GSP and 3 different weight classes

Dragan

Okay, so a recent article on Sherdog has GSP saying that his main goal in MMA is to leave a legacy.....to dominate 170 lbs while it it still competitive, then move to 185 and eventually up to 205.

Now, don't get me wrong, GSP has always had the technical skills to be a champion. As far as physical ability goes the guy is a freak of nature. Your talking about a man who took up wrestling very late and yet reached a level where he was offered a place in the Canadian Olympic Camp. Unreal.

The one thing GSP has had to overcome more than anything is the mental aspect of the game. The first time he fought Hughes he admits he handed him the win. The second time he demolished him. The third time? That wasn't even a fight.

It seems to me like GSP head has evened out a bit, which i am very happy to see but can he run roughshod over 3 whole weight divisions?

It should be noted he is not looking to jump up and down in weightclass, but rather steadily progress, doing all he can in one, then moving up.

Opinions please?

cletus

GSP has always looked to me like a pretty solid 170lber, sizewise, so I would imagine he would not have much problem reaching the 185lb, considering he is most likely cutting to make welterweight, and I think that at 185 he would do very well, GSP vs Anderson Silva is a fight I'd love to see, but as regards 205lbs, I think he'd have too much to do to come up to that weight, considering his opponents would be cutting down to that weight, and probably coming into the octagon have gone back to 210 to 215,

so, in short I think he could be a force in 185, but might struggle in 205

jim2008

GSP was amazing in his last fight it just seemed effortless and he was fighting one off the best in the 170 division, and he is a big 170 so it would be interesting to see him in 185 dont think it would be too much for him. But hope he stays in 170 for a while longer

filament

cletus wrote: »

GSP has always looked to me like a pretty solid 170lber, sizewise, so I would imagine he would not have much problem reaching the 185lb, considering he is most likely cutting to make welterweight, and I think that at 185 he would do very well, GSP vs Anderson Silva is a fight I'd love to see, but as regards 205lbs, I think he'd have too much to do to come up to that weight, considering his opponents would be cutting down to that weight, and probably coming into the octagon have gone back to 210 to 215,

so, in short I think he could be a force in 185, but might struggle in 205

i don't think it's that implausible, especially as he says he wouldn't be jumping but rather be progressing. he's still quite young so permanent muscle gain wouldn't be too far a stretch, he'd probably come in well under 205 but i think he could do it, he has the skill set to dispatch most 205's. But yeah seeing him at 185 would be great considering he could fight: anderson, wandy, henderson, okami, franklin, etc. i think id love to see all of those and 185 is especially starved at the moment in the ufc, possibly more so than heavy weight

Dragan

The scary thing is that the main problem for GSP right now ( at least according to Chad Waterbury and Christian Thibideau who work with him regularly for strenght and condition ) is keeping GSP weight down.

I read an interview with Chad where he was saying the GSP is not even close to being a natural 170 fighter, even with weight cutting. He basically said if they could just let GSP grow he would make 185 with no problems whatsover.

Basically they'd be letting him off the chains to reach 185.....i reckon he could hit 205, but what would it cost him speed and conditioning wise?

Frank Bullitt

If anyone can do it its GSP, there is no one in that division that can even touch him and i cant see anyone doing it in the future either, i heard that he walks around at 190 and he is quite lean at that,he is a big guy so id say 185 is achievable, 205 would be a push, although he is big he isnt very tall and thats where he may encounter problems, like if he fought chuck or even forest who is 6'3 then he would be in trouble.

Would love to see him fight Hendo for the title(I think Hendo will just about beat the spider)

Nothingcompares

Let GSP defend the WW title 3 times (presuming he can win it back!) before you begin to think about the possible P4P No1 going up a division (unless nature catches up with him and he can't cut to 170 and perform any more).

dlofnep

Boxers move up in weight all the time as their ages progress and they get naturally bigger in size. I think we will start seeing this soon in MMA - right now the trend is to constantly cut weight and drop weight classes, but I think the top athletes will go up in weight.. GSP could definately move to 185 AND take the belt there. I have no doubt he would make short work of Anderson Silva. Anderson doesn't have the takedown defense to stop someone of GSP's calibre, and he would be pounded out from there. I still think he needs to wait another 2 years before moving up. I'm not sure about 205, but I think with the right diet and strength training, he would be a problem for the majority of 205rs too.

Vince135792003

I'd love to see him fight BJ again, now that BJ seems focused.

Nothingcompares

Don't forget that there is a little as 3 lbs between some pro boxing weight classes. We're talking about 15 then another 20....

Have many boxers gone from LHW to cruiser to HW?

Roper

Yeah he could pack on the muscle or he could just do a James Toney and hit Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Burger King, McDonalds etc.

He looks big in that division, I think he could step up successfully. 205 though? I dunno.

dlofnep

Nothingcompares wrote: »

Don't forget that there is a little as 3 lbs between some pro boxing weight classes. We're talking about 15 then another 20....

Have many boxers gone from LHW to cruiser to HW?

Roy Jones Jnr. went from the IBF middleweight title to eventually win the WBA heavyweight title (that's from 157 to fighting a 226 pound john ruiz). Floyd Mayweather Jnr. went from super featherweight to super welterweight taking titles along the way (a good 20lbs). Oscar De La Hoya went from Junior Lightweight to Middleweight taking titles along the way (fight as low as 128 and as high as 160 against Felix Sturm).

It's been done.

t-ha

I think he's gotten noticeably bigger since I've seen him fighting in the octogon & he's probably really struggling to make 170. He was always big for that weight but these days he's massive. I'd say he'll have to go to 185 in a year or two if he keeps going like he is.

As for 205, I think it would be a great test of skill for him - not taking away from his technical abilities, but he's benefited alot from his size and strength at 170 & it would be interesting to see him fight a few guys who are naturally bigger/stronger than him. He's 5'10" I think, where 6'1" - 6'3" is common amongst LHWs. It would be wierd to see GSP as the short dude!

Vince135792003

BJ Penn on GSP from mmayahoo today:

“Can I please — please — fight this guy (St. Pierre)?” Penn says. “You know it has to happen. Everyone does. It’s the fight everyone really wants to see. I heard Dana say something like a ‘motivated B.J. Penn is very dangerous,’ but I’d never be more motivated in my life than if I got a chance to fight this guy again.“

Nothingcompares

fair enough

filament

Vince135792003 wrote: »

BJ Penn on GSP from mmayahoo today:

let's have that then
a champion vs champion bout, non title exhibition.
then if gsp wins he can be promoted as the guy who took on all weight classess :eek:

Dragan

filament wrote: »

let's have that then
a champion vs champion bout, non title exhibition.
then if gsp wins he can be promoted as the guy who took on all weight classess :eek:

BJ ain't the champ yet.

filament

Dragan wrote: »

BJ ain't the champ yet.

and gsp won't nessessarily be when/if that fight happens
im jsut going with high probability

Vince135792003

Another fight I'd love to see is GSP versus Frank Shamrock. Now admittedly I'm a big Frank fan and am fully aware of the type of guys he's been fighting and the lack of competition he's had over the last few years.

For whatever reason, I'd still like to see the fight though.