Who won, GSP or Hendricks?

UP vote me if you scored it for St Pierre.

DOWN vote me if you scored it for Hendricks.


Let's see the tally, folks.

Honestly, in the bar, with Rogan, i really thought Hendricks won. I just watch it again on mute, and it was much closer than I thought. Hendricks landed the odd potshot that did damage, GSP seemed to land more crisp strikes. I don't know, just hard to score.

GSP's done, he didn't retire to keep his legacy intact, he retired because he doesn't want to do this anymore. What bothers me more than the decision ( I had it 48-47 Johny, close and competitive but clearly for Johny ). Again what bothers me more the the decision or blemish on Johny's record is this is a rematch he never get despite deserving it, a chance to rectify what willl almost unquestionably be the biggest feat of his athletic career. It's truly a great unjust to Johny's life and it's a miserably, almost pathetic way for GSP to retire...It's just ****** up all around, no idea what's next from here at 170lbs.

I think it's like this ... in order to win an MMA fight you need to win the fight in the judges eyes ... in order to pry a belt out of a champion's hands you need to win without any doubt in the world. You need to do that extra more, and even though I think both Gus and Hendricks beat their respective champs, they didn't do that extra to remove doubt. Neither were robberies therefore both just weren't enough to secure a belt. That's why it's the championship of the world, it ain't friggin' easy to get them.

^^^ If that were true BJ Penn wouldn't have lost to Edgar the first time and Edgar wouldn't have lost to Ben Henderson 

Seems like everyone was generous in giving GSP the first round. Kinda makes sense. Still, no way did GSP get three rounds in.

Not every controversy is a robbery.  This was controversial.  I wish that GSP gives Hendricks a rematch.  

Does he owe it to him?  Absolutely not.  He beat him once, fair & square by the rules.  NOT via bad judging.

But I think he will give him a rematch because he usually does the right thing.  He's that much a sportsman. 

* Edited at 11.17.2013, 3:34 AM ET *

Burgess: Not via bad judging?? Care to explain what GSP did to win exactly?

@Spider, I wanted to write that "not everyone is Frankie Edgar" but held back since I've done my fair share of fighter bashing today and wanted to stop ;)

1st round draw, Hendricks won rd 2 and rd 4. Should have been a draw

lol

Meh, too drunk atm to say.

But GSPs face said a lot.

If Condit destroys brown like I think he will. This is going to get real interesting. Personally think if GSP leaving that Condit vs Hendericks is either happening for the belt or for Johny first title defense. Though I be pulling for Lawler against Johny.

I thought Hendricks won the fight but it was close. I gave him 1,2,and 4. But 1 was close and I could see it either way. It was a really good fight though.

If Brown loses, I think they should do brown vs Rory. Which i honestly think Brown have a fair shot at beating Rory.

I watch the fight and hendrick, but ufc give the belt to gsp

because judge brain work never

The MMA Gods got it right. Johny Hendricks had it coming.

He stole a decision against Josh Koscheck. He arguably stole a decision against Mike Pierce. He arguably stole a decision against Carlos Condit.

Georges St-Pierre has never had to rely on the judges for a win (in the sense that all of his wins were extremely convincing and it was impossible to ever score them for the opponent).

Hendricks had to pay for it.

I agree with AnikM, Johny got gifted a few decisions and you must one day pay for such luck.

* Edited at 11.17.2013, 10:36 AM ET *

@Iron Tusk  There is an old saying in sports.  To beat a champion, and take their title, it should be clear, solid, decisive, self-evident & solid.  Not close or razor-sharp.  And if a challenger does accomplish that, it is traditional in all sports for the champion to have the courtesy of a rematch.  Been that way in boxing, chess, etc.

You ask me how GSP won.  

Round 1 - Extremely close.  Hendricks is sharp, hitting hard and GSP cannot take him down.  I was shocked but Hendricks didn't do anything shocking to win the round or decisive.  I couldn't call this round but knew GSP was in for the fight of his life and my heart was pounding.

Round 2 - GSP started to settle down, was winning the exchanges and flurries.  Hendricks was not as sharp as he was in the first round and I and my brother could see his gas tank was starting to slowly ebb out.  GSP CLEARLY won the round due to winning almost every exchange.

Round 3 - GSP definitely settle down, stabilized his flow of attack and was popping his jab in Hendricks face throughout the round.  GSP was rocked around twice in the fight but weathered the shots, found the courage to maintain his composure and fight through the hard shots.  He clearly won this round.  Hendricks is most definitely showing signs of fatigue and loss of speed, reflexes and confidence.  He stopped his smiling and smirking.  From round 3-5, Hendricks was a study in slowing down, getting tagged over and over, and losing almost every exchange they had.  

Round 4 - Hendricks took GSP down and I was shocked and demoralized that GSP could get him off him. I was screaming at the screen for GSP to not quit!  This was Hendricks best round and he clearly won it.
But Hendricks made a terrible error in judgment when he decided to let GSP back up to his feet!  If he had stayed on top, and maintained top control, he would have done much better.

Round 5 - This was GSP's best round, by far.  He took Hendricks down, but again, couldn't keep him down or control him.  But this showed GSP's heart.  He never gave up.  He fought to the last moment.

GSP won rounds 2, 3 and 5 so clearly that I'm amazed that others see it differently.  But I also know that others wanted GSP to lose for so long, that anything close was going to have this kind of controversy.

At the press conference, Hendricks asked rhetorically, "What more he could have done to win?"  

He could have knocked GSP out.  He could have finished the fight.  He could have not lost all the exchanges from the 2-5th.  He could have WON THE FIGHT!  But he didn't win the fight.  He lost it to a game, courageous and tenacious champion.  

For Hendricks to declare himself the WW Champion was despicable.  I noticed he didn't say anything of the kind to GSP's face.  After GSP arrived at the press conference, neither White nor Hendricks opened their dirty mouths.

@Bill

***, did you just say he lost all the exchanges from 2-5th round................what are you talking about? It is one thing to think GSP won, but don't down right lie to yourself. GSP did not come close to winning all the exchanges, that is just ridiculous statement by you.

* Edited at 11.17.2013, 10:55 AM ET *