How would prime Matt Hughes fare against the current WW top 5?

[Bjjpitbull8]

Yes, but that's the thing.
COlby has the gas tank to go non-stop for 5 rounds, as we've seen.
His constant pressure and (weak) jabs will not allow GSP to sit and jab, or go for takedowns like he used to.
IMHO this might take him out of his game.

As for Usman, he would hug GSP for 5 rounds.

Don't forget that Kos is (was) not a pressure fighter. He had power in his hands, and he liked to KO people, so he tried to stand with GSP, who would time him and take him down.
But take the distance away and I don't know if Georges could deal with it (much like Woodley fell for it).

Again, it could be that GSP would have absolutely no trouble, I just don't know.
I am trying to consider both their strengths, and IMHO Colby and Usman fought guys that emulated GSP more than GSP fought pressure guys like them...

I see him doing to Colby and Usman what he did to Jake Shields. Just a 5 round jab and super man punching clinic.

If he were to fight Woodley, I would not feel like it was a sure win for GSP. He’s got a shot at doing what Hendricks did.

 

[SirKratos]

GSP runs through everyone like a hot knife through butter at WW. It would not even be close.

The motion of a hot knife going through a butter is usually similarized with a fighter knocking out another. Please don't use that to describe GSP's style of fighting, ever again.

 

[Shaddows]

I see him doing to Colby and Usman what he did to Jake Shields. Just a 5 round jab and super man punching clinic.

If he were to fight Woodley, I would not feel like it was a sure win for GSP. He’s got a shot at doing what Hendricks did.

The problem is that Colby & Usman wouldn't give GSP space. They wouldn't stay in jab range.
Jake had terrible stand up and couldn't shorten the distance. Colby, we've seen him do it to someone like Robbie... I think he can manage GSP's jabs

 

[Intellidamus]

I don’t hate gsp or Hughes dude. @Intellidamus is just another one of those gsp fans who are entertaining to give reality checks to

Check your post history. You’re obsessed. And your “reality checks” have insufficient funds.

 

[Bjjpitbull8]

The motion of a hot knife going through a butter is usually similarized with a fighter knocking out another. Please don't use that to describe GSP's style of fighting, ever again.

A hot knife goes through butter quickly and easily. Has zero to do with knockouts.

 

[PAPERCLIP30]

Not very well, the division has greatly evolved

Usman is a well rounded mixed martial artist

Ahh yes, usmans only highlight lol

 

[Bjjpitbull8]

The problem is that Colby & Usman wouldn't give GSP space. They wouldn't stay in jab range.
Jake had terrible stand up and couldn't shorten the distance. Colby, we've seen him do it to someone like Robbie... I think he can manage GSP's jabs

We will just have to agree to disagree. Robbie is so far past his prime, he had no chance. I can’t use that fight as a measuring stick. Nothing is going to sway me in this brother. I just don’t see them as having anything for him. Woodley, I certainly think does have a shot. Styles make fights.

 

[Bend NvR Break]

Kos’s poor standup was always going to lead to erratic results and get him in trouble.

Are YOU serious about Alves?
I remember him being the only guy to get finished by Fitch, and I remember him getting triangled by Spencer Fisher too.
And Fitch EASILY LnP’d him the 2nd time too, AFTER Alves missed weight and kept his muscle for that fight.
Alves was in the right place at the right time for his run.
If he’d had to fight Story, Condit, Rory, or Hendricks during his “title run” they would have destroyed him.

It was piss poor matchmaking that led to shady rankings in what could have been an exciting division at that time.

GSP would have ruled over the division anyway, but the rest of the Top 10 should have looked very different.

9-2 in the UFC leading up to his GSP fight. Fitch was unquestionable the 2nd best WW at the time and Spencer was his first fight in the UFC. Pretty stiff first test.

Wins over Lytle, Hughes, Kos and Karo along the way. All quality wins at the time.

 

[SirKratos]

A hot knife goes through butter quickly and easily. Has zero to do with knockouts.

Right. Dunno about easily, but theres nothing 'quick' about how GSP handles his opponents either.

 

[Bjjpitbull8]

Right. Dunno about easily, but theres nothing 'quick' about how GSP handles his opponents either.

