Time for Penn to move up.
by Lynchman on Dec 13, 2009 12:04 PM EST
37 comments
In the past, I have been a vocal critic of BJ Penn. And while I still have issues with his attitude at times, I can't help but be hella impressed with his performances in the cage.
According to Fight Metric, Penn landed 70% of his strikes last night. That is beyond good, that is awesome. Sanchez attempted approx ten thousand takedowns and got not a single one.
And after last night, I can't help but say this:
It is time for him to make the permenant move to 170.
Penn has not simply been dominant in his title defenses, he has negated virtually all of his opponents' offensive tools, leaving them to merely survive as long as posible. Florian, Sherk and Sanchez are all world class fighters, yet Penn made each one look like they made a wrong turn and ended up in the cage by mistake.
An argument could be made for one or two more defenses, but I see some very real problems with that. The remaining two legit contenders are Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar. I doubt that anyone, outside of their families, sees either as a realistic threat. What is worse, neither would draw much interest for the casual public. So not only would they almost certainly get killed, nobody would give a shit about the match-ups.
Clay Guida, had he won last night, would have some appeal. Oh sure, he would get completely destroyed, but he is likeble and would appeal to folks enough that some would watch the fight.
One might make the same argument about GSP, but he is not yet interested in moving up and has a couple more viable opponents. He will likely pound Hardy, but Dan's mouth should help build up the bout enough that some will think he has a shot. Koscheck is slowly positioning himself for a shot and he can argue that he won a round from GSP when they previously fought.
Moving Penn up to WW would do two things:
A) Allow the LW division to regain some excitement. The UFC LW division has a handful of great fighters as well as quite a few good ones that deliver the goods. Who would not like to watch Edgar, Florian, Sherk, Griffin and Maynard all battle it out to see who becomes the next champ?
B) The move gives the WW division another legit draw and creates some interesting match-ups. Alves/Penn? Koscheck, Hardy, Daley, Fitch (ok, maybe not after last nights' yawnfest)...all of these sound, at least to me, like good bouts.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
0 recs |
37 comments
Email
Print
Comments
Why move up to a weight class that he can never win the belt in?, i’m fine with giving Penn another fight at WW while things shake up at LW but as long as GSP is champion he should stay at LW.
by Raker on Dec 13, 2009 12:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
after they both clear there divisions a little better i say why not? I would be more interested in GSP vs Anderson though.
by mr. gogoplata on Dec 13, 2009 12:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
BJ belongs at Lightweight. The former WW champ is 1-3 in fights at welterweight, and would get dominated by bigger fighters.
by jmjinks on Dec 13, 2009 12:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That’s precisely why I personally want him to move up to 170. I really, really want to see that cocky egomaniac jerk get his face bashed in a few times.
If that qualifies as fighter bashing, then guilty as charged.
by lhasafi on Dec 13, 2009 1:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Interesting....
And who exactly would “bash” his face? I’m curious to know. Aside from Shields…. I mean, GSP and his outstanding wrestling game I don’t see anyone at WW beating Penn. Let alone “Bash his cocky egomaniac face”.
"Well... You're damned if you do, and You're damned if you don't."- Bart Simpson
by poundnground on Dec 13, 2009 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think you caught the joke there.
I don’t see anyone but GSP being a threat to BJ at WW. GSP is the new shields.
"Well... You're damned if you do, and You're damned if you don't."- Bart Simpson
by poundnground on Dec 15, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
BJ should move down, not up.
After Jose Aldo beats Faber in the WEC, he should fight Penn at 145 or a catch weight. That would be a great P4P war. BJ has looked far leaner in his earlier days. I think he could get motivated to move down if people start talking about Aldo as a P4P great. If BJ doesn’t go down, Aldo could go up.
In the Sanchez fight, BJ could have been overpowered and bullied if Sanchez had better wrestling (and was maybe more cerebral and strategic than intense and game). There are too many guys in WW that could probably do to Penn what GSP did to him (Fitch/Kos).
by Jaydoggydog on Dec 13, 2009 1:06 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Penn/ Aldo in a year
would be awesome, if Jose keeps winning.
