Will BJ Penn Be Stripped of the LW Belt?
by Annie83 on Mar 15, 2009 9:57 PM EDT
69 comments
I was reading a fan post about BJ's complaint filling and one blogger noted that BJ should be stripped of his belt if he does not defend it within a year. That being said, it appears that BJ turned down a fight on the May UFC card to spend time with his family. However, the last time he defended the LW belt was in fact at UFC 84 against Sean Sherk May 24, 2008. Although we don't hear of many belt strippings, it has happend more than you might think. I've done some research and here is what I have come up with.
The UFC has stripped fighters for a few reasons.
- Contract disputes
- Injuries that would make it impossible for the champ to defend his title in 365 days (1 year)
- Retiring (although I believe that if a fighter retires, the title is vacant as opposed to stripped)
- If the fighter leaves the organisation
- If a fighter moves down in weight permanently (however, i believe this to also work sort of the same as a fighter retiring)
- Positive drug testing on banned substances by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC)
The belt stripping/vacating timeline goes a little something like this, according to www.UFC.Com
January 1998 - Randy Couture loses title via contract dispute
June 1999 - Bas Rutten moves down from HW and vacates the title.
November 1999 - Frank Shamrock retires, leaving the title vacated
March 2002 - Jens Pulver leaves the organisation and looses his title
March 2002 - Randy Couture is defeated by Josh Barnett for the LHW belt. However, Barnett tests positive for steroids and is disqualified.
October 2002 - Maurilo Bustamante leaves the organisation and looses his title
September 2003 - Tim Sylvia tests positive for steroids after defeating Dan McGee for the HW title. He appoligizes and gives up the title, rather than having it stripped, (six of one, half a dozen of the other if you ask me).
February 2004 - BJ Penn looses the WW title upon leaving the organisation. (side note, the fight in which he won the title was coinsidentally held on January 31, 2004)
2005 - Frank Mir is hurt badly in a motorcyle accident and is unable to defend his title in the 1 year timeframe.
December 2007 - Sean Sherk tests positive for Nandrolone-9 and is stripped of the LW title.
What does this all mean? It means that the UFC has taken away titles before, ten times in the last 11 years. If BJ refuses to fight within his one year of capturing the LW belt I would not be surprised if the UFC stripped him. If they didn't give Frank Mir an extension for a crash that should have killed him, there is no valid reason to give one to Penn, even if he does want to spend time with his new baby. A job is a job and if your a professional on the UFC level, you should fight anyone, anytime, anywhere.
Have Florian fight a top contender and give him the title shot he deserves. I'm not a Florian fan but the guy the has been waiting long enough. If BJ does not defend in May he should be stripped as others have been in the past. It is only fair.
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 |
69 comments
Email
Print
Comments
BJ just fought for a belt so the defending once a year rule may not apply here.
by banter on Mar 15, 2009 10:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It should.
Just because BJ had delusions of welterweight grandeur shouldn’t mean an entire weight class has to put their feet up waiting for him to get back to them.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 16, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am very sure he had this clearly worked out with the UFC beforehand.
by banter on Mar 16, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How very nice for Ken-Flo.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 18, 2009 2:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
he fought for the WW belt, he hasn’t defended the LW belt since may 24 2008
by Annie83 on Mar 15, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
BJ should definitely be stripped, and Shinya Aoki should automatically be awarded the UFC Lightweight Belt.
by AnonymousA on Mar 15, 2009 10:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sherk would destroy Aoki, first round KO…
by Reaser on Mar 16, 2009 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not with Aoki's magic pants.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 16, 2009 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
posting it several times wont make it less true..
aoki wont be able to armbar those trex arms and he wont be able to chokeout his nonexistent neck.. sherk will hump his way to victory..
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 16, 2009 3:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aoki would control Sherk from his back
If he could neutralize JZ who can actually hurt fighters with strikes, he can neutralize Sherk.
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 16, 2009 4:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
even if that happens (which i think is unlikely) and he stays on his back the whole 15 mins and doesnt get a sub, you can always count on guys like cecil peoples to make the correct decision.. ;)
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 16, 2009 4:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d take Sherk in that fight as well. The key would be to use his wrestling in reverse, and keep Aoki at bay with his vastly improved striking.
However, i’d never rule out a Typical Aoki “Butt scoot- to guard pull- to submission.”
Supporting all Las Vegas MMA.
'09 is the year of the FW's.
by ElliotMatheny on Mar 16, 2009 3:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aoki would turn into dust upon impact with Sherks fist.
