Alves is big but GSP is as big and stronger everywhere.
No way dude, i saw them both up close and standing next to each other at ufc 94 and alves is a lot bigger. GSP is barely taller than alves but alves has way more mass. As for GSP's striking being better... thats up for debate. IMO alves has much more power behind his strikes and will probably win this fight by KO or TKO unless GSP can get him to the ground quick. Alves has improved his sprawl a lot and GSP may have more difficulty taking down an opponent that is bigger than him (not saying he will, just saying thats a possibility). GSP needs to score big TDs off the leg kicks if he wants to win this fight, but even when he does it will be hard to keep Thiago there for long.
i'm sure the gameplan against alves will be effective. clinch with him and get him tired, and then finish him off in the 3rd or 4th.
i really feel that alves is overrated.
Are you seriously saying that GSP clinch with Alves. Ask Karo and Hughes how Alves' clinch is. It's probably the best part of his stand up. GSP better hope to hell he stays out of the clinch and can get him down and on top to GnP. I am on the fence for a winner in this fight. GSP impressed the hell out of me in the BJ fight. Alves needs to hook up with strikes early and take him out.
Just know this people, Thiago is not BJ, this fight will be completely different. If GSP cannot get him down the fight is already over, and I dont think he can get him down if Koscheck, Karo and Hughes couldnt and if they ever did it was not for long. The Koscheck fights should be the fights that everyone looks at for thsi matchup, Kos took GSP down and Kos couldnt take Alves down, see the picture?
They are two entirely different strikers. GSP is more technical, but thats not to suggest that Alves isn't. He just puts more power into his shots. GSP will look to take this fight to the ground GUARANTEED. If he can he'll end it with some GnP or a sub.
My record has been garbage this season because I keep choosing to pick against people that I probably shouldnt (shut up qsquat ) and GSP has been one of them.
I might be crazy but I dont think this fight is even going to be competitive, I think GSP is going to have his way with him however he wants it and I am so anti-St. Pierre that its not even funny.
GSP will rag doll Alves in my opinion. He will be throwin him around cave man style.
My 2 cents... well for the most part, most of the dramatic points I was going to make have been said somewhere in these pages so I'll be brief.
I think this will be the toughest fight for GSP so far. However, the last time I thought this (vs. Fitch) he really impressed me and I hope he can do it again.
I am looking at this fight through Alves' strengths and weaknesses (as opposed to Georges')
Alves' weaknesses -
His cardio. We all know he is a really big WW and the weight cut may or may not be too much for him to go past 3 rounds. I know he went 3 rounds with Koscheck, but I think he beat Josh up so much in the first two, that Alves was pushing the pace in the third, so I don't think it is necessarily the same story. I am pretty sure Georges will pressure him constantly.
His ground game. I am basing this off of the fact that he is indeed a striker with limited BJJ experience. I think is Georges can get him down in the first/second, we will see a stoppage or sub in said rounds.... the problem I think will be getting him down.
Alves' strengths-
He is a big and strong WW. Personally I think this aspect makes his takedown defense look a little better than it is. Regardless, he will not be easy to drag down to the mat unless he is tired. Georges will have to set up his shots to score the takedowns. I know he can do this, but the question is will he do it without getting hit.
His striking is dangerous. I have no doubt in my mind that if he connects with a solid shot, it is pretty much over for Georges.
All in all I think the way for Georges to win this is to avoid Alves' striking and wear him down for 2 or 3 rounds. It should be easy after that to get a UD or finish him late in the fight.
Last edited 7/2/09 7:48PM by Rush Edit note/reason: n/a
Alves striking power makes him a dangerous opponent for any welterweight but I think GSP will utilize his superior wrestling and brutal GnP to secure a a tko victory here, probably sooner in the fight rather than later.
Posted by Pookie Fitch Didnt destroy Alves, Alves was winning the fight and got caught by an upkick. Or maybe the drugs have finally started to catch up with my brain not quite sure anymore.
I would say being dominated on the ground for two rounds, dropped and finished is getting destroyed, No Alves was not winning that fight he was clearly losing by a wide margin. Fitch just manhandled him the entire fight.
Fitch took Alves down at will, I find it hard to believe GSP will have any issues with taking Alves down as he has took fighters down with much better TDD.
P.S. Alves has some good BJJ, I dont know if he can catch GSP but it is a threat from the guard.
Last edited 7/5/09 5:55PM by slapshot Edit note/reason: n/a 3 total post edits
I dont think alves is going to even make this fight competitive. I think it will take more than a one trick pony to take apart a top ranked p4p fighter. Sure he has a chance to catch gsp, but it seems alot like bringing knife to a gun fight.
I dont think alves is going to even make this fight competitive. I think it will take more than a one trick pony to take apart a top ranked p4p fighter. Sure he has a chance to catch gsp, but it seems alot like bringing knife to a gun fight.
It's true that Alves doesn't seem to be as good on the ground as St. Pierre, or as quick, or as versatile in general. St. Pierre may have the better wrestling and a great strategy but Alves can always KO his opponent and he has bullet-proof TDD.
Maybe GSP will steamroll Alves like he has been doing to a lot of fighters recently, but I certainly won't count Alves out.
) and GSP has been one of them.
