The only people entirely satisfied by the conclusion of the fight between Georges St. Pierre and Johny Hendricks are Josh Koscheck and Chael Sonnen because the controversial bout is making sure no one is talking about how Tyron Woodley murdered Koscheck and then murdered his falling corpse for good measure. Nor are people talking about how escaped circus elephants have killed people more gently than manner in which Rashad Evans beat Chael Sonnen, causing Chael to tap to strikes in the first round.
No what everyone is talking about is how Hendricks was robbed in his split decision loss to GSP. Most people had the fight scored 3 rounds to 2 for Hendricks. The judges agreed on all rounds except for the first which the two GSP leaning judges had GSP winning while the final judge said that round was for Hendricks. I had the first round to Hendricks as well as did most people online. That being said FightMetrics show a very close round. With GSP scoring 2 takedowns to Hendrick's 1. Not a robbery at all but since GSP doesn't lose rounds often an opponent giving him stiff competition in the early frame may have made it look like GSP was decisively losing a round that was actually really competitive.
I'm curious as to why there is no stand up rule if a fighter slips and falls? GSP slipped in round 4 which allowed Hendricks to get top position and do some damage. Round 4 would look a lot like a GSP round absent the consequences of that slip.
So while I do think Hendricks should have been declared the winner I can't go for this robbery talk as within the judging criteria there is more than enough to justify GSP winning the first round and after that round most people are in agreement. Everyone except Dana White(who said Hendricks won 4 of the 5 rounds) who was all but unhinged at the post fight press conference. Once again declaring how bad judging in Nevada is and that he was scared to have another card there. Can't say he doesn't know how to sell a potential rematch though.
*Hendricks
Needs to work on his conditioning he wasn't the same fighter after the 2nd round. He can cry foul all he wants but he had George hurt badly early and often but didn't have the conditioning to pull off the stoppage.
*GSP
For years and years I've said the problem with fighting safe all the time is that there will come a time when a guy jumps all over you ad puts you behind and since you're not use to being behind and you're not using to "go for it" your not going to have the ability to knock a guy out or submit him. My landlord first said this phrase to me back in 2005. "The thing about GSP is, he ain't a killer." And I've used it many times since hearing it. We saw this again on Saturday night. Hendricks was fading and you got the sense that if GSP could just turn it up Hendricks would be done. But instead GSP stayed at distance and tried to work the jab. Won him the round but cost him a chance to win the fight decisively.
Also was it just me or did GSP look 5-10lbs lighter than usual?
One thing I really think has been made clear with the last few big title fights is that the reign of all these long running champions (GSP and Anderson Silva) are deeply in threat. Hendricks was well prepared for GSP's usual tools. He threw upper cuts and knees as George shot in which really disrupted his game plan. Similarly Weidman proved to be the only guy who stayed focused while Anderson clowned. These guys have been champs so long that a veritable book has been written on their techniques. There's enough tape out there for guys to make more effective game plans than ever before. Every single match and move lifts up a little of that layer of mystery. It's like watching the lotto balls fall until the winning number is revealed. This is a huge disadvantage especially when you're the champ and you're fighting a guy whose up and coming and whose career isn't long enough to allow the champ the material to do the same amount of research.
Having the blueprint isn't the same as having the building but it'll be interesting to see how this factors in to their future matches.