Under the Microscope: Analyzing Welterweight Greats

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Georges St. Pierre

* Welterweight Record: 19-2 (.905)
* Opponent Winning Percentage: .770
* Longest Winning Streak: 12
* Record in Major Welterweight Title Fights: 12-2
* Finish Percentage: 36.8
* Finished Percentage: 100
* Notable Victories: Johny Hendricks, Nick Diaz, Carlos Condit, Jake Shields, Josh Koscheck (twice), B.J. Penn (twice), Matt Hughes (twice), Matt Serra
* Career Accomplishments: Former interim UFC welterweight champion; two-time undisputed UFC welterweight champion, with nine title defenses; six-time UFC “Performance of the Night” bonus winner; all-time record holder for most UFC wins, most UFC welterweight title defenses and most UFC wins in title fights

CASE FOR: This is not a hard case to make. St. Pierre holds about every meaningful record in UFC welterweight history by a substantial margin, not to mention a few for the entirety of the organization. Both of his losses are easily dismissed: Hughes got “Rush” early in his career, and the general consensus is that Serra’s victory was the biggest upset the sport has ever witnessed. It bears mentioning that both of those losses were avenged in devastatingly dominant fashion. Statistics aside, St. Pierre is possibly the most well-rounded fighter in MMA history; his striking was diverse and efficient, his submissions top-shelf and his wrestling is among the best the sport has ever seen. When coupled with his premier athleticism and the fact that there were really no weaknesses in his game, it makes it hard to argue against his spot as the division's best.

CASE AGAINST: Suspend your disbelief, and allow the devil to advocate by grasping at as many straws as can be contrived. First, there is the argument that “Rush” is on the wrong side of the biggest upset in the sport’s existence, by way of knockout, no less. Furthermore, St. Pierre has seldom been able to put away his opponents, a trademark characteristic of other G.O.A.T. candidates. When contrasted with the fact that he was finished 100 percent of the time in his losses, it is not a flattering juxtaposition. After a controversially narrow split decision victory over Hendricks in his last fight, the Quebecois kingpin called it quits, possibly as a result of seeing the writing on the wall that his time of untested dominance was at an end.