Is Thiago Alves Georges St-Pierre's Toughest Test to Date?

(Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Jon Fitch

This is the one that people (like myself) will use as the measuring stick for this fight. Alves and Fitch met back at Fight Night 5 in June 2006 when they were both starting to climb the ranks of the welterweight division.

Fitch took the win, stopping Alves in the second round. Here, too, I could play the "he's come a long way since then card," but results are results and we're looking at results.

As we all know, St-Pierre put an end to Fitch's UFC winning streak last August with a thoroughly dominating performance, although he wasn't able to put away the former Purdue Boilermaker. Still, with scores of 50-43, 50-44, and 50-44, it's clear to see how lopsided this one was.

Edge: GSP

Now that we're through with the similar opponents—where GSP has a 2-1 edge with one Josh Koscheck push—it must be acknowledged that both of these fighters have evolved and come a long way from earlier fights. If Alves were to step into the ring with Jon Fitch again, I truly believe the outcome would be very different, just as it would if GSP and Parisyan mixed it up again.

As much as I would love to sit here and cite GSP's battles with vintage Matt Hughes, two wins over B.J. Penn, and the domination of Jon Fitch as clear examples of why he should have less of a problem with Thiago Alves on July 11, I just can't bring myself to do it.

Penn never did and never will have any business fighting in any weight class except lightweight. I know he wants to test himself against the best and avenge being "robbed" the first time out against St-Pierre and whatever, but the dude is lightweight, and if GSP didn't pound the bejesus out of him the way he did at UFC 94, I would have been shocked.

I already stated my belief that Alves-Fitch 2 would go differently than Alves-Fitch 1 turned out, so that crosses him off the list, too, and while the extra weight and declining skills of Matt Hughes certainly worked in Alves' favor, he really did lay a beatin' on the old farm boy that night in London, only to follow it up with an even more impressive performance against Josh Koscheck.

Truth be told, when I started writing this piece I didn't think this was the conclusion I would come to. I actually made the "Alves lost to Jon Fitch" argument last night at work, but in looking back at things and being realistic and objective, there is only one conclusion that I can stand behind without wavering:

Thiago Alves IS the toughest test to date for Georges St-Pierre and the welterweight champion better be prepared.

Originally posted at Watch Kalib Run by E. Spencer Kyte

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