Does GSP's "Safe" Gameplans Bother You? (Poll)

Yes, it bothers me alot.		41%	(33)
No, not at all.		50%	(40)
I could care less.		9%	(7)

As a Canadian, I have always been a bit of a biased fan of GSP, but I too am getting really bored by his performances, or as GSP himself would say, I am not impressed by your performance. I would really like to see him stop fighting not to lose. Its time to start finishing fights, he certainly has all the skills.

I agree that it bothers me.

I understand it's all perfect gameplan and execution but this man has the potential to put people in the hospital. He is great at every aspect of the sport. I didn't mind the Kos fight because of the damage he did to Kos.

I was more bothered by this particular fight though because at least Kos had KO power he had to watch out for. Shields had no chance of taking him down, was no threat whatsoever on the feet and he only out jabs him? I have a problem with that. I think he should have been more aggressive,

I posted on this thread once already, but I would like to add something else: I believe GSP's opponents are also (equally) to blame for boring WW title fights.

No, they don't bother me. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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Posted by cowcatcher

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Posted by kingsmasher

Whens the last time GSP finished someone like Machida did Couture..>That would be never...

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The only other guy ever to finish someone like that was Daniel-san, so I don't think that's a fair comparison.

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Silva Belfort...

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Posted by kingsmasher

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Posted by cowcatcher

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Posted by kingsmasher

Whens the last time GSP finished someone like Machida did Couture..>That would be never...

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The only other guy ever to finish someone like that was Daniel-san, so I don't think that's a fair comparison.

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Silva Belfort...

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A front kick is one thing, a "crane" kick is another. My sarcasm may have been lost on you though...

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Posted by State_Champ

I posted on this thread once already, but I would like to add something else: I believe GSP's opponents are also (equally) to blame for boring WW title fights.

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I would agree with that on the Kos fight but it really wasn't too bad of a fight because I like watching boxing anyways but I believe if Kos really wanted even have a remote chance he needed to really pressure GSP and try to land that power. Not get picked apart on the outside like he did.

But with Shields like I said it was GSP's worst performance IMO because Shields was not even a remote threat to GSP. He wasn't going to get the takedown, he was scared to even try to shoot, he doesn't have any power whatsoever so I felt he should came out guns a blazin'.

GSP is the man.. He comes into every fight with an amazing display of dominance and precision, if he is winning fights the way he is then why should he take chances he doesn't have to? If you were in his shoes you would want the belt for as long as possible would you not?

Whoever challenges GSP for the title needs to do just that.. CHALLENGE! Its your job to take the belt from St. Pierre and bring the fight to him.. Yet nobody has been able to do so!

GSP is doing everything he needs to solidify himself as one of the greatest champions the UFC has ever seen, he has dominated every opponent he has faced and will keep doing so for years to come!

A true champion is one who finishes his opponents

I hate to say this but edgar is more fun to watch in a 5 round fight than gsp

I saw edgar fight penn and maynard, and maynard again in a few weeks

And if he wins possible in denver or houston live as well
Christ that is 2 25 min fights. A possible third

But gsp. Playing it too safe sucks
He should have finished a shields

Ever sense gsp went to jackson camp he lost his killer instinct!!

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Posted by pv3Hpv3p

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Posted by DeadHead988

Amost all of GSP's recent fights have been boring as hell. I consider him the best in the world, but I never look forward to seeing him fight.

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This sums it up pretty well... After the "flukey" loss to Serra, he just won't put himself out there... And in the end, that's why I love combat sports... In its base form, it's two guys baring all against one and other until a natural breaking point.

I guess what really bothers me, is that is seems like GSP has all the tools to finish all his fights... He is head and shoulders above anyone in the WW division... But his lack of ability to pul the trigger, is frustrating to say the least...

I mean, what's the worst that could happen? He loses a fight? Big deal... He's already solidified himself as the best welterweight in MMA up to this point...

Ah, whatever... like you say... Best in the world, but I could careless about seeing him fight...

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GSP isn't exactly winning contraversial/close fights so its really not on him to take chances to try to end the fight. GSP's problem is that he's fighting guy's who have styles that are one dimensional or a big weakness in one of their skill sets. The UFC is struggling to find a complete fighter to challenge GSP...Diaz needs to be the next fighter....Marquardt may be an interesting fight if they weren't training partners, Anthony Johnson may be interesting if he didnt have all that time off and had a bit more experience.

