The Georges St. Pierre vs. It doesn’t matter how good the challenger is. It only matters how good the fighter is.
You can come into the Octagon fully trained, at your peak, with a wide array of skills and an unquenchable thirst to reach the top. But if I come across one of the game’s all-time fighters who is still in his prime, well, you’re just out of luck.
Despite the betting odds for GSP vs. The fact that St. Peter’s had such a 4-1 or 5-1 favorite was an exciting and ambitious concern. You have a reigning champion fighting against his size, in the midst of a very long undefeated streak, with an abundance of masters of the arts, including top flight jiu-jitsu and wrestling.
None since the GSP vs. Shields event from UFC 129. What is important is that George St. Pierre is the preeminent UFC fighter of his generation, perhaps even more so than Anderson Silva.
If it wasn’t for Silva’s extended dominance, GSP would be hailed as the best mixed martial artist of all time. He is good. Yes, GSP has his own catalog of fantastic victories in the Octagon, and he needs to win back-to-back victories to be pushed to the front of the list.
The judges were mixed on how close or dominant this actually was to win, with one judge ruling it 50-45 (5 rounds to 0), and the other two ruling it 48-47 (3 to 2). For what it’s worth, I’ve seen GSP vs. Shield brawls win more by the margins with GSP dominating as opposed to Urban throwing.
The three scoring writers at Sherdog.com, for example, scored 49-46, 50-46, and 50-47, all for GSP. It also shows several rounds, but not one round definitely going to the attacker. The judge sometimes has a tendency to try to give the round back to the losing but the challenger for that very reason. GSP’s accomplishments controlled the action and while they were around, he consistently dictated the way the fight was conducted and dealt more damage at all levels of the game.
Soon for GSP IRCCA may just be with the rest of the king’s kingdom, Silva. The two could compete in a bantamweight or middleweight title fight. Or maybe St. Pierre remains at welterweight, Jon Fitch returns yet again, to face Diego Sanchez, fellow Canadian Rory Macdonald in 18 months in the final fight before moving on. Who knows.
Now George St. Pierre reigns in the UFC, and is a mixed martyr. Off-the-charts play, exceptional dedication, superior skills, a well-rounded approach, and a constantly evolving game separates GSP from the bad guys. Who trust?
