If there ever was a fight where GSP’s usual grinding top game and dynamic striking game have met a match it’s against Nick Diaz. Diaz’s slap boxing game and strong work off his back make him a tough opponent for GSP; throw in his ridiculous cardio and insane durability with his skills and Diaz presents a massive challenge. On top of this Diaz has touched a nerve; GSP wants to beat him not for the title but for personal reasons. He was rumored to have told Zuffa brass that he’d vacate the belt to take on Diaz; that says a lot about the way GSP views Diaz. And that’s the first key to winning for the man.
First Key to Winning: Keep Calm and Fight
Emotions are a good thing in combat sports, of course, but they can also force you into mistakes. Diaz is a guy he doesn’t like and he’s waited over a year to get into a cage with. He’s someone that demanded Diaz, et al, and he’s rattled GSP in a way no other fighter has. When GSP demands Nick Diaz after his big comeback against Carlos Condit you know he wants that fight badly. GSP isn’t someone who’s known to be prone to bouts of emotion conquering reason but this could be one of them, especially with Diaz flipping him off and taunting him all fight. He has to keep calm and weather the storm of Diaz’s mental game.
He needs to implement his game plan, which will probably be using his strikes to open up his takedowns. This is his second key to winning, by the way.
Second Key to Winning: Top Position to Grind Diaz Down
The one thing that never gets appreciated about GSP by many fans is that he has immaculate top position game. When the fight is on the ground the way he uses his positioning to win fights on top is extraordinary. On top he has to keep Diaz down and not let him have the amount of space he needs. He can’t let Diaz set up scrambles and pull something off. He needs to keep him on his back and unload with measured shots. It won’t be pretty but it’s the best way of him winning.
To set up his takedowns, though, he needs to use a similar strategy that Carlos Condit employed: work on that front leg.
Third Key to Winning: Take Out That Front Leg
Diaz doesn’t check leg kicks but uses his footwork to generate power. GSP needs to work on that early; landing early, and often, will keep Diaz’s power boxing game from having its full effect.
