Gilbert Melendez feels diaz and shields can beat St. Pierre. agree?

diaz maybe but hed need the performance of his life

 

Shields only wins if GSP makes a big error IMHO, I'd favour GSP vs Diaz but it would be an interesting fight given Nicks heart and ability to threaten both standing and off of his back.

 

nope

 

I wouldn't bet $1 on either of them against GSP unless I was getting obscenely good odds.

 

Gil, Diaz and co like to puff on the good stuff.

Diaz and Shields are quality fighters on quality runs and live underdogs and arguably GSP's best and most interesting contender.

 

I don't think any of those 2 could beat either Fitch or Koscheck, let alone GSP. Maybe Shields can put up a good fight, I hope his last fight was just a bad weight cut/performance.

But Diaz, seriously, I don't see what he could bring to the table against GSP, if KJ Noons could give him some trouble, I don't think he stands a chance vs Georges. IMO standing he gets destroyed, submissions on the ground is his only chance and there's no way he can get control on the ground, GSP's way too strong.

 

Was Melendez going to say anything else?

 

Probably not.

We will soon see if Shields can do it but I have my doubts. I've been a Shields fan for years now, since he fought Okami back in '06. The problem with Shields is that his stand up game is so weak. Here is how I rate GSP and Shields in MMA

GSP:
Striking - 8/10
Ground - 10/10

Shields
Striking - 3/10
Ground - 9/10

That is a huge gap.

Nick Diaz
Striking - 7/10
Ground - 7/10

Another big gap.

 

What a shock that he would say that.

 

Diaz did still clearly beat Noons though who whatever his other faults is a good striker by MMA standards, I'd say the previous match had an impact on the way he approached that fight aswell. More importantly Nick would have a sizeble reach advanatge which would make it alot harder for GSP to dominate him from the outside.

The same on the ground, Diaz BJJ isnt the best in MMA but it does seem well suited for GSP being mainly focused on looking for subs off of his back rather than top control he's not going to get.

I'd favour GSP but I think that fight would potentially present a very different challange since there would be no "safe spot" for him.

 

Actually, I would rate both Diaz and Shields' jiujitsu over GSP's. GSP's submission ability is very leaky. His strengths lie in mixing his wrestling with his striking ability.

I don't think Diaz will beat GSP because he couldn't handle Sanchez, Sherk or Parisyan - all fighters that GSP DOMINATED (with the obvious exception of Sanchez who has yet to face GSP).

Shileds' best chance is to work his submissions to outmaneuver GSP on the ground. He has no other chance to win.

 

I think both are great fighters but they are IMO good matchups for GSP especially Shields. As for Melendez where has he been ? I wanna see this kid fight I dont care you whether its Alvarez, another Thomson fight, Kawajiri come on even KJ Noons.

 

Both these fighters have an edge on GSP in Jui Jitsu , but thats where it stops , GSP is better than both these fighters in every other department of the sport , emphatically too .

The only WW on the planet close to GSP is Fitch , the rest of them dont stand a dogs chance , he would do what he wanted when he wanted with both Sheilds and Diaz , its a painfull fact but its true .............

The only test @70 for GSP is the new version of John Fitch , after that there is nothing and he should of moved up to MW 12 months ago for me , the fact he is still farting around with people like Hardy and Koscheck is ****in shamefull , i hope once he puts Sheilds to bed the UFC do the right thing with him !!!!

 

Shields hell no. There's nothing from his Miller/Henderson/Kampmann fights that tell me he can beat GSP. He left far too many openings for his opponents to win those fights via submission/knockout/decision respectively that if he did against GSP, GSP would exploit to the fullest. That's why the bookies had Shields open at +425.

Diaz, could he handle GSP's wrestling?

Melendez is just talking up his Cesar Gracie teammates.