GSP vs Anderson Silva: The Dream Fight That Remains a Mystery
When naming the Mount Rushmore of MMA, two names will always appear: George Saint Pierre and Anderson Silva. GSP holds the second-longest combined title streak in UFC history and is regarded as the greatest welterweight ever.
Anderson Silva has ten title defences, the third most in UFC history, and is considered the greatest middleweight ever.
These two men and Jon Jones dominated the mixed martial arts world in the 2000s. During this period, there was much talk of GSP and Silva facing off. Unfortunately, this never came to fruition, with both carving their legacies.
I will examine how a match-up between two of the greatest of all time would have transpired.
Striking
Naturally, Anderson Silva was the better striker of the two, with GSP being the superior grappler. On the feet, there weren’t many who came close to Silva. GSP holds the second-longest combined title streak in UFC history and stands as the greatest welterweight ever. The BraGSP holds the second-longest combined title streak in UFC history and is the greatest welterweight ever.
GSP came from a karate background and, over the years, developed his striking skills to a high level. Training with legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach meant that Saint Pierre’s jab became a deadly weapon. As GSP’s career evolved, his striking level went up a notch. Of course, the welterweight’s favourite way to win fights was to take you to the ground, but he could more than stand with the best of them.
That said, on the feet, Silva was the more effective striker. The spider would move at angles where he was right in front of you, but you still couldn’t land on him. In his prime, the Brazilian was the most remarkable striker that MMA had seen. Standing in front of Silva was practically a death wish.
GSP’s approach to this fight would not be to strike with the Middleweight GOAT. On the feet, GSP always did an excellent job establishing the jab to set up his takedowns. Against the Spider, this would be his exact game plan. Perhaps GSP may stay on its feet a little while longer to surprise Silva. Ultimately, The Frenchman knows that the longer he stands with The Spider, the greater the likelihood he will be knocked out.
Wrestling
In the same way, on paper, Silva has the advantage on the feet, while GSP undoubtedly has the advantage on the ground.
Although Saint Pierre never started out as a wrestler, he masterfully mastered the art of getting his opponent to the ground. As his career evolved, everyone knew the French Canadian’s game plan, but no one could stop him. The welterweight’s takedowns were nothing flashy; they were just classic fundamentals.
GSP learnt how to perfectly time his takedowns, which were set up with his pint-point jab. Although GSP wasn’t the strongest welterweight, his technique meant he could take down most opponents with little resistance. When Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov names you as his favourite fighter, it speaks highly of how elite GSP’s wrestling was.
Anderson Silva wasn’t the most naturally proficient on the ground, but he certainly wasn’t an amateur. Silva’s wrestling wasn’t his best skill set, but his BJJ threatened his opponents.
Silva was deadly on the ground, and if you couldn’t control him, there was a good chance you could get caught in a submission. The Chael Sonnen fight was a perfect example of this. The Brazilian dominated the contest but could pull off a triangle choke in the final round and retain his belt.
Whilst Saint Pierre certainly would have had the advantage on the ground, Silva remained in danger. If GSP had ever relaxed on the ground, there was a good chance that the Spider would have attempted a submission.
GSP vs Anderson Silva: Prediction
On paper, this fight seems simple. If it stays on the feet, Silva wins, and GSP wins if it goes to the ground. However, what made both men great was how multifaceted they were. On the feet, GSP had an amazing jab and a diverse range of weapons, from spinning back kicks to Superman punches. On the ground, Silva was an elite BJJ practitioner who had a vast number of submissions.
It would have come down to who could dominate their respective skill sets while remaining competitive in their opponent’s area of expertise.
Is GSP on the feet than Silva is on the ground?
Ultimately, mixed martial arts decides who can best combine all disciplines. As phenomenal as Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva was, George Saint Pierre had more to his game. He could strike, wrestle, and submit you. Mix this with his fight IQ, and you will have a nightmare for Anderson Silva.
It’s a shame we never got to see these two face off in their prime, but if they did, I would go with George ‘Rush’ Saint Pierre winning via decision.
