GSP vs. Condit fight from UFC 154, AMAZING

I didn't get to watch the fight live but did watch it this morning and I have to say, that was an amazing fight from all sides. GSP certainly won the fight but he didn't break Condit like he does most opponents. Both fighters were fighting to win all the way to the last bell, Condit never conceded a position and it appeared to me that he really made GSP work hard. I'm happy to see GSP come back from a tough injury and I've got nothing but respect for Condit, the kid is a true warrior. Definitely an inspiring fight :)

GSP by decsion, no one knew that would happen

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeremy Gates

GSP by decsion, no one knew that would happen

---

This. Sure it was a good technical fight from both sides, and I appreciate that, but as far as entertainment I've seen crackheads in Chicago's alleys put on a more entertaining fight over a cheeseburger than that.

See i see people keep saying oh what a surprise it went to decision. Who cares It was a beast fight GSP fought very aggressively and ate some hardcore damage and came back for a win. Condit in my opinion will be the next long Reigning champ just not right now that kid is so damn tough cant wait to see what happens next.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DavidHamp

See i see people keep saying oh what a surprise it went to decision. Who cares It was a beast fight GSP fought very aggressively and ate some hardcore damage and came back for a win. Condit in my opinion will be the next long Reigning champ just not right now that kid is so damn tough cant wait to see what happens next.

---

the last few gsp fights have been super boring ( sheilds and koscheck). i have had no interest to watch gsp fight because he doesnt finish. i was curious to see this fight because of the lay off and wanted to see what gsp was going to do. he brought it and didnt play it safe but couldnt finish. i dont blame him for not finishing this fight, he was off 18 months and came back to fight a beast condit

I'm sure GSP is just as upset with his performance as we are. He wanted to come back strong, and finish...Instead he came back the same ol' GSP...

Condit's kick in the 3rd was crazy, didn't expect that at all. For a sec it seemed like Condit is going to get the upset.

I'm not saying in upset with gsp with his performance. He was aggressive and faught hard. I'm just saying he's not a finisher.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeremy Gates

I'm not saying in upset with gsp with his performance. He was aggressive and faught hard. I'm just saying he's not a finisher.

---

^^GSP I'm not impressed with your performance!! lol ^^

GSP isn't a finisher but he is dominator!!! Because GSP is such a dominator it would be a intriguing fight with Anderson. In that 25 minute fight it would be on the ground for 24 minutes & 23 seconds give or take a couple of seconds. GSP is a smart enough person to NOT keep that fight standing and GSP is a much better wrestler than Chael.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jack LaBarge

GSP I'm not impressed with your performance!! lol

---

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...51772632_n.jpg

I just watched the fight on a quick study break and thought it was awesome! The fact that it went to a decision will lead people to say that its 'same old GSP', but I really think that he was pushing the pace a lot more than past fights, trying to be calculated, but not toooo calculated as he has been in past fights. He was aggressive, he was attacking, and he was constantly trying to pass the guard and be agressive on top, but I think the decision is more a testament of how tough Condit was. He was never looking for an easy way out and was constantly pushing the pace and going for submissions, retaining his guard, and trying to be aggressive and offensive. I was really impressed and would love to see Condit get his rematch with Kampmann now that he has finally been slowed down by someone on that impressive run he put together.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Max P.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.n...51772632_n.jpg

---

This over and over again.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Josh Bodmon

I just watched the fight on a quick study break and thought it was awesome! The fact that it went to a decision will lead people to say that its 'same old GSP', but I really think that he was pushing the pace a lot more than past fights, trying to be calculated, but not toooo calculated as he has been in past fights. He was aggressive, he was attacking, and he was constantly trying to pass the guard and be agressive on top, but I think the decision is more a testament of how tough Condit was. He was never looking for an easy way out and was constantly pushing the pace and going for submissions, retaining his guard, and trying to be aggressive and offensive. I was really impressed and would love to see Condit get his rematch with Kampmann now that he has finally been slowed down by someone on that impressive run he put together.

---

+1

I enjoyed the fight. I wouldn't say it's the same ol GSP. He was a lot more aggressive. He passed guard often. Condit just recovered guard often. He dropped plenty of punches both standing and on the ground. Plenty of elbows. Thing is, he's a smart fighter. He'd win the stand up game until Condit found his rhythm. Then, when he felt the momentum switching in the stand up, he'd get the take down. It was a genius strategy. I think GSP wanted to finish. But Condit's only been finished 3 times. Only by submission. And he's grown a lot in 6 years. So you can't blame GSP on this one.

