Penn vs. St. Pierre Rematch On?

by szucconi on Feb 6, 2009 4:08 PM EST Comment 33 comments

For the past several days I have been reading statements made by St. Pierre and Greg Jackson about our fight on January 31. St. Pierre claims that he is “not a cheater” and that he and Greg Jackson will have “no problem with a rematch in the summer of 2009.” To the untrained eye the grease might not look like much, but every grappler knows the effect that it has. Being able to apply your submissions and sweeps or just being able to hold on to your opponent to defend yourself from being hit is absolutely critical! There is a reason why you are not allowed to put grease anywhere on your body except for the area around your eyes. Because of the grease applied to St.Pierre’s Body the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s executive director, Keith Kizer has stated that the Penn-St. Pierre fight “definitely wasn’t fair”. I hereby accept George St. Pierre and Greg Jackson’s challenge for a fight in the summer 2009. Lets call Dana now and set it up.

- BJ Penn

BJ Penn posted this note on his facebook. I would post a link, but it may be broken to all that are not his friend.

Rematch On?

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As I stated in another thread..BJ knows he stands to make 3-4 million on this fight with PPV shares. Why wouldn’t he make a push for this even if he knows he can’t beat GSP?

A fight with Florian during the same timeframe would prob only net him a fraction of that payday.

BJ isn’t stupid.

by Bigperm on Feb 6, 2009 4:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He may not be stupid, but he’s wack as hell for not defending that LW belt.

http://www.mmaforreal.com

by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 6, 2009 4:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think he cares about it. He was planning on retiring after beating GSP. They may as well strip him.

by szucconi on Feb 6, 2009 4:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Place your bets now!

What will BJs excuse be when GSP beats him … again?

by mythbuster on Feb 6, 2009 4:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What is his excuse now? He basicly said he got his ass kicked grease or no grease.

by szucconi on Feb 6, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

To the untrained eye the grease might not look like much, but every grappler knows the effect that it has. Being able to apply your submissions and sweeps or just being able to hold on to your opponent to defend yourself from being hit is absolutely critical!

You’re the one who posted the quote. You didn’t bother to read it? He’s saying that the grease stopped him from being able to fight his fight, and that’s why GSP won.

by mythbuster on Feb 6, 2009 4:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He doesn’t say he would have won, but he has said the opposite in fact that GSP would have still won even without grease. A rematch sort of settles the score and assuming there is not corner funny business, when GSP wins it will begin to untaint his fights. If you think he greases or not there is a cloud over some of his past fights now. I kinda think BJ wants to go out with no excuses or cloud hanging over his last fight. Going out fighting the best. He can’t get that at LW when he can certainly compete at WW. GSP wins, BJ retires.

by szucconi on Feb 6, 2009 4:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

gotcha

at least I understand where you’re coming at this from. I, and most people, don’t think any of his fights are tainted. On the contrary, I think it’s a lot of belly aches going around.

by mythbuster on Feb 6, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think a fighter should lose any right to a rematch after they lose 2 fights to someone. If you lose 2 in a row to someone, they pretty much own you. I realize you have the rare 3rd fight where someone like Rampage knocks Wandy out, but when 2 guys are in the prime of their careers and one guy loses 2 in a row? He’s not going to beat that other guy again.

It’s over. Move on. It’s not like this 2nd fight was even competitive. I could see if BJ had knocked GSP down or mounted him or took him down at some point but the fact is..he didn’t. Never had him in an kind of danger. There is no justification for a 3rd fight. There are other more deserving fighters out there for both of these guys to take on.

by Bigperm on Feb 6, 2009 4:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Ok, I am not saying the match is a good idea, I don’t think it is, but for argument sake. Keith Kizer has stated that he doesn’t think the second match was fair for either guy. The first match was a SD. So taking the idea that match one was so close and reasonable doubt about the result of the second match then a third match is not totally rediculous like say Franklin Silva would be. I mean niether fight was close and niether had any doubt surrounding them. That is what Kizer meant when he said it wasn’t fair to GSP. The lube may not have affected the result, but it does affect how one of the bigest wins of GSPs carrer will be looked at. So make BJ give up the LW title and I don’t have a major issue with the rematch, but I still don’t think it is a good idea.

by szucconi on Feb 6, 2009 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think this is generally right. But BJ is 1-3 at WW. He needs to go fight Jon Fitch and beat him. If he can do that, fine.

by Michael Rome on Feb 6, 2009 5:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t disagree, but the same thing could have been said before 94. Beat a top WW then get a shot. I would have agreed with you then too, but there is no money going into my pocket from the number of buys the show does.

by szucconi on Feb 6, 2009 5:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong.

