Bisping has done pretty decent against larger and solid grapplers (although the Leites fight has me a bit concerned) and has great cardio, good technical boxing and underrated scrambling. GSP is a complete question-mark but the layoff, age and injuries are not exactly pros in his column. If GSP was a brawler or an explosive striker i would be way more apprehensive but i just dont see him being able to get Mike in any real trouble -- the rinse and repeat jab wont work(i hope).
Those are definitely the *kinds* of strikers who would be more trouble for Bisping (you can take him out of his game by not giving him space and his defense is poor), but note that Bisping has an extremely strong preference for having his front foot on the outside before engaging, and GSP at his best would be able to prevent that. It doesn't seem to me that Bisping gets there because he's super fast or efficient with his footwork. Plus GSP's jab could be a real factor there. If Bisping were to beat a good version of GSP, it might be just by outhustling him, like throwing a lot more strikes and landing a similar amount, and convincing the judges that he won three rounds. But of course, GSP might have slowed down a lot, or he might get KO'd. If he can't at least establish the TD threat, he could be in trouble.
Bottom line, I think that if GSP were at his best, Bisping would still be a bad style matchup, but the difference in levels would be too much, and he'd win. But since we don't know what to expect from him, he can definitely lose.
Side Question: Is anyone else way more excited for the CG v TJD fight??? Its going to look like two Jack Russel Terriers on meth going after each other.
Oh yeah. I'm excited to see GSP back in the octagon in a title fight at 185, but it's kind of a freak show thing. CG vs. TJD is a legitimately great fight. Like a Pride (or NJPW) show in that there's kind of a different main event for hardcore fans and for more casual ones.
He left the sport after a weak title defense that many people thought he lost. Hardly a way for a champion to go out.
Most champions go out with a clear loss, way earlier in their reigns than he did. And he fought like a damned warrior in that, even if he arguably didn't deserve the decision (I had it for Hendricks, but it could have gone either way).
He is a puss. But still tough. He doesnt have a killing spirit. He was afraid to break Dan Hardy's arm. He is not the kind of person to do that. He doesnt have it in him. Frank Mir does. Jones does. These guys are like seriously dangerous when they get mad.
I'd call him a "puss" (not really, but I'd entertain the idea) if he were afraid to have his own arm broken. Not wanting to break someone else's arm isn't something to criticize him for (not necessarily accurate anyway--he wanted the finish). Mir was really dangerous when he had the edge, but tended to fold when he was in trouble. That's more puss-like, IMO.
Matt Hughes is similar to GSP. Afraid to break Royce's arm. Mir would have snapped that fucker. So would ronda. can you see how these guys go all out? gsp doesnt. Like GSP said he goes to dark places. No, Mir does. lol. He gets sociopathic over some losses. WAnting to maim Lesnar.
I like how you make being a sore loser sound like something to admire.
