Will GSP ever "really" try to finish an opponent again?

Look, GSP is great... No question. Hardy did a great job not tapping a couple of times. But GSP could have snapped that arm a couple of times if he "really" wanted to end that fight. He's amazing to watch, but he's been content just controlling a fight and going the distance ever since he wiped Serra out to regain his title. I'm just wondering if we're ever going to see a HL reel KO, a TKO from vicious GnP or even a slick submission from him anytime in the near future? Watching him dominate for 5 rounds is great and all, but it's a dangerous game plan against guys that are more capable of Serra-ing him than Serra... Has he lost the killer instinct?

I feel the same way. I'm really disappointed he didn't finish this fight tonight at some point. Its disappointing to see someone take their opponent down and pass guard at will yet not finish over the course of 5 rounds

I think he is just taking it easy on these guys who provide no challenge to him like Hardy and Alves. You can tell in interviews GSP does not really like pounding somebody's brain into the mat unless he absolutley has to...he could have ate a klondike bar and done his taxes while destroying Hardy and Alves.

I like the live crowd double standard. GSP just controls on top the entire fight and the fans are chanting his name...Fitch does the exact same thing only he was actually landing more strikes from top and the fans relentlessly boo him and the ref stands him up.

I can't blame GSP for not finishing this one with the armbar or kimura... the vast majority of fighters would have tapped in those positions imo.

Watching him take people down for 5 rounds is boring. He should have been trying to finish that fight in other ways if he really cared so much about getting the stoppage. Like Joe Rogan said it was obvious Hardy was gonna let his arm break rather than tap.

I don't think we'll ever see a highlight KO from GSP but a TKO from vicious GnP or submission is very possible.

I was a little surprised GSP didn't go for the crucifix.

He needs to be challenged. This is why he'll make the jump to MW soon. He's as bored as we are of this shit every time he fights. When someone can actually push him and provide a challenge then we will see him take more chances and put people away.

LTFG. I love both your signature and your avatar. BTW, you hit the nail right on the head.

He could of snapped it any way he wanted. It's to bad he couldn't finish on one of those attempts. I gave it the same 50-43 win for GSP as one of the judges still.

Well....to be fair...how many people wouldnt have tapped to that armbar or that kimura?

Well because he had two really good sub attempts and a pretty good heel hook there at the very end, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt because he's one of my favs. But this has been several in a row he hasn't finished. Props to Hardy though, he's a tough cookie

Do people expect GSP to have these spectacular finishes because he is considered one of the pound for pound best in the world? I don't really understand what the problem is here...he is still dominating these fights against everyone in his division and to me, that is spectacular enough.

As crazy as this sounds he is almost too dominating. It makes his fights horrible to watch for casual fans. Me, my brother, and a buddy watched the fight last night and although I enjoyed watching GSP dominate they are casual fans and the fight was interesting to them at all. He tried some finishes and to be fair Hardy is 1 tough SOB not to tap to some of those but to be honest Im starting to wonder if he has the killer instinct anymore. He seems content to just use his takedowns to set up some GNP and earn a UD.

Skyab23 wrote:

Do people expect GSP to have these spectacular finishes because he is considered one of the pound for pound best in the world? I don't really understand what the problem is here...he is still dominating these fights against everyone in his division and to me, that is spectacular enough.

Most people expect finishes when someone can take an opponent down and pass guard at will 5 rounds in a row

I think GSP could have finished him with the Kimura but he would have really hurt Hardy if he kept jerking it out, and he decided to not hurt him and just continue with the fight. He had no worries at all, Hardy couldn't stop the take downs and really offered nothing off his back.

This had shades of Clottey vs Pacman. One sided to the point of boringness.

hate to say boring, but that was certainly not entertaining. I think he has to make that move up,(where he will get owned by silva).

No one in that division is really going to stop GSP's takedowns.

that was one of the most boring fights ive ever watched.

killerofchicken wrote:

that was one of the most boring fights ive ever watched.

I'm guessing you never watched a Dean Lister or Antonio McKee fight.

Ninja\Rua/Fan wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

that was one of the most boring fights ive ever watched.

I'm guessing you never watched a Dean Lister or Antonio McKee fight.

lol no i havent but i was just really hyped up for this fight it was a big let down... i was speaking out of anger

Ninja\Rua/Fan wrote:

killerofchicken wrote:

that was one of the most boring fights ive ever watched.

I'm guessing you never watched a Dean Lister or Antonio McKee fight.

Or Sakuraba/Royce Gracie 1

Didn't really read thru the thread but does anyone else think if GSP wasn't so nice he could have pulled off the sub? If he had the same mindset of Palhares, crank it with all you got until they pull you off, I think he breaks Hardy's arm off.

NoRegret wrote:

Well....to be fair...how many people wouldnt have tapped to that armbar or that kimura?

Yeah... That's why I made the comment about the killer instinct. BJ would have broken that arm. Anderson would have broken that arm. Lyoto probably would have broken that arm. Brock would have ripped it off and eaten it... Killer instinct.

LikesToFightGuy wrote:

NoRegret wrote:

Well....to be fair...how many people wouldnt have tapped to that armbar or that kimura?

Yeah... That's why I made the comment about the killer instinct. BJ would have broken that arm. Anderson would have broken that arm. Lyoto probably would have broken that arm. Brock would have ripped it off and eaten it... Killer instinct.

good, I'm glad I'm not alone here. Didn't read thru the thread but I agree with this lack of killer instinct. That arm should have been snapped clean off.

GSP acted in the post fight press conference like he was trying to break it but made a technical mistake that wasn't allowing him to get maximum torque on the arm