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If GSP moves up...

2K views 27 replies 20 participants last post by  andersen85 
#1 ·
what will happen to the WW division? will he vacate the title? and if so..then since he will be moving for good to 185 we will have a new champ at 170...but..this just means to me that the champ will forever be a #1 contender

if fitch, alves, shields for example, become champions...they still never beat GSP...and GSP is still the undefeated WW champ..so how can there be a new WW champ? will ppl really see them as the champ?

maybe this AS vs GSP fight is a smart short term plan...but if you think about it long term i think it might really screw up the WW division:confused02:

what do you all think?
 
#2 ·
This is why I *dont* want GSP to move up. He is the #1 undisputed WW champ. He legitimises the WW belt and makes its value far higher. If he vacates, it will definitely devalue the belt for whoever has it next... at least in my eyes.

the same goes for Silva at MW. I want them both to stay where they are and keep crushing fools. I've no problem with having dominant champions. It makes the belt worth so much more for whoever manages to legitimately win it.
 
#3 ·
yess, i agree...dominant champs are what create real new champs...GSP wouldnt be the champ that he is if it wasnt for hughes

and whoever beats AS will truly be the next best thing in the MW division

but at least AS has stated he will end his career at 185

they could at least just do 1 super fight and GSP go back down, at some point some1 will come along and be good enough to beat him...same with AS...especially AS since hes getting up there in age and i dont see him as a randy couture type of fighter
 
#8 ·
All of this ^^

The only thing more entertaining to me then a dominating champion is an underdog champion. Right now, the UFC has three men filling those rolls with GSP and Silva being untouchable mountain tops, and Edgar playing the roll of miracle man.

Think about it. If Rashad beats Shogun, it really will not send shock waves through the world of MMA. And I think the same can be said if Junior or Brock were to defeate Cain. On the flip side of that, the next man to beat Silva or GSP is going to take over the world overnight!

Plus, one simple fact is this. Everyone goes down eventually... and I guarantee, unless they retire this year, GSP and Silva are no exceptions that rule. Just ask Chuck Liddell.
 
#10 ·
Plus, one simple fact is this. Everyone goes down eventually... and I guarantee, unless they retire this year, GSP and Silva are no exceptions that rule. Just ask Chuck Liddell.
You can't compare a fighter like Chuck to GSP or Silva. Chuck's career took a big decline because his chin was going away, he is a fighter that either gets a KO, or goes down trying.If Chuck used more of his wrestling to take people down and GnP them, I guarantee you that his career would last a few years longer.

GSP and Silva are more methodical about their gameplan, even though Silva is somewhat the same as Chuck, he has superior movement and hands. GSP on the other hand, I don't think he will have a big downfall like Chuck did, he hardly gets hit in fights because of his movements, he will retire on top, which very few fighters can do.
 
#12 ·
Here's the thing with comparing Chuck Liddell to GSP.

There was always someone out there who could beat Chuck - Rampage.

There's someone out there who can beat Anderson Silva (IMO) - Sonnen or even GSP

There's absolutely no one out there that I can see beating GSP.

Chuck's decline was due to better fighters existing, him getting old and him losing his chin from a long and tough career. GSP hasn't taken that much damage considering how long he's been fighting, he's not that old, and it doesn't matter if his chin somehow goes because he doesn't even get hit.

I'm most curious about how GSP will fall. Every fighter does, but maybe he'll be the first to retire without losing at WW. After Shields there's no one left. It would take years for the next wave of evolved fighters to materialize, GSP will be retired or at MW by then.
 
#14 ·
I agree with this on almost all counts, except if anyone is going to beat GSP I see it being Anderson, his striking is at a level that no one can compare to, but I do agree if GSP can get him down then yea I lean towards GSP, but it's one of those fights that I could see going either way. On the feet Silva gets the advantage, on the ground GSP.

I would like to see Silva move up to LHW for good, now that Machida does not have the belt, I think Shogun VS Silva would be an amazing striking match, but if it means giving up GSP vs Silva then I want Silva to stay at 185.
 
#25 ·
The outcome of the match will determine what GSP does.

He won't vacate the title before fighting Silva. Champ v Champ is a marketing bonanza. The opportunity to hold 2 belts at one time.

If GSP wins he likely vacats the ww title. If he loses he would have to make a decision. How he loses could be the deciding factor.

GSP isn't huge for WW and he would be a small MW. If Silva's size proves to be too much and GSP gets Franklined he might decide top of the WW heap is the place to be.

If he loses a competitive decision or gets caught in a submisssion like Chael then I think it's likely he vacates the WW title and takes a run at MW.
 
#27 · (Edited)
It's too bad about their size differfence, because IMO it takes away from the meaning of the fight, to a degree, and it will only muddle arguments as to who is "better" (depending on outcome, ofc). GSP would be a pretty small MW; Silva's arguably a fairly natural fit @ LHW. So if Silva wins, it really doesn't prove a whole lot - but the debates sure would get heated! On the other hand, if GSP wins, Silva has everything to lose. (I put the odds at 60-40 in favour of AS; personal opinion)

It's for the above reasons I have a love-hate relationship with fighters extending themselves to higher weight classes. I wanna see this superfight! But I don't like how it potentially muddies the waters so much (P4P-wise). I'm actually OK with GSP staying at WW. (altho I'd soon grow tired of the "he's ducking!" comments)

[Edit] You know, I suppose if it went to a 5 round split decision, no matter who won, we could say they are equals. I could live with that. :)
 
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