By: Brian Churchin
They say history repeats itself.
They say you have to learn from the past.
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different outcome.
There are three obvious reasons that GSP will absolutely destroy Jake Shields in a few days in Toronto at UFC 129, they all lie in lessons that we all have learned in the past...and here they are. Since this is such a blatant advantage for St. Pierre, I won't waste many keystrokes explaining.
Reason #1
GSP will tear apart Shields on the feet.
If you are not sure whether or not GSP has the ability to stop opponents on the feet, look at recent fights against Josh Koscheck, BJ Penn, and John Fitch. Kos, BJ and Fitch all have amazing pedigrees and skills on the mat. Serra and BJ are amazing Jiu Jitsu practitioners with well above average skill that stopped many an opponent via tapout. Koscheck has a history of violence and also a history of dominating wrestling. Think back to those fights...we all watched them.
Visions of busted lips, swollen eyes and salivating cutmen jump in your head, don't they? Jake Shields doesn't exactly have KO power in those hands, so don't even think about bringing up Matt Serra.
Reason #2
GSP is a significantly better wrestler.
When you think about the takedowns in the majority of GSP's fights, think about when they happened and who was administering them. For the most part, mid - late round double leg take downs that were followed by an enveloping and suffocating ground game. Kos didn't have many, if any take downs. Fitch? Not that I can remember. Matt Hughes got submitted in their most recent fight. GSP is training for the Canadian Olympic wrestling team. Jake Shields won't be able to get close.
Reason #3
GSP doesn't leave any openings.
He doesn't make mistakes, he doesn't leave openings and he makes you pay for every mistake. Every time an opponent drops a knee an inch too low, a guard gets passed. Every time a hand drops and isn't protecting, a punch gets eaten. And every thought that takes too long to process is met with a move before it can be understood. Yes Shields has excellent BJJ, but you have to take someone down first (just ask BJ Penn and Thiago Alves), then you have to be patient enough to find an opening after you get TAKEN down(Fitch and Kos couldn't find any), then you have to find the exact right time and the exact rightspot to hit an exact move that GSP hasn't already worked on defending and countering, which ain't that easy to do.
So, according to this guy. Shields doesn't stand a chance. This fight might not be exciting, it has a good chance to go to the score cards, but just like every other GSP fight in recent history, GSP will leave victorious, he won't lose a round, won't need stitches, and his opponent will look like he ran face first into a light pole.
GSP defeats Shields, by RNC in the 4th.
Book it.
Brian Churchin created his series "The Book On..." exclusively for MMANonstop.com. Follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin.
