GSP should be handed a blackbelt he was the better grappler but it was nice to see the lockdown used in an MMA fight.
anyone have the GIF
As great a jiu jitsu guy as Matt is, do you all think his guard isn't that effective in MMA because of his short legs?
One of the best trainers I've ever had was short and bulky and he couldn't triangle me to save his life (and that's pretty rare since I'm very triangle-ish).
Fabes - As great a jiu jitsu guy as Matt is, do you all think his guard isn't that effective in MMA because of his short legs?
One of the best trainers I've ever had was short and bulky and he couldn't triangle me to save his life (and that's pretty rare since I'm very triangle-ish).
i think his guard wasnt that effective because GSP is just very comfortable in peoples guards. i think matt serra plays a more defensive guard game for MMA. he really didnt take much punishment from the guard until he gassed. he likes to be on top thats for sure.
Worked great foe Serra.Gueuss he wann't locked down enough to stop GSP from beating him but good.
Not a BJJ guy, so I'm curious. what is a lockdown?
Fabes - (and that's pretty rare since I'm very triangle-ish).
"triangle-able" IMO... Yes, size matters. I didn't come away with the view that GSP was necessarily "better"... he was able to dominate position because he had a huge reach/height advantage... I would like to to Serra at a lower weight class
LOL @ correcting triangle-ish.
How dare you!
And I agree, I'd much rather see Serra at 155. I'd love to see Matt vs. Stevenson.
Serra's game looked good, it's just that GSP is an animal. Serra was using lockdown and was trying for underhooks looking for sweeps but GSP was having none of it. He was counter pummling and throwing shots and keeping Serra busy. GSP is about as long and strong as you can get at 170, and then you add his great technique, relentless style, and endless gas-tank, he's just a fucking nightmare.
Serra tried to set him up for other sweeps and submissions but GSP was well aware of them and countered all of them really early in the attempts. Amazing fight by both fighters, really.
"Amazing fight by both fighters, really."
What did Serra do that was amazing?
GSP's ground game is phenomenal. Peaking at the right time.
Manhandling the best ground artist at 170. Recently, Matt Hughes, Matt Serra and Kos.
lockdown is a half guard position, really effective for both mma and grappling because you can really stop a guy from being able to move around (at least i think it is, may be different with others). traditional half guard is you inside leg crosses out and the outside leg crosses over your foot to the outside. Lockdown you bring your outside leg over his cross your feet and trap his ankle.
if someone can describe it better please do
"What did Serra do that was amazing?"
He put up a better fight than anyone else has off their back against GSP (I don't count the BJ/GSP fight because they spent so little time there). Serra recovered from very bad positions with very tight bjj (especially if you consider the size difference). It's just that GSP's counters to Serra's work was equally amazing. They were both great.
Whatever.
I guess whenever a fight isn't a draw, one fighter's skill automatically sucked then.
"This was not a grappling match"
I was specific in saying his jiujitsu looked great off his back considering who he was fighting.
Thanks Shark, i pretty much get what you are describing.
I can't triangle shit. I'm 5'4"
Well, unless it's some skinny fucker who has never been fed. Even if I shift my hips all the way across, I still have trouble finishing it on anyone with broad shoulders.
Moke - Whatever.
I guess whenever a fight isn't a draw, one fighter's skill automatically sucked then.
I was specific in saying his jiujitsu looked great off his back considering who he was fighting.
Good points Moke. Understand that you're probably seeing more than the vast majority of the people when you see GSP shutting down sweeps before they start. You're also battling against expectations here in that the Serra nuthuggers had us believe that once the fight hit the ground, Serra was going to play with Serra like a cat plays with a ball of yarn.
LOL, I caught the lockdown too.
He locked down, AND he pushed out to the side of the lockdown to work... Eddie would be proud.
Altofsky - He locked down, AND he pushed out to the side of the lockdown to work... Eddie would be proud.
Judging from GSP's performance, it makes me think that people have actually started to develop techniques and strategies specifically to counter Bravo's game. That's high praise