This just proves how good GSP is.

Jesus christ.

Strength and SIZE is INCREDIBLY important in grappling. Have you ever grappled?

If size and strength werent important than GSP would have moved up to fight Silva a LONG time ago.

My god man, give your head a shake.

 

Actually, GSP has the "deeper" division, and we don't know what Penn is in his division in all honesty, because he hasn't "cleaned it out" as GSP has done. He's beat Jens Pulver (Who moved on to 145), Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, and now Kenny Florian.

GSP has beat, Karo Parisyan, Jay Heiron, Jason Miller, Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, B.J. Penn (2x), Matt Hughes (2x), Josh Koscheck, Matt Serra, Jon Fitch, and Thiago Alves.

And Lesnar is the Champion in the HW division because of his tremendous wrestling backround augmented greatly by his physical strength and size. Wrestling gives one the advantage of control (more often then not). Combine that with growing skill sets elsewhere (BJJ, Muay Thai, Boxing) and stick him in a division that is, genereally speaking, the least technical (across all combat sports this is held to be true, generally speaking), and yes, that's why he's champion. He also happens to be one hell of an athlete who is also technically solid in wrestling and very good at applying Jiu Jitsu techniques in an MMA setting.

 

Actually, yes I have. I've been doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for about 4 years now. (Under Julio Fernandez, 4th degree BJJ Black Belt)

I didn't say strengh and size were not important, but technique and skill are far more important.

Relative skill will beat relative size the vast majorty of the time.

If Penn was so remarkably skillful, then it should have been, at the very least, a bit more competitive. 15-20 pounds does not create that much of a difference. That only happens when the other fighter is also remarkably skilled as well, and better.

 

I agree, Penn has not cleaned out his division. But he did fight a very impressive fighter who dominated LW in the UFC in Sean Sherk. Pulver is not really impressive neither is Stevenson. However, it was the manner in which he did it. He completely destroyed them. He destroyed Sherk as well. And Florian is no chump either. Hes a good fighter. And LW has some very good prospects on the rise. Edgar, Griffin, Maynard and more are GREAT fighters.

Fitch is a great fighter but hes limited. Alves is a good fighter. Hughes is old past his prime and one-dimensional, Serra is not even a top 15 WW and GSP LOST to him. LW simply has better fighters, more well-rounded fighters. WW is severely overrated, look whos fighting for the #1 contender spot, Swick/Kampmann. Enough said.

And im well aware of his wrestling, but even he will admit he was never the most technical wrestler, he relied heavily on his physical attributes. There are no growing skillsets elsewhere because his skills elsewhere have been non-existent because he hasnt had to use them.

And no hes not solid at applying BJJ techniques. Hes shown he can overpower, control opponents and defend submissions admirably well but thats about it.

Size matters, Lesnar proved it. GSP proved it. If Size didnt matter you wouldnt have people moving down in weight so frequently.

 

Im not saying skill doesnt beat some redneck obese construction worker. Im talking when someones skills are almost identical relative to their weight, than yes size plays a huge role.

And it did with GSP/Penn. You simply cannot say GSP is more skilled than Penn. Penn has finished some very good opponents and absolutely dominated them by using an extroadinary amount of skill. GSP on the otherhand has gone the distance with Alves and Fitch, couldnt finish them and like it or not relied heavily on his physical attributes to win those fights. Strength, speed etc. Not to say hes not skilled, he most certainly is but hes a physical specimen. Penn has his fair share of athletic traits but he doesnt have anywhere near the physical attributes that a GSP has. Penn moreso than GSP beats and destroys people with skill. And he finishes fights.

And GSP couldnt finish Penn. He definitely beat him but never finished him. Im a huge fan of Penn but even I wasnt stupid enough to pick Penn over GSP. I picked GSP because it was an easy choice. Size matters. And it did.

 

I never, not once, said size didn't matter. Of course it does!

However, in the context of GSP vs. Penn 2 at UFC 94, it was not nearly the factor that B.J. Penn apologists are making it out to be.

