Current welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has very few peers. Since joining the UFC, GSP has taken on and dominated incredible fighters who hold strengths in all areas.
He has defeated world class strikers like Thiago Alves, wrestling phenoms like Jon Fitch, all-time greats like Matt Hughes and BJ Penn, brawlers like Dan Hardy, jiu-jitsu icons like Penn and Jake Shields and well rounded threats like Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck who present danger standing and on the ground.
While Georges now adapts his fighting style based on the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents, this wasn’t always the case. The man known as “Rush” certainly has the right to be confident in his abilities, but losses to Matt Hughes and Matt Serra taught the champ that he isn’t always the best man in every area of the fight.
Taking advantage of the holes in Hughes’ standup is smarter than rolling with him. Avoiding the heavy hands of Matt Serra is a more intelligent strategy than trading blows and hoping that yours will land harder.
Strategy is the reason that Georges has changed over the years. Now that he has perfected the craft of honing in on the best game plan, his old style of going out there and doing what felt right has faded into the darkness.
Clearly, it works for him. St-Pierre is the king of the division and hopes to remain on his throne for a long time.
This is a look at some other notable fighters who have dramatically changed their styles since the first time we saw them step foot inside the Octagon.