It's official GSP vs Shileds @ UFC 129

People need to be fair - Shields recent hit list includes Okami, Condit, Pyle, Daley, Lawler, Miller, Henderson and Kampmann. An incredible run. Probably one of the best out there. Certainly the most deserving contender in any division in any org. If GSP wasn't around Shields would be considered number 1. Shields is one of the best P4P fighters in the world. He is like a Klitschko - he may not be pretty but he gets the job done.

Just think about how Shields victims are ranked and then place him. Okami is line for a UFC 185 shot, Condit is in line for a UFC 170 shot, Pyle beat Brits best prospect, Daley is inline for a SF 170 shot, as is Lawler, Miller is in line for a SF 185 shot, Henderson is line for a SF 185 shot and Kampmann is a good fighter. So all these guys are in line for title shots but the guy who beat them all shouldn't be!!!

Edit - don't forget that Shields is 1-1 in fights with 2 of his victors. Shields is technically undefeated since 2000.

 

This fight was always going to happen. Joe Rogan can cry about the UFC having no control over judging decisions, but judges can and have been bought in every sport. Shields was gifted his last win. This fight prove won't prove much other than GSP becoming the second guy to beat Shields in the UFC and showing he can beat an opponent with a ground game and not much else (which is probably inferior to GSP's anyway).

 

Shields overall ground game is definitely superior to GSP's.

I doubt we will see GSP try to take this fight to the ground at all.

 

i sure as **** hope we do but gsp exposes weaknesses, not fight to peoples strength.

 

No one's ground game is "definitely superior" to GSPs. GSP has arguably the best wrestling in MMA, un-stoppable top control, good ground and pound and submissions. Maybe Shields is better on the ground, but I wouldn't say definitely.

He definitely has better submissions than GSP, I'll give you that but the ground game is more than just sub ability.

 

It's also more than top control, which also happens to be Shields area of expertise. If it was Shields applying an armbar or kimura to Dan Hardy, the fight would have been over.

 

jake shields is in the top 5 p4p. I place him at #4.

But I think stylisticly he matches up more favourably against anderson silva than gsp.

He has to come up with a damn good game plan to win here. Gsp is very hard to take down and gsp will be very hard to submit from shields back.

shields has to get this fight to the ground and have top position, gsp will almost certainly outstrike jake, and Shields does not have ko power.

Shields wanted this fight for some time, he must really believe he can win this.

 

That's true but the real question is could Jake Shields beat GSP in a fight on the ground not if he could do a better job subbing Dan Hardy. I think he has better subs than GSP sure, but I don't think that means he would be able to sub GSP. I think GSP via control and GNP is a more likely possibility than Shields via Sub. Shields certainly isn't definitely the better MMA fighter on the ground.