Can Serra do it again?

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by Viper2076

I think that Serra is a good fighter and, lets face it, he is the champ.

He didn't, however, climb the welterweight ladder to get the title shot. He didn't beat the top 10 or 5 for the shot. He won a show with a bunch of "has-been" and "never-were" fighters to get his shot. He threw a lucky punch and then pounced on GSP. Then, he is the champ.

I agree that Serra didn't earn the shot, but he undeniably threw a horrific beat down on GSP.

How is any punch thrown with intent lucky? Because from the comfort and safety of your couch, you didn't think it should land? What's the difference between that punch and any punch Chuck or Rampage or GSP throws?

Or is he lucky that GSP has shit for standup defense?

rh

[dan the man 67]

You have to imagine that Greg Jackson is training GSP to deal with Serra's heavy hands, and I also believe he will have a few surprises up his sleeve. That's the big difference right there between when they first fought, and this fight - Greg Jackson. Not only is GSP exposed to new methods of training, along with new training partners - he also has access to the great game planning mind of Jackson. I wouldn't be surprised if GSP takes him down, and goes for a sub. He beat Kos at his own game, maybe he'll try to beat Serra at his own game.

Having said that, I am scared to death of this fight. Yes, Serra did it once, and yes, he can do it again - you never know in the MMA game. It only takes one shot to get a fighter wobbly, and it can be over in the blink of an eye after that.

I hope GSP dominates Serra the same way he dominated Hughes, and begins his WW reign the way everyone thought he was going to do when he first fought Serra.

[ninjastix]

Originally Posted by rivethead

Or is he lucky that GSP has shit for standup defense?

rh

See this is where I'm baffled... the only people that have been able to tag GSP have been Penn (a god revered amongst these forums) and that was only in one round... and Serra... who hit GSP with a solid shot...

So GSP has been laid out... once... well all know the circumstances on all sides of this argument about the fight etc, etc, etc... but even with good stand up defense you can still get caught, you can still get laid out...

That's not the concern in this fight... all GSP has to do is be aggressive and be himself... Stand up defense won't help him win this fight... believing that he is the better fighter and then going out there and executing will...

just has to live up to his moniker of "rush"...

[willpunisher]

man i cant understand why they wont give their fighters 1 a chance and 2 let them be champ for a while.
serra beat gsp already.. let him fight other fighters and than give gsp a shot again. dont just give him a shot right away, what is up with that..

[Snapper]

i am still feeling pretty robbed that we couldnt see a serra/hughes fight. but, like the article says, i think NOW will start GSP's long title reign. it starts with Serra...

[Steve88]

Originally Posted by willpunisher

man i cant understand why they wont give their fighters 1 a chance and 2 let them be champ for a while.
serra beat gsp already.. let him fight other fighters and than give gsp a shot again. dont just give him a shot right away, what is up with that..

uh.. serra was supposed to defend against hughes first til he got hurt.. and gsp beat kos easily and dominated hughes.. so how doesn't that earn him a rematch in a fight 99% of people thought was the biggest upset in ufc history..

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by ninjastix

See this is where I'm baffled... the only people that have been able to tag GSP have been Penn (a god revered amongst these forums) and that was only in one round... and Serra... who hit GSP with a solid shot...

So GSP has been laid out... once... well all know the circumstances on all sides of this argument about the fight etc, etc, etc... but even with good stand up defense you can still get caught, you can still get laid out...

That's not the concern in this fight... all GSP has to do is be aggressive and be himself... Stand up defense won't help him win this fight... believing that he is the better fighter and then going out there and executing will...

just has to live up to his moniker of "rush"...

I think he believed he was the better fighter last fight. And without standing D, he got caught by a guy he has tons of reach on.

I'd also point out, regarding your Penn reference, that GSP hasn't faced a focused elite striker yet. Penn is elite, certainly, but he wasn't in shape, and he wasn't as focused as he has shown recently; and even gassed, he still took GSP to a controversial decision.

People talk about the exponential improvement of GSP [and Rampage, as well] but I think Penn has illustrated more of a turn-around then either.

But time will tell.

Originally Posted by willpunisher

man i cant understand why they wont give their fighters 1 a chance and 2 let them be champ for a while.
serra beat gsp already.. let him fight other fighters and than give gsp a shot again. dont just give him a shot right away, what is up with that..

Hype Hype Hype.

rh

[dan the man 67]

Originally Posted by Snapper

i am still feeling pretty robbed that we couldnt see a serra/hughes fight. but, like the article says, i think NOW will start GSP's long title reign. it starts with Serra...

I think we will get to see that fight. I think both Hughes and Serra want it badly.

[eazye76]

I don't think Serra will do it again, It wasn't a lucky punch, and he is the legit WW champ, BUT it was a a 3 min fight, and it wasn't the fight we're used to seeing from Serra. My point being that I don't see him winning the same way again. He's going to have to get the fight on the ground and use his BJJ and try to sub him, or at least control the fight and take a decision. I just don't see how Serra is going to do it again, if GSP comes out at his best, he has home field advantage, he is the better finisher, has great wrestling and takedown D, and is in tremendous shape.
Like I said the first fight was legit, but GSP probably wasn't expecting that kind of stand-up from Serra(which is his own fault). This time Serra is going to get GSP's best shot, standing and on the ground, so if he wins it will answer all questions regarding Serra and his belt. I just don't see it happening.
GSP is pissed about losing the first fight and Serra feels disrespected, so it should be interesting, the level of emotion on both sides could produce a great fight.

[Steve88]

rh, u think it's hype that earned gsp a rematch?