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[LefthookStcrook]

Originally Posted by Dr. MMA

The only reason that the 170 lb division is interesting with potential challenges is because of how long GSP has been inactive due to injury. In November, it will be over 1.5 years since GSP has fought. If it wasn't for that factor, then there is no question that GSP is head and shoulders above all these contenders.

Although there is that question mark, I still feel that GSP comes out on top. He may be rusty in the first fight, but not the second fight, so his only interesting fight will be against Condit then. I see Hendricks and GSP nullifying each other in wrestling and although Hendricks has power in his hands, GSP is a much better striker. Kampmann is really well-rounded but GSP is simply a better well-rounded fighter than Kampmann.

100% AGREE'd. The ONLY reason the WW division looks so competitive is because GSP isnt around to run train on these guys. Kampmann, Condit and Hendricks are all very close fights, for each other. A 100% GSP beats these guys with ease imo.

(imo)To beat GSP you have to have bombs for hands and a half decent TDD to BLITZ GSP within the first round, rock him, stuff the rocked TD attempt and get him in survival mode. Much like Serra, Not really a gameplan Id like to depend on.

[McTee]

The reality is that GSP has lost only 2 fights. The first one, he instinctively tapped to a Matt Hughes armbar with 1 second left in the round after dominating the standup. Many believe that if he had held on for that second that he would have had a great chance to win that fight. The second, as we know, is the definition of the 'puncher's chance', with Matt Serra landing the right shot. That was 5 years ago.

Since then, no one has even come close to beating GSP. He always comes in and executes a brilliant gameplan that none of us (or his opponent) would have guessed he would have employed until it gets explained after the fact. He outwrestled Koscheck, then outstruck him, dominated Hughes on the feet and ground, beat BJ Penn into hamburger meat, twisted Dan Hardy into a pretzel, GnP'd Alves to shit and dominated Jake Shields as well.

I'm not playing the game of trying to argue with how any of these other 3 guys could beat him. I've always thought that Condit presented a unique challenge to GSP because he is 6'2 and has a longer reach than GSP, to go with his toughness, but logic says that when you fight a taller guy with a longer reach, you get inside and when you match GSP's takedown ability with Condit's lack of TDD, that's how the fight ends up. Not to use the dreaded MMA math, but if Rory MacDonald can dominate Condit for 2 rounds, 2 years ago at 20 years old, GSP can do it for 5 rounds coming off an injury. And remember, GSP is SO disciplined that he would not schedule a fight if he didn't have 100% confidence in his repaired knee.

GSP is unquestionably the best fighter at 170 until proven otherwise. Theorize all you want, but until he allows himself to get cocky and feel invincible again, GSP is the king of the WWs.

[dbader08]

Originally Posted by McTee

The second, as we know, is the definition of the 'puncher's chance', with Matt Serra landing the right shot. .

I gotta disagree with this. Serra was landing good shots all throughout the first round of his first fight with GSP while GSP wasn't landing much, so I don't feel it was as big of a fluke as alot of people do. Then when he clipped GSP behind the ear GSP panicked and backed all the way against the cage and Serra ran up and whaled him. If GSP would have kept his composure and stayed away from the cage and went for a takedown things could have went differently.

Also, imo that first fight against BJ should have been a draw...

[lwbrewer]

Serra had an advantage over GSP as he over looked him due to his size and skills. Than GSP found himself in unprepared teritory and chose the wrong choice. The second fight Serra lost that advantage and it showed.

[McTee]

Originally Posted by dbader08

I gotta disagree with this. Serra was landing good shots all throughout the first round of his first fight with GSP while GSP wasn't landing much, so I don't feel it was as big of a fluke as alot of people do. Then when he clipped GSP behind the ear GSP panicked and backed all the way against the cage and Serra ran up and whaled him. If GSP would have kept his composure and stayed away from the cage and went for a takedown things could have went differently.

Also, imo that first fight against BJ should have been a draw...

The bottom line is, GSP let his ego affect his preparation and rightfully got a reality check. This was 5 years ago and since then, he has made several public acknowledgments that the loss was good for him to make him realize how he has to take every opponent seriously.

Until that mentality goes away, GSP gets old or moves up a weight class, I'm not convinced that anyone is going to come close to beating him until they actually get in there and do it.