Thursday, March 21, 2013

Reflections of... GSP and the title shot that never comes

Probably the best thing that happened after UFC 158 was that there was literally no other match to make for Georges St. Pierre besides a title defense with Johny Hendricks.

Hendricks beat Carlos Condit in what is being considered a Fight of the Year candidate while GSP embarrassed Nick Diaz like anyone with logic expected.

This finally sets up a clash between two elite wrestlers with knockout ability, right? Right?

Wrong!

BJPenn.com is reporting that GSP injured his Achilles tendon before the Diaz fight and was just barely able to compete. As such, he will miss at least six more months.

Knowing GSP, I firmly expect this to take much, much longer.

If the UFC can, in fact, get the champion back into the cage by the October card (or the big end of the year card at the absolute latest), then fine. But I can't help but feel like we once again will have to suffer through months without a title defense and yet another interim champion.

Hendricks, I am truly sorry that the prime of your career is being squandered by this guy, and I firmly hope you put this great champion's increasingly brittle body and progressively less interesting matches away from the main event.

GSP, please don't take that as a slight. You may well be the greatest fighter in MMA history. But at the rate you're going this division will be lucky to get one defense a year. So if you don't plan do retire, I implore you to look at your training and see what can be changed.

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