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[captonion]

Originally Posted by Black

Anyway I can't wait to see GSP kick Shields ass...

GSP is one of the very best at sticking to a game plan. I am sure this plan is to keep it standing. If it does go down, Shiels fo the sub! I am however 80%-20% for GSP.

What would be a very good fight is Penn/Shields. I see this one down the line.

[dan the man 67]

I think we'll see GSP keeping the distance from Shields, and a lot more of that jab. Then, after he's scrambled Shields brain enough with those jabs, we'll see GSP kick him in the head, left side temple. If that doesn't KO Shields, GSP will jump on him, and GnP him out, which will happen in the 1st or 2nd round. I don't think we'll see many takedown attempts by GSP at all, nor is he going to want to clinch with him. The last thing GSP wants to do is get into a grappling match with Shields.

[rodneykm]

I've been under the impression that GSP has "Olympic level" wrestling these days. You always hear the stories about him taking anyone down in camp pretty much at will and how much he's improved in that area.

Perhaps...I'm wrong?

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by dan the man 67

I think we'll see GSP keeping the distance from Shields, and a lot more of that jab. Then, after he's scrambled Shields brain enough with those jabs, we'll see GSP kick him in the head, left side temple. If that doesn't KO Shields, GSP will jump on him, and GnP him out, which will happen in the 1st or 2nd round. I don't think we'll see many takedown attempts by GSP at all, nor is he going to want to clinch with him. The last thing GSP wants to do is get into a grappling match with Shields.

I'd actually looooove to see a grappling match between the two. I like both fighters, but what I want more than anything is competative fights. If Georges wants to peck and run, he's got the skills to win on points, for sure. But it doesn't answer any questions people have about Georges' grappling, it doesn't do anything to further illustrate how dominant he is p4p and it doesn't really make for an interesting fight.

For me, a grappling match is the best bang for the buck here. If Georges actually manages to outgrapple Jake, it speaks VOLUMES about his grappling. It legitimizes all the hype surrounding him [see Rodney's Olympic-level question above] and not only effectively clears out a stacked division, it puts the fight where it's most dramatic and exciting. People talk about GSP "desperately needing a finish?" Fuck that. Even if this fight doesn't have a finish, but has legitimate grappling, I'll be stoked. I'd rather watch 25 minutes of what casual fans dismiss as lay and pray than a jab fest.

And if Jake actually manages to beat Georges? It's great for the UFC. Suddenly, the WW division isn't a given anymore. Much like a Penn-less LW division, it's intriguing. A future rematch is immediately hyped, with interesting interim matchups falling all over the place. It's not only an opportunity for Zuffa to start responsibly promoting title contenders instead of defaulting to immediate rematches; it's legitimate drama instead of overhype and melodrama. Shields/Fitch; St. Pierre/Condit anyone? Yes, please!

It would suck for Georges' record, but it would be great for the division and for the UFC.


And for the record, if Georges does lose, I don't have it destroying his p4p ranking as much as people would think. Sure, haters are going to love to see an idol topple [cue Fedor losing to Werdum and all the illogical bullshit rankings that spawned]; but the fact remains that Jake is a more decorated grappler than Georges, he's a champion in his own right in multiple weight classes and multiple orgs, and he's actually bigger than Georges, although St. Pierre makes up for it with a reach advantage.



But I really, really, really want them to actually grapple.

rh

[TBEAR]

Originally Posted by rodneykm

I've been under the impression that GSP has "Olympic level" wrestling these days. You always hear the stories about him taking anyone down in camp pretty much at will and how much he's improved in that area.

Perhaps...I'm wrong?

Even if GSP does take the fight to the mat when HE wants, he then has to avoid the sweeps of Jake. If Jake gets on top of GSP, it could mean a new champ.

[dan the man 67]

Originally Posted by rivethead

I'd actually looooove to see a grappling match between the two. I like both fighters, but what I want more than anything is competative fights. If Georges wants to peck and run, he's got the skills to win on points, for sure. But it doesn't answer any questions people have about Georges' grappling, it doesn't do anything to further illustrate how dominant he is p4p and it doesn't really make for an interesting fight.