Before 94, BJ was 1-2 at WW. Now he’s 1-3.

by subo on Feb 6, 2009 6:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BJ doesn’t want to earn another rematch. I would bet the farm that we will never see BJ fight Fitch, Alves, Kos or any of those top 5 WW in the UFC. He wants to fight for the title, and then ride off into the sunset.

I agree with you that he should have to earn his way, but at the same time, there is no way in hell BJ beats these guys that are walking around at 190 or so lbs. No way. There are weight classes for a reason.

by Bigperm on Feb 6, 2009 5:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Had BJ won the first fight, would he have been satisfied knowing that he poked GSP in the eye during the very first round?

BJ clearly showed one thing during that fight: that he simply can’t wrestle with a WW for more than 5 mins, even in his very best shape. He’s too small to put on the weight needed and have sufficient cardio at that weight class. Seriously, what would be different next time? GSP kicking him in the head non-stop? kneeing his ribs Matt Serra style? hit him in the head 300 times instead of only 200?

There are fighters in the WW division who are actually working at becoming legit contenders. BJ can’t just cut the line anymore. I don’t want him to waste GSP’s time – he’s got better things to do already.

by NinjaCodah on Feb 6, 2009 9:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You are missing the point. An eye poke is bad, but grease theoreticly negates BJ’s BJJ. He is very good at BJJ. Good enough to sub GSP? I don’t buy it, not when he is getting dominated with great wrestling, but to compair greaseing with an eye poke is dumb. Besides it is not like an eye poke has never been the cause of a rematch.

by szucconi on Feb 7, 2009 2:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

shakes head

Please no! The fight was a complete shutout. The grease doesn’t change the fact that Penn was getting murdered on the feet and taken down at will. Not only that, he never even came close to a sweep or submission. Grease would give GSP an advanatage (thought the athletic commission says they wiped him down hard between rounds), but not that kind of domination.

If Penn wants a rematch, let him beat Kenny, abandon the belt, and then beat a couple top WW’s. My guess is the rematch would never happen if they forced Penn to do that.

by Razzel on Feb 6, 2009 5:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Got an email containing the same statement from BJ earlier today.

I think there is almost zero chance of a rematch. The only reason there is a chance is because the fight probably did outstanding at the box office and on PPV, but also the NSAC seems to feel the greasing incident is at least worthy of an investigation.

To me, GSP beat BJ’s ass so hard that as I sat there, watching the the doctor and his corner agree to stop the fight, I felt like it was difficult to imagine BJ ever winning again. It was a beating for the ages, and one that has obviously affected BJ’s psyche in a powerful way. I certainly don’t blame him for wanting to acquit himself against St. Pierre, and I think it’s entirely plausible for the competitor on the wrong side of illegal greasing to feel that it played a role in their demise.

Still, it’s not a fight I think I’d like to see again, which is really saying something. I really like GSP, and though I thought the beating was so severe that I thought it would affect his career going forward, I still feel he is the very best Lightweight in the world until further notice. But at the same time, I’m a fan of the Florida Gators and the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I don’t think I’d like to see the two play a game against each other.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Feb 6, 2009 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

GSP beat BJ’s ass so hard

This from one of the biggest BJ Penn fans I know.

by szucconi on Feb 6, 2009 5:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“But at the same time, I’m a fan of the Florida Gators and the Pittsburgh Steelers, but I don’t think I’d like to see the two play a game against each other.”

Good analogy. I think this fight hurt BJ’s image big time. I have a hard time in my mind imagining him beating anyone right now the way he looked in there against GSP. Says something about how good GSP is when he can make a guy like BJ look that weak.

by Bigperm on Feb 6, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes it does. And it worked the other way, too.

Before the fight with BJ, I was thinking that Alves might give GSP a run for his money. Now, I feel like GSP will run through him.

Which is kind of silly, when you think about it, because I’m making assumptions about GSP against a guy who’s bigger than him based on the dismantling of a guy who is much smaller than him and has a largely different skill set.

