Spec0688

Before the Sonnen fight, there were many questions regarding Anderson Silva, especially with the Maia fight fresh in peoples mind. Sonnen was the aggressor, dictated where the fight took place and eventually made Silva's star power rise up a tad.

The thing is, GSP doesn't have a Sonnen in his division. He is the dictator of fights, people are scared to engage him and he gets all of the blame. Shields had to have known GSP's eye is messing with him, the non stop blinking and wiping at his eye, yet he didn't go for the win, he chose to continue jabbing at his face.

GSP needs his Sonnen, someone who can possibly do what he did to Silva. It doesn't have to be throughout all 5 rounds, maybe just for 1 or 2. Is Diaz the possible answer? I don't know. I do know though, that Diaz will be walking towards GSP, stalking him possibly, something which hasn't been done in a long long time.

SpecC

At how good GSP's wrestling is, this is MUCH easier said than done.

Also, Shields went for some takedowns even after round 2 when it happened. He also got kicked in the face and all of them stuffed.

Fabian

he has to fight someone who is good in BJJ and stand-up so he'll not be able to play the safe game....

I don't know if there is someone like that in WW....

Indestructibl3

Nick Diaz fits that mould, but I don't think he'll be effective against GSP from the bottom position, he'll simply get manhandled on the mat.

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<M>MA

There is no one as well rounded as him, that is why he's the champion. Not only is his wrestling good, his striking is calculated and effective. His athleticism is second to none and he's extremely strong.

morninglightmt

We all knew Silva's weakness throughout his career has been his wrestling. Fortunately for him, Sonnen's weakness, and hugely, has been his submission defense, so Silva was able to pull off his miracle.

GSP has no weakness. His wrestling is the best in the division. His striking, a mix of boxing and karate (hands and feet) is arguably the best and if it isn't, combine it with the threat of his takedowns and it dominates strikers like Alves, Penn and Hardy on the feet. He is a BJJ blackbelt with elite sub defense, anchored by his insane strength to power out of subs others might be locked in to. His top control and ability to pass guard is the best in the division. He is able to fight through injury and adversity and still come out the victor as seen in Penn 1, Alves and Shields. The claims on his chin are hilariously overblown, he's only ever been TKO'd once in his career and aside from that he's never been rocked.

What fighter fits the mold to be the Sonnen to GSP? Who can exploit GSPs weakness and take the fight to him when he has no weakness to exploit?

I really can't figure out how people think Diaz is the one to do this. The guys he's beating in Strikeforce, aside from Daley, wouldn't even be top10 in the UFC.

I think we're seeing a lot of vertical building in he UFC WW division right now with a title shot in line for the winner of Condit vs Kim or Story if he beats Alves. The winner or Marquardt vs Johnson could also be 1 fight away with another top 10 from a title shot.

Do I think any of these guys has a chance though? None. Condit and Marquart pose threats on the feet, but they will both get taken down easily and stifled. Kim will get outclassed in all areas by GSP. Story and Johnson are powerhouses and wildcards, but they are too raw, even 2 fights down the road.

You wont see me complaining though. Unlike a lot of people, I am one who would love to see a couple of these fights happen, just to see GSP cement his legacy further as the most dominant UFC champion in history.

ACTAFOOL

i agree, i think you guys are missing the point, IMO what the OP meant is that he needs his sonnen as in he needs a fighter to BRING IT and put him in a war and not just stand still and get beat on

the WW fighters are suffering from the same thing the MW weight fighters suffer from, and thats fear and too much respect, they respect way too much anderson and GSP, so much that they are already mentally beat before they step in the cage, once they do get in the cage they fight 100% different than how they usually fight, they forget what got them there in the 1st place and just stand in awe of these champs, it seems like their gameplan change from becoming the new champ to going the distance with the champ...as if its some sort of accomplishment

seriously...what the hell did kos, fitch and shields do? nothing...they just got beat on and accepted the beating, all 3 could have worked more for a TD, they tried a couple of times and gave up...what? would sonnen give up after 2-3 failed attempts at a TD?

hell no, sonnen would work the whole damn 25 mins for a TD, eating shot after shot to get that TD, thats what GSP needs, to be put in a damn fight, a fighter that doesnt respect him or fear him and just does what he usually does

no fighter at WW has really brought the fight to GSP and tried to scrap with him, they all just lay back and abandon in gameplan, this is the ONLY reason i actually think the diaz fight is interesting, i dont give diaz much of a chance, and i though shields would actually make it a fight and try for TDs the whole damn 25 mins of the fight...boy was i wrong

but diaz...damn...i really think diaz would bring it, he isnt all talk like kos and shields, everytime he has fought diaz just went all out, he doesnt give a crap about what others think or say, he just goes out there and pissess other fighters off, and after that amazing fight against daley i actually give him a much better chance in the stand up

i still think GSP would destroy diaz, but at least diaz has a punchers chance since he actually does go balls out, it would be interesting to see diaz boxing against GSPs, at least he would pressure GSP, something that no fighter has been doing...i wonder if GSP even remembers what its like to fight at a pace that he doesnt dictate

and i wonder just wth is wrong with all other WWs...condit is another guy who might pressure him...

Sambo de Amigo

I dont know anyone who is better at WW than GSP.


Literally a flash KO or a miracle sub is the only way i see him losing in the next few years at WW.


I dont think there is a "Sonnen" at WW for GSP to face.

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Bisping Fan extraordinaire

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