UFC 158 Saturday Mar 16th on PPV

[waggy]

nick is a fucking nutcase.

"i find it funny" wtf you find it funny someone can block moves?


but now that he mentiones it yeah he didn't seem to fight like usual. he did seem flat and gave up even when he was doing well. he wouldn't take advantage of it.

 

[OCNewbie]

Jesus Christ. GSP just cannot finish a fight to save his life. Yet another fight that goes the distance. Yawn.

C'mon now... you have to give a little credit to Diaz for that. Other than a first round loss via cut over 5 years ago, he's only had one legitimate, non-doctor stoppage loss in his career, and that was over 10 years ago. That loss he avenged, via stoppage, in 2 consecutive fights not long after that as well. He's a very tough guy to finish.

In fact, the majority of GSP's decision wins have been against guys that are typically very difficult to finish (hence the reason they're fighting for the belt, I suppose).

 

[dennilfloss]

Condit-Hendriks was one hell of a fight. I would have given it to Condit though so the decision surprised me a bit.

 

[JEDI]

him and GSP should be a good fight.

actually i would also like to see him against DIAZ

if hendricks is ranked #1 contender b4 this fight, why is diaz fighting GSP!?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

if hendricks is ranked #1 contender b4 this fight, why is diaz fighting GSP!?

This fight was supposed to happen a ways back. The reason being Nick was Strikeforce champ. Then he missed a press conference, so they punished him by giving the shot to Condit. Then GSP got hurt. So instead, Condit and Nick fought for the interim title, remember? Nick pulled a Sonnen, by smack talking GSP, and making him want the fight.

And I think Beard Man will get held down by GSP. Because, the harder you throw, the faster GSP puts you on your back. Wrestlers tend to struggle in that position, and GSP is extraordinarily good at mauling you from top.

Overall, great card, with a very good prelim show.

 

[OCNewbie]

And I think Beard Man will get held down by GSP. Because, the harder you throw, the faster GSP puts you on your back. Wrestlers tend to struggle in that position, and GSP is extraordinarily good at mauling you from top.

I'm not sure if there is anybody in the 170lb division, in any organization (maybe Ben Askren has a chance?), that can hang with GSP in the wrestling department, but Hendricks was a two-time NCAA Div 1 champion, so he could have a better chance than most. Hendricks took down Condit almost effortlessly it seemed (Sherdog says he was successful on 12 out of 15 attempts), though of course I know Condit is no GSP in the wrestling department. Also, I realize that GSP has dominated other NCAA champions (Koscheck, perhaps other), and high-level wrestlers in the past, so Hendricks' previous accomplishments doesn't necessarily spell trouble for GSP.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I'm not sure if there is anybody in the 170lb division, in any organization (maybe Ben Askren has a chance?), that can hang with GSP in the wrestling department, but Hendricks was a two-time NCAA Div 1 champion, so he could have a better chance than most. Hendricks took down Condit almost effortlessly it seemed (Sherdog says he was successful on 12 out of 15 attempts), though of course I know Condit is no GSP in the wrestling department. Also, I realize that GSP has dominated other NCAA champions (Koscheck, perhaps other), and high-level wrestlers in the past, so Hendricks' previous accomplishments doesn't necessarily spell trouble for GSP.

Good break down. The big thing to keep in mind though, is not how good a wrestlers someone is, but rather, how good their wrestling for MMA is. I think GSP will control the distance with his jab, and Johny will in return, rush in and swing for the bleachers. That is when, in all likelyhood, he will end up on his back.

But Johny has sick power, and if he lands a power shot clean just once, we could see a reign of domination ended. Which is why I expect a conservative and somewhat boring GSP fight plan. It is one of the few opponents GSP has had since getting the belt back, where if the spread is big enough, throwing some cash down would be worth the gamble.

 

[waggy]

Good break down. The big thing to keep in mind though, is not how good a wrestlers someone is, but rather, how good their wrestling for MMA is. I think GSP will control the distance with his jab, and Johny will in return, rush in and swing for the bleachers. That is when, in all likelyhood, he will end up on his back.

But Johny has sick power, and if he lands a power shot clean just once, we could see a reign of domination ended. Which is why I expect a conservative and somewhat boring GSP fight plan. It is one of the few opponents GSP has had since getting the belt back, where if the spread is big enough, throwing some cash down would be worth the gamble.

I think gsp won't have a issue taking down Hendricks. the question is what can he do off his back? There is a major difference between wrestling takedowns and MMA takedowns

GSP was standing with conduit (who also has good power) until the kick to the head. but he took it and fought through it.

it should be a good fight.

 

[sourceninja]

I think Hendricks is a serious threat for GSP (I didn't think Diaz was at all). However, GSP has top coaches and will have a strong and effective strategy for fighting him. The man basically has turned what he does into a science.

He might not be exciting, he might not have knock out power, etc. But he is skilled in executing his gameplan every time. That is what makes him a champ. Everyone knows what GSP is going to do, but nobody can stop him from doing it.

 

[Jeraden]

Given that Hendricks really didn't do crap against Condit, I can't really see him doing much against GSP either. Hendricks took Condit down and then really didn't do anything. With no ground control, how is he going to counter the ground control master GSP?

 

[waggy]

I think Hendricks is a serious threat for GSP (I didn't think Diaz was at all). However, GSP has top coaches and will have a strong and effective strategy for fighting him. The man basically has turned what he does into a science.

He might not be exciting, he might not have knock out power, etc. But he is skilled in executing his gameplan every time. That is what makes him a champ. Everyone knows what GSP is going to do, but nobody can stop him from doing it.

I enjoy watching GSP fight. the ability and skill the man has is amazing. He dominates a person for 25 minutes. IF you look at his fights over all its impressive. he took KOSH a elite wrestler someone who was starting to knock people out. and made him look bad. he beat him so bad he broke his eye socket and nearly put him out of MMA for good.

Then you ahve Diaz (i agree he had no chance) and beat him standing and on the ground. though i give diaz props for his ground defense.

hell he made BJ Penn who at the time was considered one of the toughest and best around quite.


i think to many are into the "just bleed" mentality. GSP is not a knockout artist. he just dominates a fight.


With hendricks i think GSP is in real trouble. a highly elite wrestler (gsp has dominated before) who has good mma wrestling. Also hendrick has a ton of power. The issue is gsp hates that.

I think GSP gets caught in this fight though.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I think Hendricks is a serious threat for GSP (I didn't think Diaz was at all). However, GSP has top coaches and will have a strong and effective strategy for fighting him. The man basically has turned what he does into a science.

He might not be exciting, he might not have knock out power, etc. But he is skilled in executing his gameplan every time. That is what makes him a champ. Everyone knows what GSP is going to do, but nobody can stop him from doing it.

That is my definition of mastery. But GSP was finishing fights until Serra flash KO'd him. Since then he no longer gets in a fight. He says for him it is a sport competition, and he approaches it that way. Something we know many fighters do not understand. They come out to fight, but that is not always the wisest course.

And I chose a poor term in boring, I should have said predictable. So thanks for making that point. And you have to love the guy, he is the only one who can fight the way he does and still have legions of fans.

 

[Miramonti]

UFC 159 really needs to not happen.

 

[torpid]

The worst parts of this event were:

Nick Ring's nickname - PROMISE RING???
Corn nuts - WTF? Please bring back the armed forces sponsors.
Ronda Rousey as TUF coach - sorry, too soon. You need to establish that the division is legitimate first.