GSP's "15-20" extra pounds did not create so much of an advantage that it allowed him to completely shut down a fighter such as B.J. Penn. That does not happen. It was superior skill that did that.

And of course Lesnar's size is a bigger factor. He's the biggest legitimate HW in the world, at the moment. (Aside from the obvious Super Heavyweights) Not only that, he's incredibly skillful and cerebral in applying the techniques he does know.

And Mike Swick is a very solid fighter who is on a good win streak. Kampmann is a bit of a different story. And they're fighting for the title because who else is left? There really isn't anyone. GSP has already beat them. That's the point.

Jon Fitch is, without question, the #2 WW in the world behind GSP. He's very talented, like GSP, in all areas of MMA. Just happens that GSP is more technically sound.

The only prospects in LW, at the moment, are Gray Maynard and Diego Sanchez. (Edgar has a few more fights before he's in line for a shot at the title)

 

He's failed to finish Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves. Obviously.

But look at who they are and their records and skills. They're unbelievably difficult to win against, let alone finish. Jon Fitch hasn't even lost to anybody in the UFC besides GSP. Thiago Alves has been fighting for years and the most recent loss I can think of for him (besides GSP) is none other then Jon Fitch.

There's a reason why he was unable to finish Fitch. Because I'd highly doubt, outside of very few top fighters at Middleweight and above, that anyone could stop him. And Thiago Alves he might have, but he sustained a serious injury in the 3rd round. (Note that despite this injury, he continued to dominate this fight)

 

20lbs and an even bigger strength advantage for GSP. Compound that with all the other physical attributes GSP has and yes, he did what he should've done. Im shocked he didnt actually finish Penn. Penns corner threw in the towel, GSP didnt finish him. Penn didnt fight at the WW limit. He was like 167 god damn pounds for christs sake. And Penn was slower, more lethargic at the higher weight. Tonight, he was lighter, in better shape.

And give me a break, Lesnar is not incredibly skillful. His striking is terrible, hes a great wrestler who relies heavily on his physical attributes. And they say hes maybe, MAYBE at a purple belt level in BJJ.

Fitch is not well-rounded. Hes an OKAY striker, great grappler. Swick isnt that good. Kampmann however I do like alot. Hes going to get smashed by GSP though. And no GSP is not more technically sound than Fitch. Hes simply the better athlete. Its why Fitch has focused on improving his strength, explosiveness etc because he knew he cant compete with the likes of a GSP unless he got better athletically. Hes technically there.

LW is simply better. Hell, I forgot to mention Diego and hes arguably one of the best WW's right now. He makes LW even better. He went the distance with a bunch of very good WW's including Fitch. LW is simply more well-rounded, better wrestlers, better everything. And Penn is going to smash through them all and will likely finish them all. I cant say the same about GSP who has a very predictable style. Effective though.

 

GSP looked very good against Penn, but one have to put it in perspective. He might himself actually get raped if he met Silva at MW, and there are a few other guys there as well that would be good bets at beating him. 15 lbs is a very big difference in a sport where grappling is as big a part. GSP is very well-rounded and has great technique, but a large part of his biggest wins have been him overpowering his opponent. At MW it would look all different for him.

 

Spencer Fisher finished Thiago Alves. Fitch was a punching bag the entire fight. No excuse to not finish a guy like that. Sometimes, GSP is too cautious, he doesnt go for too many subs because he doesnt want to jeopardize position. Its understandable.

 

Exactly,

Silva would do to GSP what GSP did to BJ.

 

You can't be this thick.

 

Chonan's submission was the greatest submission ever. Dont knock Silva for that.

GSP is awesome. A great great fighter. Penn is amazing. His takedown defence is immense. His balance is something else and the way he can stay in total control on one leg is something else. Great striking skills as well. Penn is an a different league at 155lbs

 

NO. It proves what it already proved just after the fight: GSP was/is way too bg for Penn.

Is that so hard to understandatschatsch

 

:good