In Defense of Georges St. Pierre: A Choice of Opponent
By Ben Bieker
In a recent review I proposed that Diego Sanchez would be a good opponent for the UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre. That choice was met with some very harsh backlash. Sherdog poster Yung Dilla reposted part of my article on the Sherdog forums. He, agreed with me, but some of the other posters took point with my piece.
Some of called for a lack of Diego to be able to do anything to the champion, and that I, as the writer, am stupid for suggesting that Diego should even be considered for a shot at the belt or the champ.
I, not once, stated that Diego would have a chance at beating GSP, but only recommended him because he would force the champion to fight. Some people felt that as a slap against GSP, but it is.
Look at GSP’s past fights he may have not finished all of his fights, but he looked impressive even in decision. His fights against Jason Miller, Matt Hughes, B.J. Penn, Frank Trigg, and Sean Sherk were all wars. All those fighters were or are top fighters at the perspective time of the match.
That killer instinct has been lost in his most recent wins, and people have been to stay content is saying it is because GSP is facing the top competition in the world.
I just don’t buy that because is it not that the other champions in the UFC are not fighting top competition? Is Anderson Silva fighting Yushin okami or Chael Sonnen not challenged? Is Jon Jones, Shogun Rua, Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida and Rampage Jackson not top competition in the 205 division? No, they are top fighters, and not all of those fights have ended in a decision.
The fact is that five out of GSP’s last six fights have ended in decision. This is more detrimental to his appeal and his ability to produce PPV buys. People watch fighters to fight, is that not why interest has been lost in boxing. It got boring.
There is on perspective name for an opponent that people want to see fight GSP, and that man is Nick Diaz. People point to him as such a challenge to the belt but why? I have no clue this man has not fought a good ground fighter since he left the UFC with an 11-6 record. He has fought all strikers who he has been able to expose on the ground, or who he has been able to out strike standing up.
Obviously, his stand up game has improved in the last few years, and he has always held a great ground game but is it enough? He has not once been challenged on the ground since a three fight losing streak in the UFC to the likes of Joe Riggs, Sean Sherk, and Diego Sanchez.
I do agree that Nick would be able to give GSP a fight, but I also contend he would be more outclassed than Diego on the ground with GSP. He does have a BJJ black belt, but he also fails to use it often in his fights.
Diego Sanchez has been hot and cold since his fight with Nick Diaz going 11-4 in the UFC. His four losses were to Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, B.J. Penn, and John Hathaway. If you tell me that Nick Diaz could beat Fitch, Penn, and Koscheck without breaking a sweat you are crazy.
Out of the three I think eh only as a legitimate chance of beating Kos. Two of those four losses are also hard to hold against Diego since in the Kos fight he had Hep C, but still put on a spirited performance. The loss to Jon was his return to Welterweight before he could put on the weight needed to fight at 170. That fight may go differently if they fought now.
If Diego beats his next opponent he will have beat Paulo Thiago, Martin Kampmann, and Matt Hughes.
Compare that to Paul Daley, Cyborg Santo, and K.J. Noons and there is a very big difference in competition. K.J. is essentially a 155’er and Cyborg would get beat all the top welterweights in the UFC.
If Diego gets past Matt Hughes, he will be held in the same breath as GSP, B.J. Penn, and Thiago Silva and that is something most fighters cannot say. So, before you start professing someone as ignorant or making a bad choice about the sport you love, ask some questions.
I never said Diego would beat GSP and would rather have Nick face him, but that does not stop the fact that Diego may deserve a shot. A fresh face with the spirit of a fighter, who is not someone already bested by the champion.