arsmaster*
Guest
Honestly I had it 48-47 Hendricks too, but that was before I saw the actual stats. I can see why round 1 went to the Champ, and it will go to the Champ every time. Hendricks and White are just upset because Hendricks absolutely dominated 2 rounds and the significant strikes he landed were to St-Pierre's head as opposed to St-Pierre's significant strikes coming on Hendricks's body. I don't see how Dana White gave that 5th round to Hendricks either. Seems to me like a lot of people were just looking at GSP's face and saying "oh well Hendricks clearly won that fight." IMO it was much much much closer than it appeared if you score the fight on a round-by-round basis which is how MMA is scored, and that 1st round in any non-championship fight could be a pure coin toss. But in a championship fight, when the champion scores more significant strikes (by 1), loses total strikes by 1 insignificant strike, ties in take-downs, but scores more submission attempts/successful submission moves, the round should go to the champ. GSP won that fight legitimately.
I had it 3 round to 2 for Hendricks as well. Had GSP winning 3 and 5 CLEARLY. Hendricks IMO clearly won 2 and 4.
I said it before the decision, that would all come down to who the judges gave round 1.
I was right.
I've been watching this sport pretty ferverently since GSP's early career. This was the only time I think I could say Georges wasn't the bigger and stronger man. Johnny looked massive and it showed in any of the exchanges on the cage. How many times have you seen an opponent hold GSP against the fence like that? I don't recall ever.
The crown jewel of the scrap for me is the GSP took Johnny's best punch on more than one occasion, now all the people who say he can't take a shot can climb back into their holes, because he absolutely took Hendricks best and heaviest shot.
GSP showed the most heart of his career. I was surprised he stopped shooting for takedowns, but the size advantage was pretty clear from where I was watching.
Dana should be happy, keeps the sport in the news.