He is right... another lackluster fight... yet very dominate performance for him...
Im not a fan of Askren, but he is often overlooked at WW.
He is one of the best wrestlers in MMA, hands down...
His style would give GSP PLENTY of fits...
I always thought someone like Sonnen would give GSP trouble... Askren is like that in a lot of ways...
Chael and Ben ALWAYS go for takedowns, no matter who they are fighting. Relentless, keep going for it even if they miss the first, chain them together.
Askren is like Fitch only a way better wrestler and even less willing to stand and trade... which would bode well for him against GSP.
If you got a heavy handed guy like Kos or Hendricks, who are excellent wrestlers... but go in there to KO GSP... GSP takes that all day... He keeps them guessing, beating them up with his superior technical striking and putting them on their back at a moments notice...
But what happens when an elite wrestler goes after GSP from the first bell to the last with the intentions to take him down, and actually has very good top game and control, who would train to take and keep GSP down...
Askren has about as low of a chance to finish GSP as any of the TOP WW's... but has about the best chance to beat him imo...
He certainly isnt going to pose of the threat to put GSP completely out cold like Hendricks does... but he is more likely to get the Win.
Quote:
Originally Posted by goodtimes  Sounds believable. Look at Michael Chandler for example, another wrestler but the guy loves striking. I also remember watching Hendo's first fight, he was totally reckless and loved to brawl even when he had no idea how to strike. Some guys just don't like striking.
Working on his BJJ sounds like a natural progression, I just mean when he says he's not going to change his style it sounds short sighted. If a guy has no ability to threaten on the feet, it makes defending takedowns against him much easier. Askren has a pretty unique style that lets him get takedowns from very weird positions which has allowed him to have a lot of success. But realistically, I think Michael Chandler would KO him if he moved up to WW to try to get another belt. |
I like guys like Hendo, Hendricks, etc... They are very exciting and are loved because of it... Great wrestling and good striking with huge power will lead to success... but what poses a bigger threat to someone like GSP... Maybe straying away from a typical wrestler's takedown/control fighting style would hurt guys like that in this one case against someone like GSP.
Im very high on Chandler... In a year or so, he could state an even bigger claim to being the best LW in the world than Eddie ever did. We would want him in the UFC even more... Hell he did beat Eddie head to head, and wasnt even that deep into his career...
But saying he could jump up and beat someone like Askren is pushing it a lot... Mike has shown far more improvement in his overall game, He is simply more versatile... has better talents at his disposal... better finishing ability...
But that doesnt mean he could stop an elite wrestlers takedown, get up or sub him... Much less a larger fighter, who happens to be one of the best Wrestlers in all of MMA.
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