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GSP is the man to beat Silva, if there's anybody out there that can do it besides Lyoto (or even Lesnar just based on his freakish size). GSP is hands down the best wrestler in MMA today. He has the most amazing takedowns and takedown defense you can develop. He can shoot deep or from far away by closing the distance and shooting with the right timing or by doing single leg by grabbing a shin or an ankle (cross-ankle pickups can be done from far away for example). GSP has long arms for his size so his reach isn't short by any means. GSP is a takedown machine and he has great striking as well, one of the most well-rounded MMA fighters alive.
The size difference that GSP would have to give up to Anderson really isn't that big of a deal. It's not like Georges is going to try and outstrike Anderson, he's going to take a hard shot as soon as he can and from there it'll be his game. GSP and Anderson both have skill and speed so speed isn't a problem for GSP or he wouldn't be called "Rush". His hands aren't as quick as Anderson's but his shots are quicker than anyone's and that's all that would matter if Anderson got in too close or GSP closed the distance quick enough to shoot. Even if GSP had to give up 20 pounds it's not something that GSP couldn't handle with his elite natural wrestling ability. GSP trains with Rashad who he is known to take down and match his wrestling and to a lesser extent his strength. GSP also does it to the Canadian National Wrestling Team. GSP's also been known to take on multiple guys, one after another, all of whom are fresh and not reused practice partners. When you have elite wrestling and proven power then giving up that bit of weight doesn't matter as much as some of you guys really think it does. This isn't a pit bull fight where the difference of only a couple pounds can actually matter, this is a fight with two people that have different fighting art forms.
As a general rule of thumb wrestlers have more strength than strikers tend to have, GSP has grappler strength and the best cardio in MMA, his wrestling ability and strength are enough to cancel out Silva's extra weight lending any strength advantage if they were to fight at a catchweight. Silva's real "strength" is in the thai clinch which GSP more than likely isn't going to be caught in, not to mention that GSP practices Muay Thai himself, has used the clinch himself and knows how to escape it (he has Phil Nurse as his Muay Thai coach). Silva's balance and coordination isn't as good as GSP's due to his long slender legs. We've all seen him hit the ground, hell, even in the second Franklin fight he went to the ground. When Lutter fought Silva he came extremely close to winning the fight and came close to pounding him out when Lutter had him mounted. He took Anderson down multiple times and Lutter isn't even 10% as good of a wrestler as GSP is. Lutter's shots were pretty pathetic and they STILL worked against Anderson, repeatedly even.
On the ground GSP has the advantage and 9:1 that's where the fight is going to end up if/when they fight each other at a catchweight. GSP is the MUCH better wrestler, is more athletic, and has the better jiu-jitsu too. GSP has great submissions (he's a blackbelt just like Anderson is in BJJ) while Anderson is mostly known for being an elite standup fighter (striker). When Anderson defeated Lutter he didn't triangle sub him he used some ruthless elbows to the top of his head, his triangle attempt wasn't working, it only helped hold Lutter in place to use his elbows.
Both fighters have ground skills but GSP has the clear ground advantage and has good enough striking to hang in there until he gets the fight on the ground where he'll be on top where he can finish the fight (GSP can get IMMEDIATE takedowns). GSP's jab would be enough of a tool for him to use from a distance in order to close it and go in immediately after for a shot to take Anderson down and pound on him. Once he starts dropping heavy elbows and punches from his guard then the fight will either be called (TKO) or Anderson will be taking a nap. There's a MUCH better chance that GSP gets the takedown (or takedowns if it takes more than just one) than Anderson knocking him out while going for it. Again, look at Anderson's fight against Lutter and you tell me what's more likely to happen. The difference is that GSP will actually finish the fight on the ground which Lutter came close to doing but didn't. Anderson fighting from his back isn't going to allow him to KO GSP, a submission is unlikely as well due to GSP's top control and wrestling maneuverability.
It all boils down to takedown defense and Anderson isn't going to be able to deal with GSP's insane takedowns. This is why strikers (like Anderson) need strong takedown defense because if they can't prevent a well executed takedown and have to deal with a great wrestler who has good gnp/subs then they're like a fish out of water. Anderson's striking won't mean jack if GSP decides he doesn't want to stand with him and takes him down (which he'll do, which will happen). Since all Anderson ever really demonstrates is his striking then maybe he should just leave MMA and join a respected kickboxing organization. That's just my opinion though.
It's really about chance and GSP has chance on his side with his wrestling vs. Anderson's striking. GSP has a higher chance of taking him down vs. Anderson KO'ing him before or during the shoot attempt. There's also a much better chance that GSP will be able to depreciate Anderson's striking just based on his fake shots and getting into Anderson's head. Anderson will have to be fully aware of takedown attempts while trying to strike with him and that will affect his striking because he'll be less confident due to the naturally increased defense he'll have to carry. A less confident striker = less effective standup compared to him fighting an opponent without GSP's superior wrestling skills and frequent takedowns.
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Always Supporting: GSP, Rich Franklin, Fedor, Randy, Big Nog, Frank Mir, Lyoto Machida, Jon Jones, Renato Sobral, Mike Swick, Gina Carano, Lee Murray, Kit Cope, Ken-Flo, Belfort, Brian Stann
Last edited by Chute Boxe Hero; 10-06-2009 at 02:23 AM.
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