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Posted by CoachRDS

I don't have a problem with GSP's gameplan because IMO finishes are not as indicative of a fighter's skills as being able to control where and how a fight goes. If Georges St. Pierre can make someone like Josh Koscheck be a human punching bag and the opponent can't stop it but doesn't get knocked out because of having a good chin, does that mean his opponent lacks stand up skills? No. It means he could not fight his fight, and the other guy was superior as a stand up fighter. Likewise, if he is able to take down someone like Dan Hardy, control him on the mat and go for submissions and the opponent refuses to tap, does that mean a fighter doesn't have submission skills? No. It means the guy on bottom, while refusing to get finished, got outclassed in his weak area by a fighter who was superior in that area. His gameplans are built around him trying to finish fights, but if you are fighting in the UFC's welterweight division, you should not expect much in the way of finishes because everyone is skilled in all areas of the fight game.

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You seem to be confusing ability with desire.

GSP chose to point fight Koscheck from the outside. Even when he did land a solid strike (more than a jab) that had Kos stumbling, he CHOSE to back off and let him recover.

GSP CHOSE not to commit to the kimura on Hardy. The proper technique to finish that kimura would have been to step over the head, and GSP knows this. The problem is that you MIGHT risk losing position when you step over, and GSP wouldn't risk it. The armbar was not applied right, so chalk that up to error in technique. However, 2 solid submission attempts in 25 minutes is hardly something to brag about for GSP.

The point in that GSP is calculated, and dominant, but lacks the killer instinct you see with the best FIGHTERS. He is an athlete, and sees this as a competition, where others are fighters, and see this as a fight.

This quote from the last Primetime from Georges sums it up nicely:

"This is a tough competition. If I have to , I will hurt him."

GSP only bothers me from an excitement level, as I will ikely not be paying to watch him fight anymore. From an MMA standpoint, he is AMAZING, and will be close to impossible to beat at WW.

I have been saying this for years but I will say it again.

GSP does not fight to hurt his opponents. He fights to win while having sympathy for his opponents. We all know GSP could have ripped off Hardy's arm but GSP let go of the arm instead to protect Hardy from a serious injury.

Again, GSP's fight with Koscheck proved he could have knocked out or tko Koscheck but sympathy kept him from unleashing what he is really capable of doing in the octagon.

I know many of you hate his safe style, but if you really stop to think about it, GSP is actually holding back from delivering punishing injuries to his opponents.

His philosophy is to win and not to inflict major injuries to his opponents.

I really wish a fighter will come along to test GSP and maybe then - we may see what GSP is really capable of which I guarantee you - we have not seen yet.

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Posted by KungFuMaster
GSP does not fight to hurt his opponents.

GSP's fight with Koscheck proved he could have knocked out or tko Koscheck but sympathy kept him from unleashing what he is really capable of doing in the octagon.

GSP is actually holding back from delivering punishing injuries to his opponents.

His philosophy is to win and not to inflict major injuries to his opponents.

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See the thing is though, KO'ing or TKO'ing koscheck would have actually have been the much more sympathetic option, as repeated blows to the head are more detrimental to the brain than a KO is. So if he is holding back for his opponents, that means he's choosing a much more malicious route, which contradicts the stated philosophy.

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Posted by Pookie



See the thing is though, KO'ing or TKO'ing koscheck would have actually have been the much more sympathetic option, as repeated blows to the head are more detrimental to the brain than a KO is. So if he is holding back for his opponents, that means he's choosing a much more malicious route, which contradicts the stated philosophy.

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Of course you are going to say that if you are to challenge my perspective.

But seriously, GSP trains to win fights and not to hurt his opponents. There is such a thing called mercy. Remember Aldo vs Faber??? - The MMA world knew Aldo could have KOed or TKOed Faber. But what did he do? He did not want to embarrass the former champ and decided to settle for a unanimous decision.

You can twist the debate however you want, but I believe GSP is in it to win with as little damage to his opponents as possible.

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Posted by KungFuMaster

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Posted by Pookie



See the thing is though, KO'ing or TKO'ing koscheck would have actually have been the much more sympathetic option, as repeated blows to the head are more detrimental to the brain than a KO is. So if he is holding back for his opponents, that means he's choosing a much more malicious route, which contradicts the stated philosophy.

