The hype for UFC 100 hit ESPN Monday morning, but it was a fighter who's not on the card -- Randy Couture -- who appeared on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning to promote Saturday night's fights. Couture had some interesting comments about the welterweight title fight between Georges St Pierre and Thiago Alves."Georges is probably one of the most dynamic fighters that we have in the sport today," Couture said. "He's got a very interesting background from karate, and he's added a whole bunch of other skills to go with that background."
Interesting that Couture mentions the karate background: We always hear about Lyoto Machida's karate style, but hardly anyone ever mentions that karate was GSP's first martial art, too -- and GSP still says getting his karate black belt was one of the high points of his life as a martial artist.
"Thiago Alves has earned his shot at the title," Couture said. "With tremendous muay Thai skills, he's a great stand-up fighter, he's very explosive and strong. At 170 pounds, he doesn't look like a 170-pounder walking into the ring."
Couture said he considers Anderson Silva the best pound-for-pound fighter in MMA, but that St. Pierre is close behind, and he said St. Pierre is going to win again on Saturday to run his MMA record to 19-2.
"It's a very interesting fight," Couture said. "But I think Georges is going to be too much for Thiago."
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I think GSP will have a perfect gameplan has always. He will go after Alves weakneses
Negative
It will definitely come down to how well Thiago Alves will stop St. Pierre's takedown (if he could). The standup battle will be very interesting.
If anyone can beat St. Pierre it is Alves. I'm not saying that he will, but he has more of a chance than most out there. Alves has explosive, one-strike power that rocks fighters and he has shown a pit-bull like tenacity in going for the finish when he senses weakness. GSP is cetainly more polished, but one knee or solid right could make for a tremendous upset. If it goes into the later rounds the advantage will be GSPs, but in one and two it could get real exciting!
As with any fight there is always a chance that the underdog will land that big shot that will change the course of the fight. However, I totally agree with Couture, GSP is going to be too much for Alves and I'll be shocked if Alves makes it out of the second round.
GSP is a monster in his weight class, I bet he's stronger than Alves and will take Alves to the ground when he decides to do so. Standing is Alves only chance and GSP has the tools to stand as well.
Serra showed that anyone can rock anyone, but I think GSP is too good to make the same mistake twice.
I know it's hard to judge fighters based on performances against a common opponent, but John Fitch was absolutely manhandled by GSP, while Fitch dominated Alves in their match. That's not the fairest comparison as Fitch fought Alves several years ago when Alves wasn't as polished, but by the same token GSP destroyed Fitch when he was at his peak.
Just some food for thought.
i think gsp is at another level from the rest of this weight class. like Fredrick, Nev and Chris - a lucky shot may prove me wrong but i see gsp running away with this. i see a fight similar to gsp/hughes.