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Johnny Hendricks Will KO GSP

8K views 54 replies 35 participants last post by  Sharon 
#1 ·
Here is my full analysis of the upcoming Hendricks-GSP title fight and how I believe it will go down:

In approaching this fight, you have to consider GSP's gameplan in every title defense. Like Bill Belicheck in the NFL, GSP is a highly cerebral strategist whose only concern is winning, and he does this by taking away his opponent's biggest strength while attacking his biggest weakness. This sounds obvious enough, but you'd be surprised how often fighters and athletes compete with awful gameplans and low fight IQ.

In recent history, GSP has adopted this gameplan effectively because he is strong in all facets of MMA: He is a black belt karate striker with extensive boxing training from Freddie Roach, he has a black belt in BJJ, and he is arguably the best wrestler in MMA. So, if his opponent's strength is wrestling then he will take that away by using his great wrestling to keep the fight standing and exposing his opponent's weakness on the feet. We saw this strategy against Jake Shields, when GSP took away Shields's strength as a grappler by standing and striking Shields against his weakness. Conversely, against a fighter whose strength is striking and weakness is wrestling, GSP will take away the strength and attack the weakness simultaneously by taking the opponent down in every round and keeping the fight on the mat. We saw this strategy employed against Dan Hardy and Thiago Alves.

GSP has had success in every defense because he is strong in every aspect of MMA, whereas his opponents have typically been EITHER strong grapplers OR strong strikers. Thus, he has been able to rinse and repeat his gameplans with relative ease and predictability. Because GSP has monstrous MMA wrestling, he's been able to even take down other wrestlers like Josh Koscheck.

With Hendricks, though, GSP will face the best MMA and pure wrestler he has ever faced. Hendricks was an incredible undefeated champion in college who was even better than Koscheck, and as we saw against Condit yesterday he can take people down pretty easily when he feels like it. Also, I've never seen anybody take him down and I can't imagine anybody doing it, including GSP. Because of this incredible wrestling, Hendricks will be able to keep the fight standing against GSP.

Thus, the battle will come down to a striking match between Hendricks and GSP. While GSP has better technical striking, Hendricks undoubtedly has more power in his fists. Showing the ability to KO anybody, Hendricks has the ability to KO GSP, who has an average chin since he has been rocked by Carlos Condit and even finished by little Matt Serra.

The final questions are: Can Hendricks actually land his bombs, and does he have the stamina to last 5 rounds? To the first question, I think he can land his power lefts against GSP by pressuring him. GSP is not a counter-striker like Anderson Silva, and he doesnt respond to pressure well. Normally, GSP goes in for a double-leg takedown when pressured, but this is not an option against a wrestling stalwart like Hendricks. So, Hendricks can back GSP up, defend his takedown attempts, and land his power left with pressure. While he doesnt have the stamina for five rounds, I don't think it will matter because Hendricks will rock and finish GSP within the first 3.

The only other way I can see this fight developing is for GSP to be well prepared for Hendricks's left hand and outpoint him on the feet for a five round decision via superior endurance and technique. But, ultimately I see HEndricks taking the belt with a KO in the first 3 rounds. What do you all think?
 
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#42 ·
Hendriks cardio will be the deciding factor in this one and I just can't see him winning against GSP. GSP is just too much in every department. I think GSP's wrestling will be better as well in this fight. I think Hendriks camp will work on Johny's hand speed and accuracy and he will try to knock GSP out in the first round. However, if he doesn't succeed by the third round, he will lose for sure. I see GSP moving a lot, using his jab and kicks, tiring Johny one round at a time and by the third round I see him taking the fight to the ground when Hendriks gets really exhausted.
 
#43 ·
Even if GSP gets Hendricks down, I can see a top-flight wrestler like Hendricks being able to stand back up. Hendricks is a strong, stocky dude and if he wants to I think he can stand up without letting GSP lay on him for the whole round. Has anybody ever kept Hendricks down like that before? I'm genuinely curious, because I dont remember.
 
#44 ·
Go watch the Kos and Story fights. Both wrestlers controlled him and nullified his striking. In both fights he tired visibly by round three. If they can do it GSP will do it. I've seen nothing from Hendricks that makes me think he has more than a punchers chance.
 