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Of course you are going to say that if you are to challenge my perspective.

But seriously, GSP trains to win fights and not to hurt his opponents. There is such a thing called mercy. Remember Aldo vs Faber??? - The MMA world knew Aldo could have KOed or TKOed Faber. But what did he do? He did not want to embarrass the former champ and decided to settle for a unanimous decision.

You can twist the debate however you want, but I believe GSP is in it to win with as little damage to his opponents as possible.

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Faber's leg got beaten to the point that it was a swollen purple mass... is that mercy?

Also, the Aldo/Faber fight was entertaining imo which is dissimilar to the way many MMA fans (myself included) seem to view GSP recent fights.

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Posted by State_Champ



Faber's leg got beaten to the point that it was a swollen purple mass... is that mercy?

Also, the Aldo/Faber fight was entertaining imo which is dissimilar to the way many MMA fans (myself included) seem to view GSP recent fights.

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If I remember correctly, in round 5, Aldo basically cruised to a decision victory while Faber courageously struggled to continue while displaying a show of heart.

When you enter a fight, you plan on doing battle and what ever it takes to win. Aldo definitely did that for the most part, but after he disabled Faber and realized Faber was done, his adrenaline dropped as there was no more perceived threats from his opponent, Faber.

Part of round 4 and all of round 5 were evident of Aldo showing mercy and respect to a great champion, Faber.

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Posted by KungFuMaster

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Posted by State_Champ



Faber's leg got beaten to the point that it was a swollen purple mass... is that mercy?

Also, the Aldo/Faber fight was entertaining imo which is dissimilar to the way many MMA fans (myself included) seem to view GSP recent fights.

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If I remember correctly, in round 5, Aldo basically cruised to a decision victory while Faber courageously struggled to continue while displaying a show of heart.

When you enter a fight, you plan on doing battle and what ever it takes to win. Aldo definitely did that for the most part, but after he disabled Faber and realized Faber was done, his adrenaline dropped as there was no more perceived threats from his opponent, Faber.

Part of round 4 and all of round 5 were evident of Aldo showing mercy and respect to a great champion, Faber.

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Well he may have gotten tired and didnt want to get caught with a big shot so he played it safe and slowed down the exchanges, pretty much what GSP does.

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Posted by free_style_52



Well he may have gotten tired and didnt want to get caught with a big shot so he played it safe and slowed down the exchanges, pretty much what GSP does.

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From what I saw, Aldo was not tired but he did seem to have lost the killer instinct which we know he possesses. IMO, Aldo did not want to batter Faber's leg anymore. An overwhelming sense of sympathy and admiration for Faber came over Aldo in the last minutes of the fight which prevented him from pulling the trigger even-though the opportunity has been available since round 4.

Thats a mighty big assumption to be so sure of.

In my humble opinion... i think its much more likely that Aldo played it safe in the 5th for tactical reasons, than it is that he was suddenly stricken with compassion and admiration.

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Posted by Pookie

Thats a mighty big assumption to be so sure of.

In my humble opinion... i think its much more likely that Aldo played it safe in the 5th for tactical reasons, than it is that he was suddenly stricken with compassion and admiration.

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I never claimed it was the truth. IMO, that is what happened.

Aldo came to do battle as his adrenaline shot through the roof while he stands across from a dangerous opponent. The perceived threat is imminent and the fight or flight response mechanism unfolds.

After round 3, the threat level decreased and further decreased into the 5th round by which Aldo no longer felt threaten. By this time, his adrenaline has dropped considerably. In between rounds 4 and 5, Aldo has had time to reflect on what has happened in the octagon. He realizes his opponent is beaten and battered and barely hanging on by a thread. It is at this time, he is debating whether to finish the fight or not.

As the opening 5th round bell rings, Aldo sees across from him a determined warrior who will not quit despite being crippled. Compassion and admiration sets in as Aldo becomes confused as to what he should do.

"How can I continue beating this guy when he can barely stand? It is obvious, he can no longer fight effectively. It is obvious, he is only continuing to fight because of pride. Should I put him out of his misery or should I let him retain a bit of dignity? " - Aldo