Why did GSP struggle so much with Jake Shields?

[dipstickjimmy]

The promo leading up to the fight probably had him shook. Look at the fear in his eyes here.

View attachment 880156

Funny but that pic is almost so blurry I would say it was equal to GSP's vision after all the eye gouging.

 

[krelianx]

Eyepokes and GSP safely cruising without any danger from grappling. I wouldn't say he struggled, it was a clear watershed decision.

 

[IIIIIIII]

Tough, savvy grappler, with a high fight iq.

Also, GSP was a decision-machine at the time. That is; he wasn't known to take risks in pursuit of a finish.

bingo.

 

[IIIIIIII]

He only struggled after being poked in both eyes multiple times. It was a huge domination before that.

no, even before that took place, gsp was fighting to avoid the ground,

 

[SuperNerd]

Jake Shields was asking his corner for permission to pull guard.

Gil Melendez(?) thought it was too risky and tactically a bad option, so Jake didn't.

 

[Deleted member 405583]

The chance of shields getting a takedown and implementing his ground and pound I'm sure was a concern and probably disrupted gsp's rhythm. Dude had one of the deadliest guillotine chokes in the game.

 

[The-AxeMurderer]

Anyone who actually watched that fight, knows why GSP struggled.

You just ousted yourself TS.

Jake Shields is one of the most underrated tough fighters in MMA history.

GSP was outclassing him fairly easily initially.

Once Georges got his eyes scratched you could visibly see him start to wince and struggle.

 

[koquerelle]

The chance of shields getting a takedown and implementing his ground and pound I'm sure was a concern and probably disrupted gsp's rhythm. Dude had one of the deadliest guillotine chokes in the game.

Qft
People shit on Shields because he was boring, but the man was still scary.

 

[613]

easy. gsp was scared as hell to be on the ground with shields. shields has far superior ground skills, and gsp didn't want to take the risk. it was gsp who wanted the fight on the feet. that helped jake a ton on the stand-up.

God damn you are dumb as shit

 

[Deleted member 405583]

Qft
People shit on Shields because he was boring, but the man was still scary.

If he got a hold of a neck or an arm, you were fucked

 

[613]

no, even before that took place, gsp was fighting to avoid the ground,

And GSP was completely dominating until the eye pokes started coming

 

[LilNicky95]

Anyone who actually watched that fight, knows why GSP struggled.

You just ousted yourself TS.

Jake Shields is one of the most underrated tough fighters in MMA history.

GSP was outclassing him fairly easily initially.

Once Georges got his eyes scratched you could visibly see him start to wince and struggle.

Ousted myself? Come on man…Shields and his “win streak” which included guys like Mike Pyle and Ido Portal was not anywhere on GSP’s level… yet…


George fought scared(to go to the ground) and that’s why we saw what we saw.

 

[Garnet_StrongerThanYou]

Eye pokes, here's a pic of GSP at the UFC 129 post fight party:

View attachment 880157

Jesus. He got eye poked that badly and is hanging out with Jon Jones?

He’s tempting fate.

 

[Garnet_StrongerThanYou]

First thing to know is Bully Beatdown is a scripted show, Mayhem the host admitted it years later.

Link: https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/4/17/842873/from-mayhem-i-have-a-confession-to



And yep, this could be a factor too.

And just the overall fact that Shields is deceptively tough and wasn't fazed to go for it.

Jesus those are some pretty nasty eye pokes.

 

[IIIIIIII]

God damn you are dumb as shit

wow, well how can i argue that illuminating rebuttal?

 

[IIIIIIII]

And GSP was completely dominating until the eye pokes started coming

no he wasn't. go watch that fight again. shields was doing well on the feet.

 

[StoneColdSteveAustin]

I personally think GSP was too cautious and showed Shields way too much respect.

 

[Fioretti]

First thing to know is Bully Beatdown is a scripted show, Mayhem the host admitted it years later.

Link: https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/4/17/842873/from-mayhem-i-have-a-confession-to



And yep, this could be a factor too.

And just the overall fact that Shields is deceptively tough and wasn't fazed to go for it.

If only Shields threw punches instead of limp wristed slaps...

 

[Viking Power]

I remember watching Shields on Bully Beatdown back in the day and it looked as if the Bully was getting the better of the stand up portion.

Shields had some of the worst, robotic, awkward striking a Pro fighter could have. Yet GSP, who is regarded as a GOAT candidate(not my me) around here struggled to do much with Jake.

GSP had the superior wrestling and FAR superior stand up when compared to Shields yet Shields busted GSP up and was never closed to getting finished by Georges.

GSP fanatics, explain.

I suggest going back and watching some of Jake’s fights.

 

[Thepaintbucket]

GSP didn't want to risk being taken down and get sat on from top control. He honestly should have taken Jake down. Jake had Askren level of striking and demian maia level of take downs