Rush the eagle

Recently, I was having a conversation about two of the best fighters in MMA history. The two in question are Georges St-Pierre (GSP) and Khabib Nurmagomedov. This then led me to the question – who would win?

These scenarios always seem impossible to answer. You’d need a time machine to get both fighters in the cage at their prime. The sport also evolves, and things change over time making this hypothetical scenario even harder. GSP and Khabib arguably fight during different eras in which different opponents existed, with different styles and emphases on certain techniques vary from era to era. However, it is still fun to think about.

Let’s begin by observing and analysing each fighter’s chops in striking.

GSP has a massive edge here, he is longer and has been striking his entire life. Even though he is not a devastating puncher, he is very accurate and clinical with his striking. This was on full display at UFC 124 which saw GSP use his pinpoint jab to break Koschek’s eye socket/cheek bone. The thing about GSP’s striking though, is that he never really stood against good strikers as he would take those guys down to stifle their advantage. Then when it came to fighters who had a good ground game, he would keep it standing and out strike them. Does this mean that GSP was only out striking grapplers? 

Khabib’s striking is interesting, it is very effective as he is very fast and a bit awkward. Khabib’s success in striking seems to come due to his opponent being terrified of being taken down so their focus is on the takedown rather than the striking. This allows Khabib to almost surprise his opponents with strikes. Adding to this, he also seems to have an uncanny ability to walk down elite strikers without taking too much damage. When Khabib fought Barbosa (who is the best striker in the division), Khabib just stalked him and walked him down until he got him down without taking much damage at all. When Khabib is facing GSP in striking, GSP wins, based on his cleaner technique and longer limbs. Keep in mind however, this is based on a striking match (kickboxing) and MMA is not just a striking match.

Wrestling: GSP is the best wrestler in the sport of MMA that does not have a competitive wrestling background. GSP has his wrestling based within freestyle Olympic wrestling, this means that his takedowns are mostly based on single and double legs. GSP has to change levels to get to his opponents’ legs to get the takedown. With his amazing timing he made a double leg look like it was the easiest thing in the world against someone who is trying to punch you (I assure you that it is not). His wrestling defence is based on distance as he keeps people away with his striking then uses the traditional sprawl defence against double legs. In the clinch it is all down to his position and balance. He then uses his skills in the clinch to create space and get back to striking.  

Khabib has a different style of wrestling as his background is Sambo wrestling. Sambo is a Russian style of combat that combines striking, takedowns and submissions – not unlike MMA. They also wear a gi jacket, a belt with shorts and wrestling boots. The takedowns are more from the clinch, using the suplex, body locks and foot trips. These takedowns have the advantage of using less energy and if you miss one you are usually still connected to your opponent so you can go for another takedown without having to close the distance. At range GSP has better wrestling in terms of offence, but I don’t think he would get through Khabib’s defence. In close, Khabib has the advantage as he has an encyclopaedia full of takedowns from the clinch. The wrestling is very close to being even, but I give the edge to Khabib based on his relentless style and ability to go takedown after takedown from the clinch.

On the ground: Both are top game masters and I have not seen Khabib on his back yet. GSP has pulled guard, it was effective, but he did look a worse for wear afterwards – that’s not his game. Based on their style, neither of them would go to their back so you would have one person on all fours or one person on their side. If either of them went to their back, the other person would be dominant. In terms of ground and pound, Khabib is the best the sport has ever seen. He puts people where he wants them, locks an arm, controls the legs and smashes them. Even against elite grapplers, he locks them up and goes through them. GSP on the other hand would let the person move but still maintain control. Against top grapplers he would get a dominant position and when they would attempt to escape, GSP would use body position to block the escape. This becomes very draining for his opponents. GSP’s ground and pound is fantastic but it was more based on wearing people down as opposed to being purely destructive. All that said, with the more dominant control and ground and pound, I give the ground aspect of the fight to Khabib. 

Based on what I have said, GSP wins the stand up and Khabib wins everywhere else. This does not state however, how close I think this fight would be. If we assume it’s a 5-round fight, then this is my prediction: Round 1 sees GSP keeping distance and fires out his jab, while also applying front kicks with the odd kick to the head. Khabib walks him down and tries to get him against the cage. When the clinch happens, GSP uses his wrestling to make space and get back to striking. Round 2, GSP using the same system but know fatigue is setting in a little and the clinch lasts a little longer and the takedown from Khabib is getting closer. There may even be a takedown, but it is back to the feet without any major damage. Round 3, this is where Khabib starts making it his fight. GSP’s movement has slowed and Khabib is getting more time in close and gets the takedown and this time GSP does not get back to the feet. Round 4 and 5 would be Khabib dragging GSP to the mat and doing some damage. One of the things with GSP is that when he gets hit he bruises right away. So, after some damage from Khabib he would not be looking good (which adds to the judge’s decision-making process).

This was like asking me who would win in the hypothetical Ali v Tyson scenario, or what would I rather drive, the LaFerrari or P1. For every reason I would pick one, I would then come up with why the other is better. As you have seen, I do think Khabib would win, but only just and it is based on the fact that no one has found a way to stop what the guy does. GSP changed and adapted to beat who he was up against. I could write this again in a month’s time and come up with a different result – it’s that close. Both fighters are absolute legends and two of the greatest fighters in MMA history.   

Gareth Lewis
Head MMA Instructor