Do all roads lead to a super fight for GSP?
George St Pierre completed his long awaited return to the Octagon with a unanimous point’s victory over the dangerous Carlos Condit. After being out since last December due to an ACL injury, all things considered it was one of his most satisfying victories of his career.
During the build-up, because it has been 18 months since his last fight, most of the talk was if St Pierre will be the same dominant self as before? How will ring rust affect him? Will the injury affect his mobility and performance?
I think to a certain extent St Pierre answering all those questions, excluding one very scary moment in the third when Condit rocked him with a kick to the head. But like a champion GSP got through that and his superior take-down and grappling abilities won him the fight.
Let’s not take anything for granted; Condit was/is a very credible and dangerous opponent as the third round proved. He is a former WEC welterweight champions (3 defences) and was 5-1 in the UFC beating the likes of Jake Ellenberger, Rory Macdonald, Dan Hardy, Kim Dong-Hyun and Nick Diaz. No less.
But St Pierre defended his title though he seemed a bit battered and bruised I believe this was a satisfying outcome for St Pierre considering his last fight was in April 2011. He knows he was in a real fight against a top fighter and all the questions before hand was answered in those five rounds.
So what is next for GSP? It seems all roads lead to a super fight with Anderson Silva. Even though this would be huge for the UFC and the fans, I am not sure this will be the right move just yet.
Though he has been dominant in the welterweight division I still feel he needs another fight just to clear those last bits of cobwebs away before he steps to the pound for pound king.
Even though the UFC fans desperately want and will probably demand a super fight. I believe there are still a few fights that could make more sense, if not necessarily more money for GSP and the UFC.
He came off a thrilling knockout victory over knockout artist Martin Kampmann on the same night. If you add Jon Finch and Josh Koscheck as his last three victories, they’re as impressive as most fighters last three wins in the UFC. He is also 29 and would think there is no better time for a first title shot.
2. Benson Henderson (Providing he beats Nate Diaz on Dec 8th)
Ben Henderson is 5-0 in the UFC and his skill-set and composure has seen him make a quick but solid rise into the pound for pound rankings. Along with GSP he is known for his superior cardio so it would be an interesting fight of nutrition. Fighting at lightweight a catch weight bout would not be that hard to make.
3. Rory McDonald (Providing he beats BJ Penn on Dec 8th)
MacDonald is another that has made a steady rise, not into the pound for pound rankings yet but he is not that far off. Though his record doesn’t quite have the same names as Henderson or Hendricks his ability and skills suggest he can be a problem. His only defeat was to Carlos Condit which was voted fight of the night.
Many may turn their noses up to these suggestions, especially as Henderson is a lightweight and MacDonald has not really been in with any real top fighters. Like all UFC fans, I would love to see a super fight between GSP and Silva but I would also want to see GSP at his best tackling Silva.
Although the five tough rounds against Condit would have given GSP the test he needed after injury, I still don’t think it is enough after being out for 19 months. One more tough fight against a top level opponent such as Condit should do it. Then we can all be satisfied Anderson Silva will be fighting the best GSP, in what will no doubt be the biggest fight in UFC history.