Hello, Japan!
by Mr.Kib on Mar 16, 2009 4:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not a likely occurrence in the cage.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Mar 16, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Aoki allowed to take Sherk's 'supplements'?
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 16, 2009 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Only if Sherk is allowed to as well.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Mar 16, 2009 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
lol at BJ should be stripped because it is only fair.
Let me know when the UFC strips a guy who was part of one of their biggest ppvs ever, during that 1 year period.
Also, the UFC has a great track record for doing what is fair and not what is in their best business interest, much like most successful companies.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 15, 2009 10:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I can't believe I just read this
UFC puts being fair over what is best for business? Are you talking about UFC the MMA promotion?
by bignerd on Mar 16, 2009 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well this certainly would make WAMMA correct
BJ couldn’t be their champion because he won’t ever fight LW’s. They knew this before we all did. All-wise and all-knowing sanctioning body… we humbly grovel at your feet and thirst for your knowledge
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 16, 2009 4:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wamma would still be dumb cause they wont give the belt to anyone that's in the UFC..
i’d be okay with them crowning aoki but they should do the same for zuffa fighters.. let them start with crowning the winner of evans/machida.. if they continue ignoring fights that are #1 vs #2 in their rankings just because its from zuffa, then they’re just leeches so fuck them..
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 16, 2009 4:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Machida will win against Evans
And the UFC will still make him take another fight to get a shot at the title. So WAMMA and UFC will both have uncrowned LHW champs.
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 16, 2009 4:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what the hell are you talking about?
if machida wins then he IS the champ.. evans is the champion and machida is getting his title shot.. why would they have both “uncrowned champs” if machida wins?
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 16, 2009 5:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Obviously you didn't catch my joke
He can win the championship – and the UFC will still somehow find a way to try and put somebody else in that championship slot. Machida is starting to draw. But to Ultimate Fighting fans hes boring because he “runs”
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 16, 2009 6:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That wouldn’t work because the UFC won’t cross promote. That means that once a WAMMA title goes to a UFC fighter, it will never leave the organization unless it is stripped. Eventually the UFC would have all the belts and they would be pointless
by EazyEismydad on Mar 16, 2009 4:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
dream didnt copromote with wamma but they still crowned aoki..
i havent seen aoki wear the belt or even recognize wamma.. Why cant they do the same for the UFC? even if machida/evans dont wear the wamma belt, they should still consider him their “champ”..
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 16, 2009 5:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
^ this will get no response because there is none
by subo on Mar 16, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You got me there. The only theory I could come up with is everyone thought Alvarez was going to win the fight and there would be no need to deal with Dream.
by bignerd on Mar 16, 2009 7:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You are unclear about a few things. WAMMA is not a fighting organization so there is no copromoting with them. They are pretty much just a website with a group of people that vote on rankings and try to make it seem official.
Dream copromotes a lot with just about anyone and is therefore perfect for WAMMA.
As for recognizing the belt, Aoki does wear it and it was a big deal at the Alvarez/Aoki fight.
Your answer still does not solve the problem that once a UFC fighter becomes the WAMMA champ, no one from outside the organization will be able to fight them. If you give A Silva the MW belt then if Laites beats him by freak accident he is the WAMMA champ rather than Lawler or Mousasi or someone else outside the UFC who is a true top contender
by EazyEismydad on Mar 16, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Find me a picture of Aoki with the belt, because from everything I have heard the Japanese are ignoring WAMMA.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Mar 16, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, according to WAMMA’s logic it doesn’t matter if the guy who beats the champ is ranked #2 or #200, he becomes the WAMMA champ, so it wouldn’t matter if Leites beats him and Anderson is the WAMMA champ (theroetically) then Leites becomes the new WAMMA champ. If the #1 guy is in the UFC then he should be the champ, it doesn’t matter who he can and can’t fight.
by ufc4 on Mar 16, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
1. show me a pic of aoki and the belt..
2. wamma’s goal is to crown the “LEGIT” and undisputed champions in every weightclass.. But if they just crown people from outside the UFC, then they are just crowning the Best fighters not in the UFC..
3. Wamma even said that if robbie lawler vs matt lindland happened they’d consider crowning him undisputed middleweight champ… now if that isnt stupid..
4. did you even read brents several articles about them? everything is clearly shown there and i dont need to explain them further…
by Anton Tabuena on Mar 17, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sarcasm, nerd, sarcasm.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 16, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The only way I see BJ getting stripped of the belt is if he’s ditched by Zuffa, which I consider rather unlikely.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Mar 15, 2009 10:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If he insists on GSP being suspended...
