GSP-Koscheck Review

On April 7, 2007, heading into his first UFC Welterweight title defense against Ultimate Fighter winner Matt Serra, Georges St. Pierre (known as GSP) was widely considered one of the best MMA fighters on the planet. Since a loss to long-time champion Matt Hughes in October 2004 he had demolished all comers, beating tough competitors like Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller, top contenders Frank Trigg and Sean Sherk, and another fighter who vied for the unofficial ‘best p4p fighter’ title, BJ Penn. In November 2006 he destroyed Hughes in their rematch, claiming the title and validating legions who had him anointed as the division’s future for years. The 5’6 Serra, who only had a title shot because of the Ultimate Fighter show, was given virtually no chance as a 10-1 underdog. With two minutes left in a fairly uneventful first round, Serra connected to the side/back of GSP’s head, and, staggered, the champion never recovered from Serra’s efficient onslaught, and the fight was stopped 25 seconds later. Both MMA veterans and fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing; the fact that a fighter who had thoroughly dominated the best in the world could lose to someone who may not have been ranked in the top ten seemed inconceivable. In the weeks after the fight St. Pierre gave several reasons for his performance; relatives had been very ill, he hadn’t prepared as much as he should have, and had nagging injuries. Many took these as shallow excuses. For the first time in his career, St. Pierre, universally considered one of the classiest gentleman in the sport, had his character and mental toughness attacked. His road wasn’t going to get any easier either, on August 25th he was scheduled to face Josh Koscheck, one of the few fighters who was considered on a par with him in terms of strength and general athleticism, and who was widely thought of as the best wrestler in MMA, which could negate St. Pierre’s fearsome ground ‘n pound. ‘Kos’ was coming off the biggest win of his career, in which he had easily dominated top contender Diego Sanchez. Many, including commentator and martial-arts practitioner Joe Rogan, predicted a Koscheck win. I was really looking forward to the fight; it was a crucial bout for both guys, and that usually brings out the best in fighters. I was also looking forward to seeing GSP again, it’s always interesting to see how a fighter reacts to a devastating defeat. One way or another, all of those questions would probably be answered that night. It may have been the most important fight of GSP’s career, and, adding to the intrigue, the same probably applied for Koscheck.
There's an old saying, 'Fighter’s Know'. It basically says fighting is such an instinctual, primal act that fighters know, deep in their bones, when they’re outmatched. Coming out, GSP looked about as motivated and eager as you’d ever see. Koscheck looked more like it was just a job. Watching them in their corners gave me more of that impression, GSP seemed genuinely raring to go, and Koscheck bounced around mechanically, as if on auto-pilot. I wondered if, with the moment on him, he may have realized he may have bitten off more than he could chew.
As the fight begins GSP looks good on his feet, his reflexes seem quicker than Koscheck’s, who’s attempting to exchange but missing. Koscheck tries a kick and GSP grabs his leg and gets a takedown. Pretty soon he’s in half guard. Koscheck turtles up and GSP’s able to flip him on his side, in a fetal position. GSP throws a few strikes, but Kos has good defense, and is unhurt. They scramble and Kos does a good job keeping GSP, who is trying to pass, in half guard. It’s now midway through the 1st and the action continues, GSP gets Koscheck pressed against the fence but even though he’s dominating the position no real damage is being done, as Koscheck continues to display impressive defense. Rogan comments that he doesn’t know how much time Kos has spent training from off his back, because 80% of his training is standup. During a scramble, GSP allows his center of gravity to get too high and Kos flips up and gets a hold of a single leg. He’s able to get a takedown, more like a flip, actually, but he’s able to get top position. GSP is doing a good job adjusting in his position, he seems better off his back than Kos was. Kos seems to get half guard for a little bit, and then he’s back to full guard, but there’s no damage being done. Koscheck isn’t working as close as GSP was, instead he tries to rear back and then bring blows down. GSP adjusts by rearing his lower body up also, keeping his ankles locked firmly around Koscheck’s back, as the round ends.
“Another round just like that one,” is what Greg Jackson, St. Pierre’s coach, says after the 1st. He would be pleased, as the 2nd would be GSP’s most dominant round of the night. After attacking aggressively in standup, St. Pierre quickly dove in and secured another successful takedown only 20 seconds in. He gets in half guard in good position to work on a kimura, and had Koscheck’s arm fully extended, but Kos was able to hold on. I’m again impressed with Kos’s physical strength and defense, despite being dominated and under duress, he’s proven himself extremely hard to finish. GSP attempts a kimura again, but again Kos is able to withstand it. GSP’s been in half guard the whole time; it’s rare to see a fighter as strong as Koscheck get dominated like that. GSP gets side control midway through the round, and seems to be trying to position himself for other possible submissions. Kos scrambles but GSP puts him back down; this is a great battle of strength and athleticism. GSP tries for a kimura yet again, yanking savagely on Koscheck’s arm, but still Kos somehow resists. The rest of the round is spent with St. Pierre basically sitting on Koscheck’s neck and shoulders, softening him up with punches and elbows, to distract and weaken him enough so a submission will be successful. When it’s over, in what may be the worse sign so far for Kos, GSP seemingly isn’t even winded as he energetically jogs back to his corner. “A humiliating round for Koscheck,” comments Joe Rogan.
The 3rd began with both looking to strike. GSP lands some good leg kicks. He’s winning in standup but it’s not that Kos is doing badly; GSP’s winning because he’s utilizing four weapons, both hands and both feet, while Koscheck’s kicks are non existent, he’s basically trying to land big shots punching. He’s aggressive, and GSP has to regroup occasionally, but St. Pierre is quicker, more accurate, and more fundamentally sound. Midway through Kos gets a hold of one leg, and composes himself momentarily, then launches forward to secure the takedown. When he does St. Pierre sprawls away and Kos lands on the canvas, and GSP pitches him over and has now taken him down. St. Pierre throws elbows and punches in Koscheck’s guard, the punches don’t seem to land solidly but a few elbows do, drawing ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the crowd. Towards the end of the round the fighters scramble and GSP gets a leg lock; I don’t know how secure it was but it doesn’t matter, the round is over.
In 1992, when the Chicago Bulls played the Trailblazers in the NBA Finals, some speculated on who actually was the better shooting guard, Michael Jordan or Clyde Drexler. Sure, Jordan had all the acclaim, but was Drexler, who was supposed to be the better shooter, the better overall guard? No one asks that question anymore, to the extent that it seems ludicrous even reading the suggestion. That’s because Jordan dominated Drexler thoroughly, even besting him in the one area everyone conceded Drexler was better at, shooting. This fight reminded me of that in a way. I think GSP’s lost to Serra was so shocking many forgot how great a fighter he is when he’s on. He was on against Koscheck, and like Jordan, he even bested him in Koscheck’s area of dominance, wrestling. I was actually impressed by Koscheck also, he’s a bull who was never hurt badly and was impossible to finish, had he been fighting anyone else he might’ve won. As an MMA fan I look forward to their possible rematch down the road. Kos is only getting better, and as he becomes more well-rounded, their rematch could really be a great one.

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