10 Years Ago Today, 'GSP' Cemented His Reign as Welterweight 'GOAT'

steemsports (80)in #steemsports • 6 years ago (edited)

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The event was UFC 87: Seek and Destroy. GSP was in the midst of an incredible win streak and reign as the 170 pound champion, but it seemed in this era a decade ago that every contender put in front of him was as talented and as mean as the next. There was nothing easy about George's title run.

Fitch was a grappling legend, and his ferocity on the matt either nullified wrestlers, or forced skilled strikers to submit. From legends like Thiago Alves to veterans in Josh Burkmann, Fitch was able to dismantle all of them. His lanky frame and deceptive strength was a very feasible threat.

After 16 wins in a row starting from the early 2000s onward, Fitch finally attained his long coveted title shot against the champion George St. Pierre. Nobody could beat the athletic and sophisitcated Canadian champion, but every contender gave him a run for his money in different ways.

Fitch didn't pose the utmost threat on the feet, but once he'd grab guys.. ragdolling would most definitely ensure. Fitch fought hard against men like Jake Shields and Demian Maia, guys who are legendary for their ability to wrestle and handle the ground game of any world class fighter.

Fitch was beyond a black belt level on the ground, and both his physique and experience of skill set allowed him to become a problem for most anyone who was even slightly inexperienced in the grappling realm. Unfortunately for Fitch, GSP was a master from all angles.

The fight was a long battle lasting 25 minutes and 5 rounds. The UFC 87 main event won Fight of the Night, and many gave Fitch credit for his hardened performance against the all time great. He fought his heart out for that title, but the athleticism and full package of GSP was too much.

GSP was too much for most any contender of that, and this era honestly. If he was 5 years younger, he'd still be nullifying the divisions top fighters. GSP was not only brawn, he was mental fortitude and made his obsessive compulsive suffering a positive in the fight realm.

Using OCD to train harder, and to make sure he was the best he could be made him the long reigning champion he was. From an early, and fluky career loss to Matt Serra to a streaking champion and arguable greatest of all time.. GSP is a legend and will never be forgotten.

The ranks of mma are a gradient of weight class, era, and skillset. GSP had nearly all of these as he was in one of the bigger weight classes with an incredibly well rounded skill set. The former finishes of GSP had fans entrust him with the ability to be entertaining if he so chose.

The fight against Fitch became a beatdown once GSP's cardio and overall athleticism took over. The control of Fitch was harrowing at times, and most everyone cheers for the underdog in a GSP fight because of just how dominant he is in nearly every second of the fight.

It was a miraculous event watching GSP come back to take the middleweight crown and defeat another legend and all time great in 'The Count' Michael Bisping. In an era of double champions and shifting weight classes, GSP still transcends the skill and balance of a phenom and martial artist.

The UFC 87 fight card isn't one of the best that had ever happened, but it's a solid time capsule into what the Zuffa era of mixed martial arts looked like. The UFC has always been somewhat the same, but now it's evolving at a rate I can't foresee the future of. Now with ESPN, hopefully it hits the moon!

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