Should we UFC fans be looking past Jake Shields? Yes.
Shields may be one of the best BJJ fighters in MMA, but he is a rather weak striker. GSP on the other hand has evolved into one of the sharpest strikers in the game. If Shields is going to finish GSP, it will be with a submission. Unfortunately the likelihood of that happening is equivalent to the likelihood that Muammar Gaddafi will invade the United States and convince Barack Obama to surrender unconditionally.
So Shields will have to win the decision if he wants that strap. Unfortunately, the likelihood of that happening is equivalent to the likelihood that Muammar Gaddafi would win three out of five beauty pageants in competition with Anne Hathaway.
So let's look past Shields. Who's next for GSP?
- Anderson Silva: The UFC wants it. The fans want it. Anderson wants it. But GSP has shown little interest. Why? Because he doesn't want to move up a weight class. Does that mean he's a pussy? Of course not. GSP may be the greatest MMA fighter of all time. He has a plan, and apparently that plan does not include becoming a middleweight. Anderson says he would meet at a catchweight (maybe 178lbs?), but this match-up is anything but guaranteed at this point.
- Fitch or BJ: I can't say that either of these ideas excite me at the moment. GSP has already obliterated both of these men. And, in February, Fitch and BJ fought to a draw. The sequel to this fight will be at UFC 132 on July 2. If there is a decisive victory on either side -- especially if BJ crushes Fitch -- then the winner should again be in line for GSP. If we see another draw or split decision, then sorry fellas.
- Anthony "Rumble" Johnson: Sure, Koscheck choked him out. Sure, he has a hard time making weight. But this guy could be GSP's kryptonite. Johnson is HUGE for a welterweight: 6'2" and he walks around over 210 lbs! He's strong, explosive, multi-dimensional, a good striker. But most of all, he has wrestling skills that might rival GSP's. The devil's advocate will say, "But Koscheck had all of those things, and GSP made mince meat out of him." This is true. But Koscheck looked beat before he stepped in the ring with GSP. He did not fight a smart fight. He allowed GSP to pound him over and over with that left jab. And once GSP cracked the orbital of Koscheck's right eye early in the second round, it was all over. Koscheck hung on through all five rounds; yet, for four of those rounds he was checking the clock and more concerned with surviving than competing.
Anthony Johnson is young, ferocious, and evolving. On Saturday night he dominated Dan Hardy just as completely as GSP did. So I'm convinced that Rumble is the one guy in the division who might actually be able to bully GSP. He has the potential to out-wrestle GSP and, with a 2-inch reach advantage, could even knock GSP out. After all, if GSP has a weakness, it's his chin; Matt Serra KO'd him for god's sake. What makes GSP extra special, however, is that he let's nobody get anywhere near his chin.
Set it up, Dana: GSP vs. Rumble!
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