#45 ·
Hendrix has nothing to offer striking wise except for his big left which he can land when he bull rushes you.
Everytime he will do that, GSP will take him down.
The rest of the time, GSP will pick him apart standing.

The one thing is that hendrix should know that, and he should therefore plan accordingly.

Otherwise, GSP all night long :)
 
#47 ·
Hendricks best chance to win this fight is to take a Chael Sonnen approach, and pressure GSP. Try to take him down instead of constantly defending takedowns. I've lost count of how many of GSP's opponents wait for him, and constantly defend tds, jabs, etc... If Johny Hendricks comes out as the aggressor and goes for broke to finish, he will probably win. If he shows up with the same gameplan as GSP last few opponents, standing/ waiting/ and relying on his exceptional wrestling background back him in defending GSP's shots, he will get taken down, and dominated for 5 rds.
 
#49 ·
Hendricks is certainly a serious challenge but your argument is based on assumptions I don't think are correct.

Hendricks took Condit down but did absolutely nothing with it and couldn't keep him down. Compared to George who put Carlos on his back, kept him there and did damage.

Until proven otherwise, GSP has the best "mma wrestling".

Hendricks' NCAA credentials are irrelevant. Theoretically, you can win an NCAA title with 0 take downs. Most of the ways you score points in NCAA wrestling don't work in mma. That's why some Div 2 wrestlers have better mma wrestling than some Div 1 champs.

GSP's biggest weapon is his explosive speed, which IMO has been diminished due to his ACL repair.

What George does better than anyone is reactive takedowns. He initiates the stand-up and just when his opponent fires a punch he ducks down and counters with a double leg. That's how he put Kos on his back, that's how he'll put Hendricks on his back...if he ever fights Silva that is likely the only way he'd put Anderson on his back.

Prior to shooting for a double leg, GSP will stay in kickboxing range, use his jab, circle left and never back straight up.
 
#51 ·
Hendricks = Koscheck 1.1.

I imagine GSP will alternate between laying on top of him doing no damage, and swatting at him with his jab and doing little damage, for 5 rounds and then winning the fight on points. As he always does.
The real question is whether I'll be able to stay awake through an entire GSP fight.
 
#52 ·
...Even though Condit lost by decision, he exposed Johny a bit. Carlos did fairly well controlling the distance. Hendricks missed a few huge left bombs, way over-committing leaving himself for a nasty counter. It's safe to say that GSP's wrestling will neutralize Johny's. No argument there. GSP, like Condit has more tools on the feet. Hendricks has ridiculous KO power, more than anyone else in the division but he has to land. Condit ate some monster left shots and kept going. St. Pierre has been finished by punches only one time in his whole career. Hendricks can certainly be the first to put GSP to sleep but it's highly unlikely. Condit started a good blueprint on Johny. Distance and headmovement are key. If Hendricks comes in swinging wild and missing, he leaves his chin right there to be tagged, Georges certainly has the power and speed to land something brutal. I doubt Hendricks will put GSP to sleep. A grind out win most likely for GSP...
 
#53 ·
Johny's left is very fast, I didn't expect him to land it as often as he did against Condit who is obviously the better striker.. but Condit has never been all that hard to hit, he just has an iron chin so he usually walks through punches and lands his own... I guarantee if Johny lands even one of those lefts, he is gonna have GSP in a world of trouble...

lets just forget about Johny taking GSP down or out wrestling him, GSP has just as good of sweeps as Condit and we all saw Condit escape sweep reverse and get back to his feet over and over again meanwhile taking ZERO damage...

Johny needs to come out of the gate and pressure GSP, he has proven he has a decent chin last fight because Carlos landed some really good shots... He needs to rush GSP, he covers distance with his left very well and it is very fast, I think that really is his only chance considering that even if he could match GSPs wrestling he still doesn't have the cardio to keep it up over 5 rounds..
 
#55 ·
Johnny is definitely another wrestler boxer combo that seems to be so prominent in the WW division, so I can see a lazy comparison being made to someone like Koscheck. And Ellenberger. And Story. And Fitch. And Hathaway.

Only thing seperating Johnny from the pack is his awesome left hand. He has a great left and uses it whenever he gets the chance. He moves to his opponent's lead and just thrusts it out like it's some missile or something. That sounded way more Freudian than I intended it to be, but you guys catch my drift, right? If he lands, it's career over for the other guy.
 
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