Can someone give me a technical breakdown on Alves?

[P-Dub]

And while GSP's wrestling is certainly better overall than Alves, Koschek took GSP down more often than he was able to take down Alves, so I don't think GSP is necessarily going to have an easy time getting Alves to the ground.

Styles make fights, math doesn't work, blah blah blah, but Alves did beat Koscheck way more soundly than GSP did. I bet Koscheck could at least walk the next day after he fought GSP.

[BudoMonkey]

I train with Alves' camp and that dude is a freakin beast. One thing I like about this matchup is that for better or worse, Alves isn't scared like some of GSP's more recent opponents. I think GSP is one of the best fighters ever in this sport, and he does probably have a technical/skill advantage in this fight, but I'm not sure how much time he will have to put it in place. I just saw in an interview where GSP said he had to be careful with Alves because he 'is very aggresive, keeps attacking and can end a fight at any moment', but that's not his only strong suit.
The dude trains wrestling and BJJ all the time, and he trains with some of the best BJJ guys in the world. Just because most of his fights have ended in one dimensional quick KO victories doesn't mean that's the only dimension he's capable of fighting in.

Either way, both of them are awesome, respectable fighters and whatever happens this should be a great fight.

[Odacon]

A smaller, more technically accomplished fighter will beat a stronger, more powerful fighter tonight, and gsp will beat Alves too. Seriously though, Alves gives me a clubber lang vibe I cant shake off, gsp might be in trouble.

[selfcritical]

Alves has some serious technical deficiencies in his defense but if you think GSP has better technical striking than him you need to watch more fights.

And while GSP's wrestling is certainly better overall than Alves, Koschek took GSP down more often than he was able to take down Alves, so I don't think GSP is necessarily going to have an easy time getting Alves to the ground.

I don't think Alves is going to win but you obviously haven't seen much of him and your assessment of his striking is way off.

I don't think it's a stretch to say the GSP from the BJ Penn fight has better technical boxing skills (head movement, jab accuracy, footwork) than Alves.

However, it's equally clear that Alves kicking technique is cleaner and more powerful.

[Zapruder]

Other than a slight reach advantage, GSP either matches or betters (mostly betters) Alves in just about every area.

GSP has HUGE reach advantage.

http://forums.cagepotato.com/upcomin...iago-68-a.html

I have found several figures on this the average seems to be 6-8 inches.

(second edit: I just read what I wrote and someone needs to take it out of context STAT!)

[Neo Sigma]

I don't know much about Alves, but from the videos I've seen, it's mostly that Alves has a lot of power, but hardly any technique.

Which fights of his did you watch? He's kinda sloppy in his first few UFC fights, but his striking gets a lot cleaner in his more recent ones.

[datdamnmachine]

GSP has had an advantage of being bigger and stronger than most of his opponents. In the second fight with Hughes (I believe), GSP stated that he cut 20 pounds for this fight. 20 fucking pounds...!!! He was probably 190+ in that fight after hydrating and eating.

I've heard (unconfirmed but plausible) that Alves cuts from close to and/or over 200 to 170. He may probably be larger than GSP in the fight. If GSP can't physically dominate Alves, he may be in trouble.

As someone else already mentioned, the Josh Koscheck fights may be a good tell. Koscheck was able to get GSP down, not so much with Alves. Alves also rocked Koscheck plenty of times while avoiding his takedowns. GSP basically turned that match into a grappling contest.

The other factor is growth. Thiago's fights with Fitch and Fisher show a fighter who would just rush in without thinking and get caught. In his fights since then, he's shown an ability to know when to go for the kill and when the relax and take it easy. GSP, since his Sera fight has been relying on his wrestling to win his fights. He uses it to wear the guy down and then take then out.

GSP hasn't knocked anyone loopy since the second Hughes fight. Alves has been doing more damage with his strikes then GSP has. To me, this could be the x-factor in this fight. If GSP can take Alves down and wear him out on the ground, I believe GSP takes it. If Alves can deliver crushing strikes while avoiding the takedown, its only a matter of time before he takes GSP out.

Math may play a factor as well:

No BS Martial Arts - View Single Post - UFC 100 - Mir, Lesnar, GSP, Henderson, Bisping, Akiyama - Jul-11-2009 7pm PT/10pm ET

[Neo Sigma]

As someone else already mentioned, the Josh Koscheck fights may be a good tell. Koscheck was able to get GSP down, not so much with Alves. Alves also rocked Koscheck plenty of times while avoiding his takedowns. GSP basically turned that match into a grappling contest.

Didn't Koscheck take the Alves fight on extremely short notice? I'd have a hard time believing that it didn't have an effect on his game.

[BudoMonkey]

I've heard (unconfirmed but plausible) that Alves cuts from close to and/or over 200 to 170. He may probably be larger than GSP in the fight. If GSP can't physically dominate Alves, he may be in trouble.

I was talking to Alves about a month and a half ago and he said he's usually around 210 depending on what he eats.

[Kid Miracleman]

I was talking to Alves about a month and a half ago and he said he's usually around 210 depending on what he eats.

<spits RC Cola all over the computer monitor in shock and alarm>

Jesus effin' Christmas! How... how is it possible for a human being to cut that much weight without, y'know, dying? Even if Alves is watching what he eats and cuts from around 200, that's still ri-damn-diculous.

Yeesh.