Not a fan, but the time it took him to make it clear they had no chance in the fight was quick. Was never a fan of his style, but gotta call out trolls saying he would lose to the whole top 10 in today’s ww.

 

[Shaddows]

We will just have to agree to disagree. Robbie is so far past his prime, he had no chance. I can’t use that fight as a measuring stick. Nothing is going to sway me in this brother. I just don’t see them as having anything for him. Woodley, I certainly think does have a shot. Styles make fights.

Amen to that (agreeing to disagree).
And I truly wish we could have seen that. GSP is not past his prime, and has been resting for long.

IMHO he should have gone back to WW after Bisping, and we would have had amazing and intriguing chess matches.

 

[Oliver Clothesoff]

In his day he was the man, but he isn't well rounded by today's standards. He'd do okay, but he'd lose to the upper echelon fighters.

 

[Riatyn]

I think it really comes down if you are giving him the benefit on newer training techniques. If you are I'd say he has a fair shot against anyone in the top 5 but I think stylistically Till is a bad match up for him. To me it really depends on how "farm boy strong" he was. I'm not saying he did, but anyone from the era has a question mark as far as how natty they were.

 

[tenniswhiz]

The thread is supposed to be about Matt Hughes.

So many fanboys posting about GSP instead.
Yes, he was the king.
And yea, prime GSP would beat any WW today.

But Matt Hughes vs top 5...don’t see it going well.

 

[Bjjpitbull8]

Amen to that (agreeing to disagree).
And I truly wish we could have seen that. GSP is not past his prime, and has been resting for long.

IMHO he should have gone back to WW after Bisping, and we would have had amazing and intriguing chess matches.

I don’t think he’s the same guy that ran through the division. Not even close. Too many injuries and surgeries. He is still good enough to compete; no doubt. That said, my biggest issue with him was always his heart. He didn’t go for the finish in fights after getting finished by Serra, aside from his revenge fight. Played it safe as hell on his way to decisions and really robbed us of some awesome finishes he clearly could have gone for. Then, he comes back to an easy fight and leaves when the killers call him out. Fuck all that. It’s why I don’t place him with the GOATS.

 

[Bobbybackpack]

GSP runs through everyone like a hot knife through butter at WW. It would not even be close.

It would be close actually

 

[ferrisjso]

0-5.

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

Agreed with you up until Mas. People forget that he wasnt a prospect 2 fights ago. The hype train is out of control.

Yes, Masvidal’s hype is probably at its absolute pinnacle right now. However, I think Hughes’ striking was catastrophically bad. Look at the caliber of the guys he was beating during his stretch as a champion/elite welterweight, particularly their striking talent. None of them could strike at all.

It’s certainly possible that Hughes could clinch and/or score takedowns against masvidal and then keep him down. But he would need to, because if they stood and traded at all while Jorge had energy Hughes would get his face broken.

 

[JustBleed69]

Usman: 50-43 or possibly TKO win for Usman

Woodley: KO win for Woodley inside two rounds

Colby: 50-45 win for Colby

Masvidal: 50/50, all comes down to if Matt has the cardio to wrestle for 5 rounds. Mas would sleep him once they stood for a few minutes

Edwards: 50-45/49-46 win for Edwards. Better cardio, striking, and larger

What do you guys think? The game and division has evolved a lot since Matt’s best days

He gets mauled by almost everyone in top 10

 

[Mr Fahrenheit]

GSP loses to Usman, T Wood, WB, Gastelum, and Lawler.
He quit at the right time then cherey-picked Bisping.

Georges would jab Woodley relentlessly while Woodley stood there paralyzed. He’d probably be able to mix in a takedown here and there too. Might land a big KO of course, but Woodley is overrated and simply happened into the perfect sequence of opponents to keep the belt for as long as he did.

Usman could potentially overpower GSP abut he would get outstruck when there was any separation.

Colby is actually really interesting because he’s so relentless, but I could actually see him running into double legs with that style. If Georges fought like he did against Hendricks he’d lose though.

Georges takes Lawler down. Lawler’s KO power is overrated. The record shows this.

Gastelum has become impossible to evaluate as a welterweight, at least for me.