St. Pierre vs. Diaz

This is the official discussion thread for St. Pierre vs. Diaz. Let's see what you've got.

RamJam420 is soon to be a consideration for the Bill Burgess' allies club.

What's that? If that's for Bill's allies... I was attempting to argue against him 

Oh I read that wrong. I thought it said "Bill and I" agree. Which is something that doesn't usually happen with most folks on this forum. haha.

@Swickotine  You know that I give you all the respect in the world, right?  And we're buds, right?  So, don't take this personally, but you did ask for it, OK?

I, not you, am the resident tapology WW expert, OK?  I, not you, am the master specialist on all things GSP, alright?  Now, to prove that I'm not just bragging or showing off my mastery of this highly-specialized material, listen very carefully to my words.  Learn you might my young apprentice.

GSP is indeed the very best, finest striker in the WW division.  You bring up when he last finished an opponent standing?  How ridiculously absurd to ask such a hopelessly shallow question.  I'm not humiliating you, my good friend and ally.  I'm schooling you in your GSP lessons, because frankly, I recognize someone who needs my help.

GSP uses his striking in the right way, to balance his overall fighting game.  He uses his striking, not to KO, but to set up other aspects of his offense, to control, to dominate, to disable the opponents' offense.

Whenever one uses their striking to set up the KO, they have already wasted their offensive potential.  GSP never falls into that trap.  He jabs, he punches, he kicks, he sets up the TD.  That is the proper use of striking.

To focus on KOs or finishing in MMA fights, is like to be too focused on orgasms in love-making, while ignoring the more-important preliminary foreplay.

It must be integrated into the greater whole.  Only a master fighter understands how striking can be used to WIN, not to KO.  The main idea is to win the fight.  The how is incidental.  

GSP will not need to KO Nick to out-strike him.  He will use it to stop Nick's moving forward, and neutralize Nick's punches, kicks, aggressive thinking, and finally use it to drive back the enemy, then take him down, and show him that he is also his master on the ground.

GSP doesn't try to prove a irrelevant point like KO power.  KO power is highly over-rated.  Nick's chances of actually KOing GSP are so minimal as to be unimportant.  

GSP's striking is all-inclusive.  He neglects so little.  He does all the things that others do.  He uses flying knees, high kicks, superman punches, spinning back fists, almost everything.  The only things I don't remember him trying are spinning back elbows like Jon Jones, or running up the fence and kicking like Anthony Pettis.  But he does most everything else.

I hope you don't take offense at my tone, Swick.  I deliberately used the old, fanciful, satirical style, to get your attention!  Hope you got that, my old friend.  More fun that way.  I enjoy stirring the pot!

Diaz will do marginally better than Jon Fitch did when he fought GSP.

GSP by unanimous decision, winning at least one round 10-8.

@Bill No, I would never take it personally and I fully understand your side of the argument...I just have a different opinion. (which makes sense since you're a GSP fan and I'm a Diaz fan haha)


And I understand the logic behind his great striking sets him up for his other specialties...but it's like saying a guy that's a great 3-point shooter doesn't make alot of 3's because his shooting ability sets up mid-range jumpshots and lay-ups...yeah it's a great all-around skill, but that guy isn't the best 3-point shooter in the league because he's only made a few actual 3-point shots.

* Edited at 03.06.2013, 2:31 AM ET *

I changed my fight prediction from GSP by first round KO to decision.  I was just hoping.  I was guilty of what Nick's supporters are still guilty of.

Someone said if GSP and Nick were to have a boxing match, that Nick would win.  I don't think so.  GSP would train differently, and he's stronger and smarter.  He would train to out-box Nick and he would beat him.

He doesn't train to box exclusively.  If Nick were to try to box professionally, he'd have to change his boxing style or he'd lose all his fights.  He throws too slowly and not hard enough.  Pros would eat him for breakfast.

This will be the same as every GSP fight.

@Swick Thanks for taking my post in the right light.  We're from different sides of the argument, and did you know that Nick is my third favorite fighter in MMA today?  I've loved the Nickman and defended all his quirks for all these many years.  I celebrated when he came back to the UFC.

I love Nate, too, but I bear more bro love for Nickman.  All his bad boy shennanigans don't faze me.  Anyone that dedicates themselves to MMA as he has has all my respect.

But GSP uses his striking to make his over-all game the most effective in WW.  He integrates it and doesn't isolate it to showcase a singular tool.  He understands so much deeper than others how to approach and win a fight.  He has the most balanced attack on record.  

Do I think GSP would have beaten Paul Daley?  I DO INDEED!  And much more decisively than Nick.  He wouldn't have even thought about knocking him out.  He would have fought him the right way and dominated him and made him look like an amateur.  Nick is tough and I look forward to this fight above all others.

I am the brokest of the broke and yet I will find the money to order that PPV!  I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Great sparring old friend.  I love it when people step up and fight hard!  My compliments!

* Edited at 03.06.2013, 2:40 AM ET *

The thing that also separates them is risk...it doesn't matter how great GSP's striking is...all he throws is jabs, he won't put himself in danger enough to swarm on a guy and put them away. Nick is the exact opposite, he will chase you and take shots to the chin unfazed just to smack you...

My logical answer and most-likely scenario is GSP wins a boring decision per usual and takes no risks standing with Nick...but that proves nothing. 

Nick had his greatest quote yet in the countdown show...

"The only way to stop me...is you run away or hold on for life"

...it honestly is the only option.

Bill - 'Do I think GSP would have beaten Paul Daley?  I DO INDEED!  And much more decisively than Nick.  He wouldn't have even thought about knocking him out.  He would have fought him the right way and dominated him and made him look like an amateur.  Nick is tough and I look forward to this fight above all others.'




Well that explains our difference of opinion...you wanna see a guy get held down for 25 minutes and dominated, that's fine. I'd rather see one of the greatest rounds of all-time and two guys step into the fire, guns blazing and leave the crowd in a frenzy.


...but hey, that's just me.

Swick.  Jabs is not the only thing GSP throws.  He throws one of the hardest, meanest high kicks I've ever seen.  He punches hard enough.  

And how do you know GSP won't go the extra mile this time out and try to lay a major league ass-whooping on Nick's ass.  He sounds as if he might abandon his risk-aversion strategy and who knows.

He just might shock you.  If he did and knocked the hell out of Nick, would you be happy?  I somehow doubt it.

Swick.  Question.  Would you rather great while losing, or look bad while winning?

This is way off topic, but I'm curious: How did you create that avatar, Swickotine?

@Bill I 100% would rather have GSP KO Nick...than do what I know he will, another safe/boring decision.

If you really think that the most likely outcome is GSP wins a boring decision, why are you predicting the less likely outcome?

It make you appear less fight-savvy and deep as you actually are.  But I do understand wishful thinking.  That is why I had to change my prediction to a first round KO for GSP to a decision.

I think too many people predict what they want, not what they believe is most likely.

Bill - Would you rather great while losing, or look bad while winning?




You can do better than that cliche man...it's not that simple and they're not mutually exclusive.

Let's all pray that GSP comes to fight and not to wrestle.  Let's hope he throws caution to the wind, fights like his old aggressive self, and Nick also fights up to his potential.  

All we all want is a fantastic, entertaining, 5 rounds of attack and parry, thrust and counter-thrust.  

I want spitting, cussing, *****-slapping, strangling, school-yard head locks, scratching, crying, and all kinds of Bruce Lee type craziness.

Sometimes you gotta go with your heart and not your brains Bill. I couldn't live with myself if my favorite fighter won bu upset of the year and I didn't pick him

WHERE YOU AT REPLY WHERE YOU AT ************