What made GSP so ahead of the curve?

[Pancake Sprawl]

insanely good timing. best feints in the business. could read the opponents like a book.

those 3 things in my opinion are what took him to the next level. nobody had the combination of those 3 things like he did. people can say his wrestling, his athleticism and whatever, but there's plenty of guys who have good wrestling and freak athleticism, there isn't anyone else who has the timing, feints and the ability to read the opponents the way GSP did, and i'm a hater.

 

[Askren’s chin]

Multiple thing, 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

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.

TRUE GENIUS

 

[Askren’s chin]

insanely good timing. best feints in the business. could read the opponents like a book.

those 3 things in my opinion are what took him to the next level. nobody had the combination of those 3 things like he did. people can say his wrestling, his athleticism and whatever, but there's plenty of guys who have good wrestling and freak athleticism, there isn't anyone else who has the timing, feints and the ability to read the opponents the way GSP did, and i'm a hater.

EINSTEIN OF MMA!

 

[SmoothPies]

Most fighters are either smart, athletic, or work very hard, some great ones are at least 2 of those things. GSP was all 3

 

[Askren’s chin]

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.

HUMILITY!

 

[Jean-MMA]

From his coach Danaher
"The secret of GSP success very simple.
He either jab, faint jab, takedown, faint takedown you"

 

[TheMessiah]

He was very explosive and had a karate base so he was ahead of the curve since the rest of the division was so one dimensional

 

[aali14]

He's one of the few fighters who are high level everywhere, enabling him to implement different gameplans or having plan A and plan B to win, whether it's to take his opponents out of their zone by outwrestling them or outstriking them.

 

[Askren’s chin]

From his coach Danaher
"The secret of GSP success very simple.
He either jab, faint jab, takedown, faint takedown you"

KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID! Phenomenal game with no fake bravado. HE IS IN-CRED-IBLE!

 

[New Yorkido]

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?

He looked up to Fedor soo fucking much that it made him a better fighter. Especially after he tapped to strikes like bitch to save his skull from smashing by midget serra.

 

[Askren’s chin]

He looked up to Fedor soo fucking much that it made him a better fighter. Especially after he tapped to strikes like bitch to save his skull from smashing by midget serra.

SERRA IS AN ATG WHO GSP CRUSHED! Fedor has NO CHIN and fought CANS in FIXED fights! Fedor was great but GSP WAS GREATER!

 

[New Yorkido]

SERRA IS AN ATG WHO GSP CRUSHED! Fedor has NO CHIN and fought CANS in FIXED fights! Fedor was great but GSP WAS GREATER!

your false prophet GSP doesn't agree with your statement. GSP fights great, mostly counter striker, but often boring as fuck. I like him, but he isn't Goat. The only reason he is considered one of the greatest is because he fought two weight classes and won the belt. Fedor is the midget HWT - fought all > 100KG++++........

 

[Askren’s chin]

your false prophet GSP doesn't agree with your statement. GSP fights great, mostly counter striker, but often boring as fuck. I like him, but he isn't Goat. The only reason he is considered one of the greatest is because he fought two weight classes and won the belt. Fedor is the midget HWT - fought all > 100KG++++........

GSP is for HIGH FIGHT IQ FANS! simpletons who believe in brawling only could NEVER UNDERSTAND! Fedor was FAT and 230lbs which is GOOD for HW. GSP WAS INCREDIBLE ATHLETE WITH NO WEAKNESS while FEDOR got KOED by BUMS once he didn’t fight in Japan. GSP was NATTY unlike other GOATS! Unbeaten RESUME and SKILLS! TRUE GOAT GSP!!!!!!

 

[New Yorkido]

GSP is for HIGH FIGHT IQ FANS! simpletons who believe in brawling only could NEVER UNDERSTAND! Fedor was FAT and 230lbs which is GOOD for HW. GSP WAS INCREDIBLE ATHLETE WITH NO WEAKNESS while FEDOR got KOED by BUMS once he didn’t fight in Japan. GSP was NATTY unlike other GOATS! Unbeaten RESUME and SKILLS! TRUE GOAT GSP!!!!!!

again son, GSP doesn't agree with you but I am sure he likes to have his balls in your mouth. I have to find you the link where he says The Last Emperor is the one who he worships most. But you can search for it yourself I reckon.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Work ethic and his intelligence. When you combine that with his athletic ability and GSP had it all.. I think Jones and GSP have the 2 highest fight IQ's of all time. GSP was going to be a legendary champ regardless of camp or team.. He wanted it more than anyone, and simply worked too hard for him to fail..

 

[Askren’s chin]

again son, GSP doesn't agree with you but I am sure he likes to have his balls in your mouth. I have to find you the link where he says The Last Emperor is the one who he worships most. But you can search for it yourself I reckon.

GSP WAS TRULY HUMBLE LIKE A GOAT. FEDIR is GOOD man and FIGHTER and deserves RESPECT BUT GSP IS SUPERIOR. SO CONFIDENT IN HIS SKILLS HE DOESN’T NEED TO BRAG! GOAT.....

 

[Dbreiden83080]

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.

Alves at UFC 100 demonstrated this.. Alves had beat up Kos previously who could NOT get it down.. And the word from Alves camp was D-1 wrestlers were getting stuffed by Alves. He came in 100% certain GSP could NOT take him down and he would KO GSP.

90 seconds in, not only did Alves get taken down, he was rag dolled to the floor.. The look on Alves face all his confidence went away..

 

[Askren’s chin]

Alves at UFC 100 demonstrated this.. Alves had beat up Kos previously who could NOT get it down.. And the word from Alves camp was D-1 wrestlers were getting stuffed by Alves. He came in 100% certain GSP could NOT take him down and he would KO GSP.

90 seconds in, not only did Alves get taken down, he was rag dolled to the floor.. The look on Alves face all his confidence went away..

SUCH STRENGTH AND COURAGE FROM GEORGE! GREAT MAN

 

[Harlekin]

Good reach, had a jab with it, at a time when nearly nobody had a jab. Right hand and some hooks with it. Trained with a boxing coach.
Wrestled the strikers. Outstruck or even outwrestled the wrestlers

Dwarf list:
Matt Serra
BJ Penn
Matt Hughes
Sherk

Terrible striking list
Fitch
Shields
Hughes

Diaz, Hardy and Condit had bad takedown defense

Not taking away from GSP, great champ, those are just the circumstances

 

[Askren’s chin]

Good reach, had a jab with it, at a time when nearly nobody had a jab. Right hand and some hooks with it. Trained with a boxing coach.
Wrestled the strikers. Outstruck or even outwrestled the wrestlers

Dwarf list:
Matt Serra
BJ Penn
Matt Hughes
Sherk

Terrible striking list
Fitch
Shields
Hughes

Diaz, Hardy and Condit had bad takedown defense

Not taking away from GSP, great champ, those are just the circumstances

GSP fought ATG’s as he was INCREDIBLE! NO BAD OPPONENTS! HIS FIGHTS WERE INCREDIBLE!