As for being considered the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in MMA, Georges St-Pierre’s, or GSP’s, status as the GOAT is widely recognized. His achievements, including two UFC titles in different weight classes, long title reigns, successful title defenses, and victories over elite opponents, contribute to this status. GSP’s well-rounded skills, intelligence inside and outside the cage, sportsmanship, and dedication to the sport make him a beloved figure among MMA fans and experts alike.
He is the epitome and textbook example of a well-rounded fighter, having the highest level of dominance in both striking and grappling. In the past, during his pre-championship era, he showcased a bold and entertaining fighting style with a high finishing rate. However, after the Matt Serra fight, he transitioned to a more methodical and careful approach to the game. Although his career’s early stages already displayed a significant emphasis on takedowns and ground skills, it was in the later stages that his grappling became his paramount strength. Given his exceptional wrestling abilities, capable of overwhelming top-tier wrestlers like Matt Hughes and John Fitch, not utilizing such tremendous genius would be considered unusual.
Firstly, his striking, based on a long reach, is remarkably outstanding. Known for having one of the best jabs in MMA history, he employs a fencing jab style, controlling and accurately piercing opponents with a deep jab. He also often uses a pattern of left step-stop-left step-jab. When opponents attempt to go for power shots, he efficiently prevents right-hand counters with his long and precise jab. If the opponent offers the right hand, the jab becomes a long guard, providing a degree of defense, and he enters with a right cross. He incorporates body jabs and fakes to shake opponents’ guards and gaze. In the fight against Alves, he used body-face jabs to disrupt Alves’ guard, and in the Serra fight, he induced head movement with a double jab fake, succeeding in landing a real jab on the return timing. Once comfortable with the jab, he starts mixing in lead hooks and effectively checks counters with counter hooks.
Not limited to punches, he actively utilizes kicks as well. When opponents become accustomed to power side entries, he introduces inside leg kicks. Combining Superman punches from a distance with outside leg kick combinations is one of GSP’s primary combinations. His head kick aimed precisely in the direction of the opponent’s left side step is effective, emphasizing a more concise approach rather than loading up on kicks like traditional kickboxing or Muay Thai. He has a big background in Kyokushin Karate, and after training boxing with it, he managed to have an arsenal of accurate kicks and effective punches & head movement.
Despite being a striker by origin, his wrestling skills are exceptionally strong, and his timing for takedowns and the technique is unmatched across weight classes. Due to his dominance, he is considered as one of the best grapplers of all time in MMA history. Typically, wrestlers’ weaknesses include inadequate stamina management and excessive tackle attempts, but GSP’s stamina is top-notch, and his game management abilities are highly stable. Particularly, he waits for the opponent to come in with the lead hand and lead leg, then swiftly enters with counter knee picks and double legs, demonstrating remarkable speed and a high success rate. After jabbing to obscure the opponent’s vision or following a jab fake, he might go for a single or double leg takedown. He effectively utilizes chain wrestling, and if the opponent defends with an underhook, he goes for a collar tie, controlling the head and successfully executing takedowns. In cases where the opponent attempts to defend the takedown with an underhook, he aims for an ankle pick and overturns the situation. His control of the opponent’s head and wrist during ground and pound, combined with relentless pressure passes mixed with hand and wrist control, allows him to pass the opponent’s guard and move to mount, blocking the opponent’s escape.
Possessing a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and very high-level skills in the art, he effectively neutralized prime BJ Penn’s BJJ when fighting for ground control for the majority of their 3 round bout. This is an incredibly significant feat, as BJ Penn is considered a BJJ prodigy who has gotten the BJJ black belt in record time (3 years, contrasting to the normal 10-15 years it takes for professional fighters to attain it) and was the first American to win the BJJ Mundials, the most prestigious BJJ competition (along with ADCC, if you consider No-Gi as well). His movement from the top is somewhat reminiscent of Demian Maia, relentlessly tracking the movement of the opponent’s hips in the three-quarter guard after a takedown. He pursues submissions, blocks sweep attempts, mixes in ground-and-pound, and controls the opponent’s head and wrists, making it difficult for the opponent to escape. Even from the bottom, he actively employs butterfly guard to successfully execute escapes.
Considering the comprehensive picture, his agile sidesteps in distance fighting, combined with striking such as jabs, superman punches, and kicks, powerful timing takedowns, and positioning abilities, backed by a robust stamina and game management, make him an exceptional fighter.
A notable drawback is his declining finish rate as his career progresses, despite achieving a 12-fight win streak and successfully defending his title nine times. He tends to prioritize control over finishing, reflecting a safety-first mindset, and his ground operations can be conservative. Another concern is the trend of welterweight fighters getting larger, potentially posing a disadvantage. Due to injuries, he has not displayed the flashy and explosive movements seen in his earlier days, and his safety-first approach has led to his perception as a notable “no-fun” fighter in the UFC, separate from his skill level.
In the bout against Johnny Hendricks, facing a fighter fluctuating around the 90kg mark, he struggled against Hendricks’s power and was unable to utilize his wrestling advantage effectively. The physical size difference, almost equivalent to two weight classes, presented a challenging situation, particularly against Hendricks, known for his powerful strikes and wrestling abilities.
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