Although I think Alves is awesome I don't see him beating GSP. GSP will have the reach advantage in this fight and should be able toi neutralize Thiago's standup attack using his jab. To be honest....Alves standup may be better but there is not a huge gap between the two here. I think GSP will be able to take him down at will as the rounds go on and dominate him using his wrestling skills which are now off the charts good. GSP by late round stoppage via G&P or UD. I think Alves ground game is untested....GSP will take advantage,
Last edited 2/3/09 3:11PM by MattHughesRules Edit note/reason: n/a
Tuvok could be right, but I see this as one of those matchups where you're not really sure how it will go until you see them in action. I'm definitely picking GSP via UD or sub though. However I wouldn't be surprised to see Alves's size give him GSP some problems.
Posted by L-Dahab_8 Alves has great take down defense, just watch his fight VS Kos; his sprawl was just amazing.
His sprawl is amazing, sure, but GSP is a different kind of grappler rather than just freestyle wreslters like Kos and Hughes. GSP combines all aspects of takedowns and control into one strategy that so far no one has been able to stop effectively. He's used freestyle wrestling, judo, and trip takedowns in a way that Alves has never seen before. So there really isn't a comparison between Kos' and GSP's takedowns.
was not talking about Kos taking alves down i was talking how GSP took Kos down... everyone said before that Kos wouldn't be taken down by GSP and he did it with no effort... he will do the same to Alves
did you quote the wrong person? because L-Dehab was specifically talking about Alves' sprawl vs Kos.....
Ha i just wanna see if Alves can make the weight for this fight. then we can talk about if he will win. Which in my opinion he wont GSP is better on the feet and the ground. His conditioning is amazing he was barely winded in the BJ fight. GSP 3rd round GnP stopage
Ha i just wanna see if Alves can make the weight for this fight. then we can talk about if he will win. Which in my opinion he wont GSP is better on the feet and the ground. His conditioning is amazing he was barely winded in the BJ fight. GSP 3rd round GnP stopage
Ha i just wanna see if Alves can make the weight for this fight. then we can talk about if he will win. Which in my opinion he wont GSP is better on the feet and the ground. His conditioning is amazing he was barely winded in the BJ fight. GSP 3rd round GnP stopage
Better on the feet eh?
I believe gsp is better on the feet if not equal. Alves' striking is effective because he batters people when they shoot in and/or clinch. Gsp probly doesn't have the better footwork but I think he is very technically sound and is a bit more accurate. I just wish he would throw more combinations rather than a stiff jab or head kick repeatedly.
LOL you guys are crazy. I think GSP is a little gunshy on the feet ever since the Serra KO for one, and for two while I agree he is good on the feet (at least, better than he usually shows) I think he is far from a top striker.
On the flip side of that- Alves has solid MT offense, but his defense is lacking IMO.
That being said I'd be really surprised to see GSP want to stand and bang with Alves. REALLY surprised. Pleasantly surprised if he does, though.
_______________________________________ "It is a shame that in this society we've been taught to judge a man's worth by what he owns instead of who he is." - Evan Tanner
If you look at any other fights of Thiago past 2007 it mean nothing he has grown leaps and bounds over former performances I think we're forgetting how good Koscheck is at wrestling and Thiago just shrugged him off like he was nothing plus GSP has a weak mind and chin and if Thiago catches him he will destroy him GSP's stand up sucks compared to Thiago
If you look at any other fights of Thiago past 2007 it mean nothing he has grown leaps and bounds over former performances I think we're forgetting how good Koscheck is at wrestling and Thiago just shrugged him off like he was nothing plus GSP has a weak mind and chin and if Thiago catches him he will destroy him GSP's stand up sucks compared to Thiago
Since everyone was saying that Alves had a real god sprawl i rewatched his 3 last fights yesterday. (Which all happend in 2008)
Karo was able to take it to the ground, kept him there for a while in rd one and i think Karo won the first rd. But in rd 2 karo went for that take down, got hit by a big knee and we all know how that one finished.
Matt Hugues was able to take it to the ground has well but Alves was able to get back up. Once again Thiago finished that one in the sc with a big flying knee.
KOS was not able to take it to the gound at all during that fight but i believe that he did not have time to train properly for the fight and his cardio was not good. So KOS decided to stand with Alves which Alves was never able to finish him plus KOS able to land some shots of him own. We have to remember that KOS stand up is mediocre at best but he still was able to survive 3 rounds with ALves while being in bad cardio shape.
He does have a good sprawl but in no way is it good enough to stop GSP. All the guys (i mentionned) that he fought came and shot on him without trying to set it up with striking first.
GSP on the other hand is so good at changing levels, i agree that ALves's striking is better than GSP but i believe that GSP will be able to strike with him until he explodes into a takedown and pounds Alves into a submission. Alves is not that fast cause of all his muscle mass so it think its going to play in GSP's favor for the wrestling plus am sure Alves will be gun shy, scared of GSP catching one of the legs kicks and using it to take him down.
I said before the Penn fight that GSP would go trought Penn and i believe he will do the same in this fight, as long as GSP does get hit with a big knee he will take it to the ground and submit Alves in the end of rd1 or middle or rd2.
Last edited 2/5/09 12:53PM by jocka Edit note/reason: n/a
Every time GSP gets a new opponet I always hear how that guy is going to "give GSP problems" and GSP gets in there and smashes there face in. After GSP smashes Alves there will be someone else that come along that will be trouble for GSP. Penn was supposed to give him all sorts of trouble, so was Fitch, so was Kos.