I think it was a great fight and guys are giving GSP a hard time for no reason. The ONLY thing I didn't like was the anticlimactic feel when GSP got his last take down. You knew nothing was gonna happen and it was officially going to decision. Other than that it was a great fight and great performance by both guys.

GSP did seem upset with himself at the end of the fight thats all I'm saying. I liked that near the end of the fight you can see him really doing his best to finish it, but Carlos just wasn't going to let that happen. In my opinion the fight was fuckin' awesome!! Lots of action on both sides, my heart nearly dropped when GSP took that shin to the head! Much respect for the heart of those two insane athletes. :)

Ok so the question I am wondering is Silva v. GSP or Hendricks v. GSP? Which comes next?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bo Hutch

Ok so the question I am wondering is Silva v. GSP or Hendricks v. GSP? Which comes next?

---

I'd like to see the Hendricks fight personally, I think the GSP/Silva fight is a bad matchup for GSP.

Quote:

---

GSP is a smart enough person to NOT keep that fight standing and GSP is a much better wrestler than Chael.

---

PErsonally I think it's even, Chael's power double and suplex slams are nasty (what he did to Okami and Nate) I will say it sucked he couldn't get the takedown on Silva Round II of the second fight (which led to the ill decided spinning backfist) but between the two of them it's close (St Pierre even said at the post conferance he didn't think his wrestling was like Chaels).


That being said, amazing fight, Condit put up a much greater battle on the ground than HArdy did, and that kick had me worried (I took the 3-to-1 odds bet on Condit for kicks no pun intended so that either way I'd feel happy, but I'm glad St Pierre pulled it out).

GSP's use of effective grappling to dominate a fight is the closest thing in modern MMA to Royce Gracie in the early days. I was really impressed w/his ability to control from top position as always, but actually more impressed w/how he managed to defend himself from his back & regain his senses after getting cracked in the 3rd. Always read about how he's a sponge when it comes to picking up techniques, but never saw him have to scramble from his back before. A lot of guys w/awesome top games are worthless on their backs (hi Brock Lesnar & Dan Henderson).

His MMA grappling is by far the most complete in the game. Smoothest transitions from striking to take-down in the sport. I remember Chael Sonnen having trouble getting Bisping down in parts of their fight b/c Bisping decided to offensively grapple w/him on the feet. That never happens to GSP b/c his strikes are so technically sharp (though lack some in power department) no one ever feels comfortable enough to clinch w/him. Once he has his guy down, the round is pretty much over. Plus he never gasses. Not always what fans of slobber knocking are into, but it's a beautiful thing if you know what to look for.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by David Rosado

I enjoyed the fight. I wouldn't say it's the same ol GSP. He was a lot more aggressive. He passed guard often. Condit just recovered guard often. He dropped plenty of punches both standing and on the ground. Plenty of elbows. Thing is, he's a smart fighter. He'd win the stand up game until Condit found his rhythm. Then, when he felt the momentum switching in the stand up, he'd get the take down. It was a genius strategy. I think GSP wanted to finish. But Condit's only been finished 3 times. Only by submission. And he's grown a lot in 6 years. So you can't blame GSP on this one.

I think it was a great fight and guys are giving GSP a hard time for no reason. The ONLY thing I didn't like was the anticlimactic feel when GSP got his last take down. You knew nothing was gonna happen and it was officially going to decision. Other than that it was a great fight and great performance by both guys.

---

Agree 100% :-)

I've said this before, The "greatest" somehow find a way to win the "close ones" time and time again, when it really is all on the line. Yes, GSP doesn't "finish" with grand splendor, but he brings it every time and no matter who you put him against he will figure out a way to get the "W". I always say with NFL QB's, there are good QB's and there are Great ones. The only difference is the great ones somehow find a way to will the big close games. Wayne Gretsky was the same, I couldn't stand watching him play, thought he was lame and boring, but I will say that he was great, because no matter what that guy would figure out a way to put the puck in the net, no matter what the other team threw at him.

Notice how this is potential for fight of the year when Greg Jackson wasn't cornering either of them? Just saying... :)

I saw it live, and in 3rd round i felt GSP will not recover quickly from the kick, but he did and won. And as always his wrestling was top notch.

