FanPost

GSP and Intelligence

Georges St. Pierre is often criticized for the way that he fights. Adjectives such as "boring" and "conservative" are words that are often used to describe how his fighting style has evolved. It’s a critique that is often thrown his way by MMA fans and fellow fighters (i.e. Nick Diaz). With that being said GSP wins, typically takes minimal damage (well aside from that Conidt fight) and makes an insane amount of cash. At the end of the day isn’t that what matters? So instead of words such as boring and conservative to describe GSP, intelligent what characterizes him the best. His smart approach to a brutal sport is the driving force for his successful career. Georges St. Pierre has been wildly successful in violent career path he has chosen. He has attained and sustained his success due to being smart. Let’s take for example his awareness that wrestling is a vital part of succeeding in MMA. Joe Rogan often states that wrestling is the best base you can have for an MMA fighter. GSP does not have an NCAA wrestling background but took it upon himself to train with the Canadian Olympic team. His use of wrestling allowed him to continually take down strikers who are arguably better than him like Thiago Alves and Dan Hardy. He neutralized their biggest strength and brought the fight to an area that he had the biggest advantage in. Sure, it was not a "brawl" and it wasn’t stand up war like any Leonard Garcia fight but can you blame him for utilizing that strategy? The type of approach of exploiting his opponents weaknesses and avoiding their strengths is obvious in his other fights. For example his fight Jake Shields he kept the fight standing instead of grappling which we all know Jake Shields is a wizard at. That is not to say the criticism of Georges St. Pierre is not understandable. Stand up wars such as Shogun vs. Henderson and Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Pham are exciting to watch. It’s just how can you blame someone for approaching their career in such a way? How can you blame someone who chooses to take the route of minimal damage to his body? GSP is quoted in saying, "I use my body, the tools that I have, the best I can and its why I win fights". Being the most exciting fighter can get you cut from the UFC but being an intelligent one can give you a longer career in the premier MMA organization. This is not the vale tudo days, MMA is a sport more so than a fight and GSP understands this. Warranted or not we as an MMA community can criticize the way he fights all we want. The fact is GSP fighting in an intelligent matter is the best for his career, his wallet and his long term health. For that I can’t blame him one bit.

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