To be honest, I love Gray, and I like Edgar, but they both would just get eaten alive by BJ. I think everyone would/ will. Aoki presents a certain X- factor, but would likely get mauled. The only guys I see standing a chance are:
- Kawajiri (Good power in his hands, good striking, good wrestling/ grappling, BIG)
- JZ (Srsly, this guy’s a monster. Very athletic, has great striking/ grappling/ GnP)
- Alvarez (Same as the guys before- big power in his hands, great wrestling, athletic, improved grappling)
But to be honest, BJ likely dominates them all. BJ probably could make 145, but he would never have any motivation unless the UFC merged w/ the WEC (Penn would never take a pay cut to fight a smaller dude, Dana would have to bring the Aldo fight to BJ).
Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.
'09 is the year of the FW's.
by ElliotMatheny on Dec 13, 2009 8:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Both Penn and White have said that 170 is in his future. Penn has said he wants to move up and White has said he sees one or two more opponents before Penn has cleared out the division.
Jaydog,
Penn is lean and is still cutting from the upper 160s. I don’t see him making 145 without actually weakening himself.
by Lynchman on Dec 13, 2009 1:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Move Up?
Diego was a popcorn match. Diego probably isn’t even Top 5 in UFC LW division. I don’t think anyone can beat Penn but there are plenty of better LW that can give him a better fight. UFC sucks at putting together title matches at LW, too enamored with size: Sherk, Franca and now Diego.
by bignerd on Dec 13, 2009 1:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
According to Bloody Elbow’s own rankings, he is #7 in the world.
Your comment about size, Sherk and Diego are no larger than most LWs. Tyson, Gray, Penn, Guida, Florian, Stevenson…all of them cut from upper 160s to lower 170s.
by Lynchman on Dec 13, 2009 1:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I don’t care what he does as I tremendously enjoy watching his performances at LW. But I do agree that there are numerous exciting fights for him at welterweight that do not include GSP.
by Ahhhoki on Dec 13, 2009 2:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
He has no shot at GSP
Penn is more skilled but GSP is just too big for him, it was obvious in the last fight. Rumors say GSP has grown too big to even be fight in the WW Division.
If GSP wants to move to MW than BJ Penn can take his title at WW but I doubt the result would change if they fight again.
by bignerd on Dec 13, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yup I heard GSP has been adding more muscle. BJ has no chance. He should stay at LW where he is the king.
Mauricio Shogun Rua #1 LHW in the World. The TRUE Champion.
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Dec 13, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
GSP is more larger than Penn, and also more skilled. The 2 combined give Penn no chance. Penn can fight WW, but there are many bad matchups for him there based on the size of some of the WWs.
by Hardcharger on Dec 13, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't call BJ more skilled
I tend to think that they have about the same skill level. GSP is just the significantly larger man.
Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.
'09 is the year of the FW's.
by ElliotMatheny on Dec 13, 2009 8:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
exactly – when all else is equal, the bigger, stronger guy will win.
"Like a ballet of violence clothed in fine Brazilian silk." ~ MMASuPreMaCy
by Benicio on Dec 13, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
and is smarter... and trains harder...
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
by Well Read Idiot on Dec 15, 2009 11:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Penn vs Edgar please.
Mauricio Shogun Rua #1 LHW in the World. The TRUE Champion.
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Dec 13, 2009 2:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hughes v. Penn 3
Just so I can see BJ smash Hughes’ face
by Chadsac on Dec 13, 2009 2:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’ll say the same thing I said when this came up about GSP: I see no problem with a fighter dominating their weight class. I think MMA fans in general are too quick to declare a division cleaned out and a champion “too dominant.”
by JRN on Dec 13, 2009 2:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Penn should go back and forth a little bit.
First he should fight Koscheck while Fitch rematches Alves. This would either knock Kos out of contention or solidify his claim to a title shot.
In the meantime, Edgar should fight the winner of Maynard vs Diaz. The winner of that fight would be the #1 contender at LW and would be Penn’s next opponent after Koscheck.
