Here's the way I see it. GSP is bigger, faster, stronger, and more explosive. He's lighter on his feet, better balanced, and moves better. Striking, no contest, GSP's got the full package of punches, leg kicks, head kicks, spinning back kicks, and knees. Technically very good along with good use of movement, angles, timing, & distance, has a long reach too which he uses to his advantage. Diego has basic to intermediate level boxing skills, no kicks that I've seen, and his use of movement & angles is at a basic level, it's mostly straight in & out. Standing up, Diego would be pounded at will just like Matt Hughes was.
Takedowns, BJ Penn managed to get GSP off his feet once, and didn't get anything in. Matt Hughes was solidly stuffed several times. Sanchez ain't nearly as good as those 2 at takedowns, he ain't getting GSP down with anything other than luck. GSP has gotten takedowns on all the best, including a solid slam on Penn. He'll have little problem taking down Sanchez who was repeatedly dropped to the mat by Parisyan.
On the ground, only Hughes has managed to submit GSP and no one else has gotten him into any real trouble. Diego looked pretty good on the ground against Parisyan, and though Karo has decent submissions it ain't top 3 level and his ability to ground & pound and pass the guard is still a long ways off from GSP, Penn, & Hughes.
In short, I don't see any area where Diego has an advantage over GSP, sure there's always the chance of a lucky shot or an unlucky slip, but frankly that's the only way Diego can win. Barring a miraculous improvement or incredible luck, Diego will get picked apart and schooled just like Frank Trigg was.
screenamesuck said:
Regardless of how great of a fighter GSP is and how much more experience he has had, I'm still going with Diego in this fight if it happens. Nobody is the best, Hughes thought he was and look at what happened to him. Everyone can have a bad fight, you just never know what to expect. Diego can go in there and throw a wild punch and knock GSP on his face. You just never know what will happen.
So basically you've admitted that luck is all Diego has on his side. Luck is always a factor, but when it's the only way to win you're grasping at straws.