UFC 100 Video: Thiago Alves' Knee, Left Hook Threaten Georges St. Pierre

As Greg Jackson helps UFC welterweight champion Georges St Pierre prepare for his title defense at UFC 100, he says the two biggest weapons that challenger Thiago Alves can threaten St. Pierre with are his left hook and his knee.

"The left hook is his big weapon and actually his left knee as well, when you're trying to get inside, when your head goes inside the shoulder, he's very good bringing that left knee up," Jackson told Fox Fight Game.

I agree with Jackson's assessment, and if anything I think he's understating how good Alves is at using his knee. I consider Alves the best fighter in all of MMA at using his knees as weapons.

Alves has won five of his last six fights by knockouts or technical knockouts, and he set up four of those five (T)KOs by using his knee as an offensive weapon. Those knees come from Alves' muay Thai background, which he learned at Brazil's Chute Boxe Academy and has since honed at American Top Team in Florida, and those knees are real threats that St. Pierre needs to be ready for.

But if there's any coach in MMA who gets his fighters ready to fight the right fight against the right opponent, it's Jackson. I think St. Pierre is going to avoid that left hook and those big knees, take Alves down and win the fight on the ground.

Video via Bloody Elbow.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-29-2009 @ 6:22PM

mike said...

Great clash of styles in this fight because Alves is probably the best 170-pound striker in the world (and also good on the ground), while GSP is probably the best 170-pounder on the ground (and also good on his feet). It's also important to remember that GSP can be knocked out, as Matt Serra showed. Alves needs to land a good shot quickly before GSP can take him down. If he does that he wins. If he lets the fight go to the ground he loses.

6-30-2009 @ 3:25AM

Niv said...

I think GSP is going to shock a lot of people when he utterly dominates and destroys Alves.

6-30-2009 @ 3:45PM

chilly16 said...

Alves by 1st round KO.

7-01-2009 @ 12:01AM

christianjames18 said...

A rear choke and GSP beats him in the second round. It will be a kick to the head that stumbles Alves & he will shoot on GSP which will be blocked, to set up pounding punches that leads Alves to flip like a fish to give GSP a rear choke. You heard it first from me!!!!

7-01-2009 @ 3:04PM

Alistair Azimuth PSN: johnnynumber5 said...

This is an interesting fight but I don't really see an outcome where Alves can win. I haven't fully made up my mind yet but I've seen Alves suspect in his takedown defense before. GSP has pretty much turned into Matt Hughes at this point. All he wants to do is take you down and lay on you because I think he is afraid of getting knocked out since that Serra loss. Since then he has morphed into nothing more than a wrestler and an extremely boring fighter to watch.

If you are a fan of GSP it's not boring to see him control a guy and gass him out but for me GSP isn't as exciting as he used to be. I'd rather see Machida dance around the ring and counter than watch GSP take a guy down and do the "lay and pray" as I call it.

If Alves can stay on his feet and off his back I think he destroys GSP. I just don't see Alves staying on his feet to be honest.

7-02-2009 @ 4:46PM

Andrew said...

So much for my UFC 100 picks - knew I shouldn't have picked GSP to win. :-( I would have not gone for TKO - would have done total destructive KO.

http://www.betonline.com/ufc-100-fight-card/

Well better luck to the rest of you.