Then again, maybe I just think GSP’s ability to kick ass transcends weight classes and skill sets. I’ll know for sure after the Alves fight.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Feb 6, 2009 9:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is the same paragraph Michael Rome posted earlier.

I decided to splurge on a trip to Las Vegas and for $300 seats for UFC 94, buying into all the hype that this would be the “most anticipated rematch in UFC history”. I am a big fan of both fighters, and although I am glad GSP won, I was disappointed that the fight was one sided. If BJ was unable to achieve and maintain a high guard due to the vaseline, why didn’t he use his “vaunted takedown defence” and his “best boxing in the UFC” to fight GSP after round 1? It’s probably because he was gassed at the end of the first round. Hype is a powerful thing. I think GSP opened as an almost 3 to1 favorite, and by fight time, it was closer to even money (I bet $50 and won $85 on GSP). The UFC hype machine got the majority of the betting public to bet on BJ Penn and the casinos and the UFC cleaned up. The bottom line is that BJ showed nothing</strong>that would indicate he would be competitive in yet another rematch. If GSP / BJ Penn III is made by the UFC it will be a pointless cash grab. I won’t buy into the hype again but I will probably bet on GSP again.

by pharmboy on Feb 6, 2009 5:26 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

GSP IS A BEAST!

Is BJ trying to get killed? GSP is getting pissed. He’s gonna HURT him if BJ doesn’t stop flappen his gums. Just imagine all the shit that BJ is gonna talk in the next prime-time(if there is another, which there should be, but make it an hour). Do like GSP said. Go look in the mirror, and change something or you really will have no chance at all.

And i don’t think that Penn should over look Florian. Kid is a smart fighter.

by J_Maddux on Feb 6, 2009 5:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I never ever thought I would say this about any fight involving either GSP or BJ Penn, who are two of my favourite fighters ever, but here it is:

I have absolutely no interest in seeing this fight.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Feb 6, 2009 6:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Strikes me that if they do this fight this is the kind of fight you do on Spike to break the TV record instead of asking fans to pay for it a third time.

by Michael Rome on Feb 6, 2009 7:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That would be an awesome card to showcase people.

by iiowyn on Feb 6, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think so, too. Either that, it it’s placed as the semi-main underneath a big Brock Lesnar title defense or something else along those lines.

I don’t think the best UFC Primetime series in the world can get this match over as a PPV main event again. At least, not until something drastically changes between the two fighters.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Feb 6, 2009 9:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rome, that is actually an interesting idea. I still don’t care to see it, but from a business standpoint, the UFC should at least pause and consider something like that.

"I'm AJB and I endorse this nut-puncher."

by AJB on Feb 7, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do we really need to waste everyone’s time with this again? We all know BJ isn’t going to put in the work it takes to add 15 pounds of muscle and without that he has no chance. This would be completely pointless except to line BJ’s pockets, and he always says he doesn’t need the money.

by ufc4 on Feb 6, 2009 7:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

BJ Penn versus Ken Shamrock at a catch weight!

by pharmboy on Feb 6, 2009 7:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I see no reason to bother with a catch weight. Penn could just balloon up to 206.

Bolts from the Blue // "Game over." - Jamal Williams
Bloody Elbow // "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats." - H.L. Mencken

by Richard Wade on Feb 9, 2009 9:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

GSP vs. BJ Penn III Breaks the bank boys, wether we want to see it again or not.

The drama between these two has escalated so high GSP’s professional stance is starting to crack, you can hear the animosity in his voice. BJ, the wronged challenger, wants his shot at glory he though was stolen from him. People who despise MMA will watch this fight, and love it.

I agree, Penn should have to work his way to the shot…but let’s get real, will Dana risk him losing, causing them to lose their Blockbuster PPV? I HIGHLY doubt that.

KenFlo will fight the winner of Sanchez and Joe Daddy for the interim title if BJ vacates it, which I think he has already planned to do. As much as I want him to fight Kenny, once again, he’d be risking everything against a dangerous and capable opponent.

The simple fact here my friends is that GSP-BJ III with a strong co-header will make millions for every party involved, and it will continue to bring fans to the sport, and more fans+more money = higher quality product.

I want this fight for the greater good, and some people may not see it, but I sure as hell do.

by kyfm621 on Feb 6, 2009 7:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs