Haven't seen GSP put on much of a BJJ show and he certainly didn't look very comfortable when things got too close and personal with Diaz. As for wrestling, Hendricks is a very accomplished wrestler himself (his fighting background is wrestling - two NCAA Div I titles) so I doubt the thought of wrestling GSP is causing him too many sleepless nights. GSP is definitely a lot faster and a better technical striker and likely has a solid advantage in the kicking department.

And pretty much everything EN09 said

the betting line for gsp hendricks will tell us all we need to know about how close they are

Hendrick's wrestling is on par with GSP's? Que?

JH is fighting at 170, wrestled at 165. I'd put my money on Hendricks over GSP in a straight up wrestling match. OSU doesn't mess around with their wrestling program.

Link

Damn I didn't realize Hendricks was that good on the ground. Incredibly excited for this fight.

I guess I am the only one that thought Condit won that fight. Who does Condit fight next? He got rocked multiple times and barely noticed, and Hendricks would have been gassed after another round. Barely missed a couple of those knees too. Nobody except Pettis is on his level in terms of entertainment and skill.

Hendricks is one of the best pure wrestlers in the UFC. He would beat GSP at pure wrestling. But that's different than wrestling in MMA, where GSP is so elite. I think they likely neutralize each other.

The question then comes down to GSP's well rounded and technical striking vs. Hendricks' raw power. GSP has a better jab, better kicks and better footwork, but little evidence of true power lately. GSP may also have a slight cardio edge, although I'm not 100% on that. But power is a great equalizer in a 5 round fight, and Hendricks has that. And Hendricks is better than Koscheck, who was picked apart by GSP's jab. Hendricks is at least a little more sophisticated than the patented Joshy K "duck and overhand right fifty times in a row"

Duck and overhand left more complex?

Hendricks has better footwork and form than Koscheck. He does love the overhand left, but his footwork and accuracy with it are better than Koscheck's.

Note that I did say 'at least a little more sophisticated' not 'a lot more sophisticated'.

lol at this. gsp ghana clown whoever he faces.

Bring on the GSP v Silva superfight. GSP may as well start learning how to ride that clown bike now.

Diaz was a joke in that fight, but then again he's no great shakes anyway, really pissed I didn't put a bet on GSP by decision as that's free money these days.

At some point, GSP/Silva will have to fight each other. It just won't happen until one or both are on the brink of retirement. They are cash cows for UFC and it's financially better to have each one in a separate main event than have both on one main event card.

agree

I don't know any of the fighters, but the Bellator prelims live streaming has been wild. 7/7 finishes, 10 second KO's and 18 second choke outs.

Lol, ufc makes more if they do fight eachother, then move back to different weightclasses then if they don't. The reason they will not fight is because GSP does not want to risk it yet.. For the ufc they will snap call if it is offered by both fighters

The UFC makes more on that particular fight. However, now one of the superstars is no longer this unbeatable superhero so their marketability diminishes somewhat.

GSP doesn't want it because it's a bad fight for him. GSP carries a lot of muscle mass at 170, it would be hard for him to go up to 185 without losing speed and/or gaining bodyfat. GSP could probably have an easier time cutting to 155 than going to 185. Silva is the opposite, small frame for 185, probably can't make it to 170.

Silva-Jones seems much more likely than Silva-GSP to me.

no

just no

GSP made a science of weight cutting. But he is a big WW; you are crazy if you think he can cut to 155 without seriously affecting the ryddum.

185 is doable, just not the time right now. The man makes 6.5 mil per fight.

After Hendricks he will probably make the move to 185.

This. Silva has been successful at Light Heavyweight. GSP has never fought beyond WW.

Perhaps GSP and Silva can meet a catchweight if they really want to fight each other. Otherwise, it makes more sense for Silva to go up and fight Jones or meet him at a catchweight.

The GSP fights I have seen involve him outwrestling his opponent rather than standing toe-to-toe. He probably hasn't suffered much brain damage and he's only 31. He could fight at a championship level into his 40's if he can maintain the same style.

Long term they make more money off that one fight than they lose. It will only be one fight, so there will be a million excuses made by fans on why one lost, and after 3more wins were back... Also whoever loses lost the the best in the world.

I think were going to see this before silva/jones.

remember when everyone thought Koscheck's wrestling would give GSP problems?

Theres a big difference between NCAA wrestling and MMA wrestling, and GSP >>>>>>>> all else at MMA wrestling imo


Not directly related, but this is a great listen imo:

I think Condit won the fight too. It basically depends on how you judge sequences such as this:


1. They exchange on the feet, Condit gets slightly the better of it
2. Hendricks shoots for a takedown and gets it rather easily(and forcefully)
3. Hendricks can't do much on the bottom, Condit strikes Hendricks from the bottom as much as Hendricks strikes Condit from the top, Condit also throws up multiple sub attempts but nothing gets close
4. Condit executes a sweep or some maneuver to get himself back to his feet


Personally I think acts #2-4 all offset and so I award this sequence to Condit based upon him slightly winning #1. However it seems as if most MMA judges focus on #2 and think Hendricks "won" this sequence.





With all that said, both are awesome fighters and it was a great fight.

btw Sportsbook has:

GSP -225
Hendricks +175