I agree that gsp is an awesome strategist and an extremely well rounded fighter who exemplifies high levels of technique in all aspects of the game. To me, just as we love the submission only dynamic of grappling, mma could consider getting rid of the judges and losing the decsions all together. I think the progression of mma has been tremendous but i'd like to see the original intent of combat sports reestablished as opposed to guys strategically playing with rounds, and timing takedowns, or just doing enough to score points. I think the evolution of the sport has seen growth in technique and how dynamic fighters have become, but it's discouraging watching guys who play the cards and wanna win by points. To me, this is not martial arts, and does not satisfy the question of who ultimately won the fight. I believe the real and pure intention of all combat athletes should be to finish, rather than play it safe. It's definitely part of the game now, but if we could just go round and round until there's a victor it would be a little more honest in approach.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by La'akea Sanborn

I agree that gsp is an awesome strategist and an extremely well rounded fighter who exemplifies high levels of technique in all aspects of the game. To me, just as we love the submission only dynamic of grappling, mma could consider getting rid of the judges and losing the decsions all together. I think the progression of mma has been tremendous but i'd like to see the original intent of combat sports reestablished as opposed to guys strategically playing with rounds, and timing takedowns, or just doing enough to score points. I think the evolution of the sport has seen growth in technique and how dynamic fighters have become, but it's discouraging watching guys who play the cards and wanna win by points. To me, this is not martial arts, and does not satisfy the question of who ultimately won the fight. I believe the real and pure intention of all combat athletes should be to finish, rather than play it safe. It's definitely part of the game now, but if we could just go round and round until there's a victor it would be a little more honest in approach.

---

I agree but that isn't a viable option for MMA. When the pre zuffa UFC tried it they had PPV's cut off before the main event because the fights went on to long.

I think an alternative is fights being scored as a whole instead of on rounds. There have been many instances where soneone had won the MMA match, but the other clearly won the fight... Leaving a lot of the fans divided and confused.
For instance:
-Rampage vs Machida - Rampage won the MMA match by squeaking out rounds 1 and 2 with little to no damage but a little more aggressive but Machida won the fight - Dominating Rampage in the 3rd with big shots and dropping him.
-Edgar vs Maynard II - Edgar won based on the round system (I thought) but Maynard dropped him 4 times and had bigger moments, I thought he won the actual fight.
-Diaz vs Condit - (I'm not one of those "Diaz 1 2 5" fanboys but after rewatching it Diaz clearly got rounds 1 2 and 5, but I still think Condit won the actually fight doing more overall damage and opening up, imposing his will more overall.

This is what has a lot of fans arguing and confused... If there's 3 rounds and one guy BARELY wins 2 of them and the other guy absolutely smashes him in 1 of them the best it can be is a 10-8 round and a draw... Otherwise the guy that barely won the 2 (Maybe just on octagon control in those 2 rounds) will win the MMA match.

Scoring a fight on a whole is how it should be done and it will encourage people to really go for it at the end of the fight instead of coasting when you know you're up. You want the judges to see you dominating near the end to show you won that fight.

MMA doesn't need to follow boxings structure... The 10 or less is a broken structure... Especially for 3 and 5 round fights, and will continue to confuse and cause debates amongst fans forever.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by La'akea Sanborn

mma could consider getting rid of the judges and losing the decsions all together.

---

MMA has gotten to it's highest popularity using this fan friendly format. Judges and scoring are familiar ideas. There's a bigger audience for that format than there is for "pure" no time limit/judges type of events. Do you recall the old UFC's? The ones where two exhausted guys would lay on eachother. Not very fan friendly. I think that if someone wanted to do it, there would be an audience willing to give it a shot. But it wouldn't be big. And it wouldn't be big enough to attract elite athletes. And so the competition would not be the highest level. So the entertainment wouldn't be at its highest level.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wade Hamilton

I think an alternative is fights being scored as a whole instead of on rounds..

---

I agree wholeheartedly. In MMA there are way more variables than just punching. Plus, there are way fewer rounds. Boxing accounts for basically one variable. Punches landed. Going round by round makes sense. In MMA you have take downs, kicks, submission attempts, guard control, guard passing. Not just that, but with only 3 rounds, there's little room for error. And if a guy rallies in the 3rd round nearly finishing his opponent after a close fight, he won that fight IMO. That's why I liked Pride judging. They judged the fight as a whole, not just by rounds. I think that for this style of combat, it makes more sense to do it this way.