I totally agree that there was no "fluke" to the first fight. Serra trains as a fighter and in the fight he executed what he practices in training. Plain and simple. No big deal. Yeah GSP seemed off & tentative, but he did get in there and paid for it.
That said...I'm at a loss as to how this time out GSP is/was called "Gun Shy" for employing a strategy that perfectly suits his skills, to control and beat Serra for 9:45? WTF is that supposed to mean? The dude has developed some of the most explosive takedowns and perhaps the best aggresive ground control in the UFC right now and he can't use them, because instead he's supposed to stand and bang like a retarded Pete Sell clone?
Georges didn't stall, LnP, hesitate, shy away or run at any point that I saw...he took it to Serra from the opening seconds and ground him down until he looked ready to quit. He overpowered him at every turn and pretty much overwhelmed him and ground him down until he was shot.
I'm not saying he gave up there at the end..."Serra's don't tap" remember...but down on your knees with your face in the mat and taking unanswered, undefended shots to the ribs from someone like St Pierre, is not "Intelligently Defending Yourself". Serra had claimed numerous times in the last year, that no one had ever beaten him down like he did to Georges....From the look on his face in between rounds and after the fight...I'd say that he can't legitly claim that anymore.
How can dominating and controlling a dude to that degree, with the strength of your game be called "Gun shy" or fighting scared?
What...Because he used to primarily come out as a standup fighter?
Evolving is now somehow a "weakness"?
I call total BS on that. Evolve or die is the basic mantra of MMA...how can you fault a dude for building strength in his overall gameplan and then using it to effectively dominate an opponent? Is macho "prove a point" BS somehow more important than a smart & effective gameplan.
BTW, No disrespect intended to Matt, he is one helluva tough dude...no doubt...but if you're gonna talk that sh*t, you can't hardly be upset when it comes back at ya.
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