For me, a grappling match is the best bang for the buck here. If Georges actually manages to outgrapple Jake, it speaks VOLUMES about his grappling. It legitimizes all the hype surrounding him [see Rodney's Olympic-level question above] and not only effectively clears out a stacked division, it puts the fight where it's most dramatic and exciting. People talk about GSP "desperately needing a finish?" Fuck that. Even if this fight doesn't have a finish, but has legitimate grappling, I'll be stoked. I'd rather watch 25 minutes of what casual fans dismiss as lay and pray than a jab fest.

And if Jake actually manages to beat Georges? It's great for the UFC. Suddenly, the WW division isn't a given anymore. Much like a Penn-less LW division, it's intriguing. A future rematch is immediately hyped, with interesting interim matchups falling all over the place. It's not only an opportunity for Zuffa to start responsibly promoting title contenders instead of defaulting to immediate rematches; it's legitimate drama instead of overhype and melodrama. Shields/Fitch; St. Pierre/Condit anyone? Yes, please!

It would suck for Georges' record, but it would be great for the division and for the UFC.


And for the record, if Georges does lose, I don't have it destroying his p4p ranking as much as people would think. Sure, haters are going to love to see an idol topple [cue Fedor losing to Werdum and all the illogical bullshit rankings that spawned]; but the fact remains that Jake is a more decorated grappler than Georges, he's a champion in his own right in multiple weight classes and multiple orgs, and he's actually bigger than Georges, although St. Pierre makes up for it with a reach advantage.



But I really, really, really want them to actually grapple.

rh

The thought of a grappling match between the two would be the most interesting way the fight could go down, but it will never happen, at least not if GSP controls where the fight takes place. I'm a huge GSP fan, as you already know, and can comfortably say that GSP would lose a grappling match to Shields, and both GSP and Greg Jackson know it. So, taking the "safe" approach that we know they will do, GSP will stay as far away as he can from Shields.

Love the Hunter Thompson quote, by the way.

[megamus]

someone made a point about hendo being olympic level wrestler and thus much better than GSP.....i would like to point out that hendo is a Greco wrestler. Greco rules make it so you cannot attack the legs, its all upeer body clinch work. hendo does not do a double leg well and as you saw against sheilds....he doesnt defend them well. GSP on the other hand will be the best MMA wrestler that sheilds has faced. (this is why i feel that GSP would do better against silva than hendo did as well....hendo's wrestling is not the best for mma) I would love to see this go to ground too cause while sheilds is good on the ground i think i would still put my money on GSP....

[H33LHooK]

Originally Posted by TBEAR

Even if GSP does take the fight to the mat when HE wants, he then has to avoid the sweeps of Jake. If Jake gets on top of GSP, it could mean a new champ.

That's a good point; however, I suspect that while Jake's grappling is better than GSP's, the discrepancy between the two levels when they meet in the octagon will mitigate the difference down to, at most, parity.

I'm betting that GSP will be too explosive/physical for Jake to handle- - too much movement; too much technique/variety in striking; too much explosive power in take-downs/escapes.

As RH said- in terms of a grappling match, the fight would be intriguing, and while Jake would like for that to happen, it's far more likely that the reality will be a striking clinic from the outside put on by GSP, resulting in the champ retaining his title, and Jake's brief run in the UFC at WW ending.

I'm predicting GSP stops Jake in the 3rd rnd.

.

[sousuke22]

Kind of weird how he didn't give me any credit for conducting this interview. In fact, made no mention of me or Tapology ...

[singinkangaroooo]

Originally Posted by rodneykm

I've been under the impression that GSP has "Olympic level" wrestling these days. You always hear the stories about him taking anyone down in camp pretty much at will and how much he's improved in that area.

Perhaps...I'm wrong?

as far as im concerned Canadian Olympic team is "Olympic Level" wrestling.. tho some could argue not by much (jk lol Olympic level is tremendous no matter the country) being that GSP has trained with the Canadian Olympic team often and considered trying out..

but grappling and MMA is about as different as wrestling and MMA because punches and elbows are involved... in a straight grappling match Shields would have a much ezier time then in an MMA fight because Georges is gonna be punching and hurting him... not to mention this is all assuming Jake can take GSP down which i doubt..

and as i noticed it wasnt just GSPs jab that was impressive but almost every time he threw that jab he would throw a leg kick (inside and outside).. so eating a jab taking leg kicks adds up and hurts the wrestling ability and will of his opponent.. GSP would dominate on the feet and i could see this being worse then the BJ/GSP II