Nate Marquardt: GSP would destroy Jake Shields
UFC Middleweight contender Nate ”The Great” Marquardt has revealed that he is the only reason Georges St. Pierre hasn’t moved up to middleweight yet and dethroned Anderson Silva. The Great then went on to say:
” I’ve said it before, I think the only reason GSP hasn’t done it is because he wants me to do it. He’s a great team mate and he’s giving me my second chance. But I’ve always said that I think Georges, pound for pound, has proven himself to be the best, and I think he’s got good enough striking that he could overcome the distance that Silva has, and I think if Anderson makes a mistake Georges will put him on his back, and Georges is so strong on top that I think he would dominate him”
”’ If you look at Sonnen, he doesn’t have good striking, and doesn’t have a good jiu jitsu game, but he has good wrestling. Georges has that, plus he has all the other aspects. And I think Georges is a smarter fighter, in terms of his game plans and strategy.”
Some interesting thoughts from Nate, and if he’s unsuccessful in his latest title campaign we could see Georges move up to middleweight and challenge Anderson for his title, providing he is still the Champion by then, as he takes on Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 in the first quarter of 2011.
Marquardt then weighed in on the proposed bout between Georges St. Pierre and Jake Shields, and had this to say on the matter:
” I think Georges is going to destroy him”
Marquardt was then asked how he thought Shields would fair in the UFC middleweight division, Nate said:
” At middleweight we’ve seen guys like Demian Maia and Rousimar Palhares do well and I think Jake could be like them. And then at middleweight he could also do well because the weight cut wouldn’t affect his performance.”
” I think he definitely would be good at middleweight but I thought he looked bad at 170lbs. Part of it was the weight cut, but part of it is his style as well, and I think a lot of people underestimate Kampmann – he’s a tough well rounded fighter. I don’t think he’s the best but he’s good at everything. Shields is kind of the opposite – not good at some things, but really good or the best at other things. I think putting Shields against a well rounded opponent was bad for him, against Kampmann and worse against Georges.”
Nate again with some good points and covering a range of topics, but for now he will have to concentrate on his fight this weekend, where he takes on Yushin Okami in the main event of UFC 122 that takes place Oberhausen Germany. The bout between Marquardt and Okami will determine the number one contender for the next shot at the UFC middleweight title. And if he’s unable to better the Japanese contender we could see Georges move up to middleweight sooner rather than later…
What do you think Lowkick’ers!
SOURCE: MMAFIGHTING.COM