Assuming Penn beats Koscheck and Edgar/Maynard/Diaz, he should then go back to WW and take on the winner of Fitch vs Alves. If he wins that fight, there is no denying him a shot at the WW title.
By then, GSP may very well have moved up to MW. Less probably, GSP could lose to Hardy or another contender, like Daley, and provide an interesting match-up with BJ.
by klown on Dec 13, 2009 2:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Meanwhile at LW
If Florian hopes to return to contention, he must first avenge the losses on his record. Assuming Sherk wins his next fight, I’d like to Florian vs Sherk 2. Sanchez should take on the loser of Maynard vs Diaz, and if he wins, face the winner of Florian vs Sherk.
If Florian passes these tests, he would have gone 3-0 since his championship defeat, with wins over Guida, Sherk and Sanchez. He would have avenged every loss on his record besides BJ Penn, and would be the undisputed #2 LW in the UFC.
by klown on Dec 13, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Good call
I’d also like to see a Florian/ Sanchez rematch. They both got smashed by BJ recently, but given Kenny’s impressive performance against Guida, that won’t happen at least until Diego bounces back w/ a win
Supporting all Las Vegas MMA. Xtreme Couture FTMFW.
'09 is the year of the FW's.
by ElliotMatheny on Dec 13, 2009 8:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’d like to see the UFC sign some new contenders for BJ to fight. Dana & Co. should be pursuing guys like Eddie Alvarez hard.
by MMAEruption on Dec 13, 2009 4:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
BJ is way too light for moving up.. he weighed like 168 when he fought GSP?
by grein on Dec 13, 2009 6:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
He is currently walking around at upper 160s.
by Lynchman on Dec 13, 2009 11:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The weight he put on for GSP was low quality. He didn’t seem to have anyone who knew what they were doing. If he could take some time and put on some lean mass, he would still be small but his cardio would be good and he’d be able to compensate for his size with speed skill and power. That’s more than enough to make up for the size difference he’d likely experience.
The question isn’t what does he walk around at, what was he weighing when he fought GSP, it’s more like what kind of weight can he potentially put on?
by Dooda on Dec 14, 2009 3:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
I commented on a recent post about BJ having no choice but to move up to 170, but doing it at the right time.
Let’s face it; BJ has no chance against GSP. I don’t think it’s much a difference of skill set, cause I think BJ is a more skilled and talented fighter than GSP. It’s just the size difference. GSP is too big, and strong for BJ Penn. And in certain instances, size really does matter in MMA.
Now…with GSP contemplating moving up to 185, which is most likely another obvious choice, then that leaves BJ with the possibility of fighting the top WW’s in the class, and having a legitimate chance and beating them all. There is not one WW fighter who’s skill-set is equivalent to BJ Penn’s. His BJJ would be tops in the WW class, and his striking would be tops also.
If BJ Penn takes the move up to 170 seriously, and works to build some muscle mass, while still working his cardio, he will be the next WW Champ.
With his combination of world class BJJ, amazing boxing (which aside from Anderson Silva, is best in the UFC), unbelievable takedown defense, granite chin, and the ability to finish fights….he would be a nightmare for the fighters at 170!
I don’t wanna see BJ Penn move down. If he wants to further cement his legacy as one of the best of all time…he has to go up. There are huge names at 170;
They can still do another fight with Hughes
They signed Henzo. That would be an interesting fight!
Koscheck
Hazelett
Kampmann
Alves
Not Jon Fitch cause he’s boring as hell!
Ben Saunders
Mike Swick
Dan Hardy
and the list goes on…..
by JAFOrlando26 on Dec 14, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
They should simply modify the rules concerning weight classes and run an open weight tournament every so often. That will sort out the whos whos.
by Daveyboy on Dec 14, 2009 3:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
spoken like a true harcore fan
'He built his whole reputation as a waffle house chef. They’ve been serving him up ham and eggs with a side of canned tomatoes' - Don Frye on Fedor Emelianenko
by Well Read Idiot on Dec 15, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
