working in John Danaher before anyone knew who Danaher was, now hes regarded as the greatest mind in BJJ. He was working with Phil Nurse who in my opinion as a Muay Thai practitioner has a much more movement based style better suited for MMA. He was one of the first MMA fighters to train with Freddie Roach. He trained with the Canadian Olympic wrestling team and he split camps between Tristar and Greg Jackson's.

GSP made all the best decisions training wise in an era where those paths weren't nearly as clear. He was also, of course, a god gifted athlete.

 

[HHJ]

I remember all the excitement about Rory and the general hype about "just imagine when these guys will come up who trained all round MMA since they were 10 years old".

It looks like you can't be elite at everything at the same time. So the blueprint seems to be that fighters are the best at one discpline while being above average in other discplines. GSP's wrestling gave him the edge, if you look at today you see the same with most champions. Adesanya is a specialist striker who developed great TDD. Usman is a specialist wrestler who developed good enough striking to outbox other wrestler and BJJ artists.

I can understand people thinking mma was trending towards that...but yeah.