Here we go with another entry in my special “Top Four Top Five” series, fans and friends. Today I’ll be looking at the main event of tomorrow’s big UFC event, UFC 124: “St. Pierre vs. Koscheck 2”. This third entry focuses on what I think will be in store in the very near future depending on who walks out of Montreal with the championship. Unlike the first two in the series, this is more a general list of predictions than an actual “Top 5”. So, in no particular order, here are five things I think will happen if GSP retains his championship at UFC 124: “St. Pierre vs. Koscheck 2”.
5. Josh Koscheck will free-fall to the bottom of the contender’s list.
This is undoubtedly the most likely thing that will happen if GSP retains his championship. Koscheck will have lost to GSP twice, both in high-profile match-ups. It’ll be a long, long, long time before Koscheck gets a third shot at GSP for the championship. Regardless of who holds the title, look for Koscheck to have to slowly work his way back up from the dredges of the Welterweight division if he doesn’t live up to all the trash talk he’s been doing leading up to this fight.
4. GSP will finally move up a weight class.
It’s been rumored for years, and if GSP can get his fifth straight championship defense under his belt, I think the time is finally right for him to make the transition to Middleweight. I can’t say if this move up would mean automatic shot at the UFC Middleweight Championship, but I think that’s highly likely. GSP and the UFC are quickly running out of reasons to postpone GSP’s Middleweight debut, a big win over Koscheck may be the final straw and convince all involved to pull the trigger.
3. GSP will face Jon Fitch before the year is through.
It’ll be one rematch with an AKA star down and another one to go if Georges St. Pierre beats Josh Koscheck. Before 2011 is through, I think Jon Fitch will be granted his long-awaited rematch with GSP. This is assuming that Jon Fitch is able to beat BJ Penn, but as I’ve said in the past, I’ve got a feeling that Jon Fitch will indeed do just that.
2. GSP will beat the next man in line for a shot at the title, Jake Shields.
If GSP can beat the multi-dimensional, great wrestler that is Josh Koscheck, he’ll surely be able to beat the one-dimensional, submission-based Jake Shields. It’s true that Jake Shields is a master at the one dimension he’s good at, but I think GSP is far too well-rounded for Jake Shields. GSP is heavier, has better takedowns, and has incredible submission defense. Look for GSP to smother his way to another dominant defense if he does end up fighting Jake Shields.
1. GSP will fight Anderson Silva.
The reason this isn’t part of #4 is that I think it will happen regardless of any other circumstances. It won’t matter if Anderson Silva is no longer the UFC Middleweight Champion, it won’t matter if GSP makes a permanent or semi-permanent move up to Middleweight. If GSP is able to beat Josh Koscheck, I think he’ll fight Anderson Silva before the year is through. This is the fight that’s been several years in the making, this is the fight that everyone wants to see, and if the UFC is looking for a fight to sell out an arena either in Brazil or in Canada, they couldn’t possibly create a bigger dream-match.
So that’s one more down on my “Top Four Top Five”. What do you think, fans and fans? What will happen in the immediate future if GSP beats Koscheck?
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Jake Shields has been in the top 10 since 2004, while remaining unbeaten and winning 4 Championships in 2 weight classes. P4P since last year.
Three of his last five opponents won by first round KO this week. Henerson KO’d Babalu. Lawler KO’d Lindland. And Daley KO’d Scott Smith.
Shields tapped out Lawler and Daley and dominated Hendo.
There was an article yesterday that said there were only 2 other fighters to win as many consecutive fights at the elite level as Shields, Bas Rutten and Fedor.
Wins: Henderson, Okami, Condit, Mayhem, Daley, Menne, Sakurai, Charuto, Lawler, Thompson, Pyle, Kikuchi etc. Check his opposition against Koschecks on Wiki.
And Kampmann after cutting 35-40lbs in 9 weeks. Shields spent 18 months lifting weights and drinking protein/whey shakes to add the weight the right way. There is no right way to lose that much weight in 9 weeks, but he still beat a top 10 opponent.