… I could see Dana bitchslapping him to elsewhere, totally.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 16, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dana would bury him.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Mar 16, 2009 7:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
barnett and couture was for the HW and sylvia beat gan mcgee
by Brian Bobby on Mar 16, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You forgot Matt Serra
Who could not defend his title within a year due to an injury. He was NOT stripped, so it is clear the UFC makes special cases. In this case since BJ just had a megafight for them, and the fact that Kenflo said he’s cool with waiting, I’m sure they will let it slide.
by EazyEismydad on Mar 16, 2009 4:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As I stated in the article, the info i got was according to UFC.com
Matt Serra fought GSP april 7th, 2007 and won. He was slated for Hughes but he did get ibnjured and then i believe Hughes was injured which is why Serra fought GSP for a rematch april 19 2008 .Because he fought at the UFC in April it may have been 1 year, 1 week and 3 days, but he could only fight when the ufc has a card so I think that the less than 2 week extension is reasonable.
by Annie83 on Mar 16, 2009 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Couture (second time) anyone?
He was out for over a year AND was fighting with the UFC in court and they didn’t strip him. Also, if you look only at strips in the Zuffa era, they were all for steroids or leaving the organization, except for Mir’s nearly career ending injury that sidelined him for ~18 months. At worst they’ll do the same thing and crown an interim champ.
http://www.mma-collective.com/
by schizosmurf on Mar 16, 2009 7:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
To be fair, I think there were legal implications if they stripped Randy. In other words it would have strengthened his case against them.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
by BJJDenver on Mar 16, 2009 10:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And they did go all 'interim title' on his ass.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 16, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
People forget about Mir.
They didn’t strip him on the 1 year anniversary. They gave him an extension, and they didn’t strip him until he had to pull out of a scheduled title match that he already agreed to. This is a different situation. BJ has never agreed to defend the belt yet. It sucks, but that’s the way it was.
by Phildo on Mar 16, 2009 8:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I doubt it. He’s the biggest money maker at 155 so unless they find another guy that can sell PPV’s like BJ, I thik they will put up with his BS.
by Bigperm on Mar 16, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
<-- would pay to watch Florian over BJ.
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 16, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Punk ass Penn
Here’s what the fight deal should be if Penn/Pierre meet again. Pierre should say ok, I"ll fight you free and if you win, you get money and the belt but if I win, Pierre wins, Penn retires.
by might15 on Mar 16, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but nobody every really stays retired so it would be cool. Plus when he comes back a year later BJ could come out of the stands out of nowhere and lay out GSP to set up Penn-GSP IV!
by Chooch on Mar 16, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
And then the loser could get a shaved head!
Oh wait..
If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.
by Ozzz on Mar 16, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, strip BJ of the belt and give it to my boy Eddie Alvarez! haha
by Chooch on Mar 16, 2009 10:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I’d be willing to bet they’d crown an interim champion rather than just strip him of the belt. It’s kinda hard to hold not defending the title against him when it was the UFC that asked him to move up in weight to fight GSP.
by Andy R on Mar 16, 2009 12:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Actually BJ asked the UFC to allow him that fight.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Mar 16, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
An I Quite Match
Well, it’s not a bad idea just because BJ talks so much crap. No one would have paid any attention to this whole fight (outside the great supposed matchup) if BJ hadn’t had his boys sitting around him in those before fight specials talking so badly about Pierre. Pierre never once responded (except for the rich boy quip) to BJs pisspoor attitude. If he would have just shut up people would have said, hey he really needs to be in the light weight cat. But he talked and brought this whole mess on himself.
As for the WWE story line, it’s Dana bringing over the wrestlers. Brock getting a shot and holding the title is a bunch of BS. Champ with a 3 & 1 record.
by might15 on Mar 16, 2009 2:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Theres more than thing wrong with your post. The interview with BJ NEVER HAPPENED if you check the article now their is an update aplogizing for it being posted. Also, he is allowed to go over a year without defending it because Dana approved him fighting GSP so it’s not like he has’nt fought in a year. Also I’m not the best speller myself but damn your terrible you typed “loose” for lose about 6 times among other mistakes!
by irepdaronx on Mar 16, 2009 6:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
BJ still wants to suspend GSP and prevent the fights from happening.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
by iiowyn on Mar 16, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They have already said they WON'T and there will be NO interm title
He and Kenflo will fight late summer
by EazyEismydad on Mar 16, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
BJ was going to be stripped of his WAMMA ranking for not fighting at LW for a year. It had nothing to do with UFC.
by bignerd on Mar 16, 2009 7:22 PM EDT 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 © 2009 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.
