Who Should Get the Next Crack at BJ Penn?
by Brent Brookhouse on Jan 12, 2010 10:05 AM EST
in MMA News
Email
Print
Well, Fight Night 20 didn't exactly go the way I imagine the UFC wanted it to. Rather than establish Gray Maynard as a top level challenger to BJ Penn it just featured him getting a narrow win over Nate Diaz. So the question now becomes who in the lightweight division should be fighting BJ?
Here's a rundown of UFC lightweights (we'll skip the dream matchup game for today) along with their rankings in the USA TODAY / SB Nation Consensus Rankings:
Kenny Florian (#4) - It's a little too soon to throw Kenny back into the cage with BJ given that he wasn't all that successful the last time. Maybe two more quality wins like he put up against Clay Guida and there would be some interest but right now it's just not a good time for Florian / Penn 2.
Gray Maynard (#5) - Heading into last night I thought Gray would make a decent enough challenge for BJ but Diaz was so successful striking with him that now it just seems like I'd be paying to watch BJ do bad things to Gray's brain. If he was afraid of trying to take Diaz down, he probably has no interest in trying with BJ which means we'd just see him flailing with his wide arm punches while BJ picks him apart. It'd probably look a lot like the Penn/Sanchez fight but much shorter.
Frankie Edgar (#6) - Yes, Frankie lost to Maynard. But by the time the fight rolls around it will have been two years since that loss. Edgar's boxing technique is much better than Maynard's so it's likely that he'd be able to have a bit of time standing where he wasn't just serving as a punching bag. Unfortunately, Frankie just isn't much of a finisher. If Penn doesn't have to worry about your power then he is going to be able to do most anything he wants.
Diego Sanchez (#7) - ...no
Sean Sherk (#9) - Regardless of if we get the Sherk that does nothing but box with his tiny little arms or the Sherk that tries for takedowns, it's pretty clear that he is in over his head with BJ. And given that his last fight was a loss to Edgar. Well, that one just won't work.
So there you have it, the top challengers to BJ Penn. Three of them have already been brutally beaten down by the champ already, one of them looked awful against Nate Diaz, and the other lost to that guy.
Me? I'll cast my vote for Frankie Edgar. What about you?
75 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Edgar should get the shot but I really think Cerrone would be more competitive against BJ than anybody under the UFC’s 155 banner, except maybe a newly focused Florian.
Co-SIGN
At this point I would much rather see Varner, Cerrone or Henderson vs. BJ Penn.
BJ Penn has created a huge distance between himself and the UFC LW # contenders.
whispering: Bring in Aoki
Happy Holidays and A Happy New Year
by VeeisAnimated on Jan 12, 2010 10:18 AM EST up reply actions
You guys are nuts
Cerrone wrestling is subpar, so the fight would go wherever BJ wanted it. BJ would most likely destroy him on the feet. Lets just say Cerrone is doing well on the feet, BJ will take him down and pound him into submission Joe Stevenson style.
Henderson has some pretty good wrestling with slick submissions, but is absent of a solid stand up game. He would need to get TDs and control from the top for 5 full rounds to win. If Diego and Kenflo cant take BJ down, Henderson has no shot. And there is no way Henderson would submit BJ. This would be a first round KO
Varner is basically a slightly better version of Henderson in the striking and wrestling department, but is prone to submissions and is mentally weak. He offers no threat to BJ what-so-ever. First round KO
High Noon, ok, I’ll take Varner out of the equation BUT . . .
Penn vs (Cerrone | Henderson) > Penn vs (Edgar | Maynard)
We all agree that Penn has a 95% chance of being victorious but I think those guys would make the fight more exciting.
Happy Holidays and A Happy New Year
by VeeisAnimated on Jan 12, 2010 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
I wouldn’t give Varner or Benson much chance against BJ, my confidence is solely in the Cowboy being competitive. His takedown defense still has a lot of work to go but he’s got a granite chin, dynamic striking and a dangerous sub game off his back. BJ is hardly likely to shoot for takedowns anyway unless he’s being worked on the feet.
BJ would still win, I only think Cerrone would put up more of a fight than almost anybody else at 155.
Cerrone’s 5’11’’ lanky frame and his ability to use it would be difficult for any 155’er to handle.
Happy Holidays and A Happy New Year
by VeeisAnimated on Jan 12, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
plus he trains with greg jackson
there is no way his wrestling isn’t improving fast. cerrone vs. varner will be a beatdown compared to the last fight.
by mr. gogoplata on Jan 12, 2010 4:35 PM EST up reply actions
Cerrone = Mac Danzig
That is ridiculous man. I do not want to see Cerrone Penn at all.
The man know simply as "Christmas Cheesesteak"
None of them...
Pit Takanori Gomi against either Gray Maynard or Frankie Edgar and see what happens. If Gomi is motivated, he’ll crush both of those guys. Wrestleboxers are the breakfast of PRIDE LW champions.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Gomi vs Edgar would be a good fight...
but If i had to pick among the choices above (and I did), I’d choose the UFC’s best FW to take on BJ.
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 12, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
Wait wait, do you mean Jose Aldo!!!
Bc that is the best idea BY FAR. Its the only fight that offers potential for a close match
That's a pretty bad idea
Remember what happened with Penn/GSP. Let Aldo defend a few times before he moves up.
that's the WEC's best FW..
i meant Edgar.
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 12, 2010 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
I agree completely, Gomi needs to be built up more before he gets a title shot.
"If your going to come on then come on!" - Harold Howard
if he loses though,
he wouldn’t be worth that huge suitcase of money that they’re probably paying him..
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 12, 2010 1:22 PM EST up reply actions
Make a voting option
for none of them…I would rather see Penn fight four kangaroos
by Infinite_Jest on Jan 12, 2010 2:20 PM EST up reply actions
This is a rough spot for Maynard or Edgar. I have a feeling that the one that doesn’t get the title shot is going to have to do something drastic between now and that title fight to stop BJ from wandering up to 170 again.
I guess it depends on what Zuffa wants to do. If they want BJ to stay at 155 to face both of them, maybe they can do Maynard first because there’s a better chance of Edgar doing something that will keep BJ’s attention at LW.
Maynard’s resume is better, but in this what have you done for me lately world, the fight with edgar was a while ago, and his last two fights were close split decisions. That doesn’t look good in reality or on paper, so i could see them going either way.
this is also why I think Gomi should be matched up against BJ right away..
It’s a shot in the arm to a division that is screaming for a new number 1 contender..
Then let Maynard fight Sherk. and Edgar fight stevenson/sot winner or guida or whoever. Then the one who looks more impressive fights BJ next.
I agree. The first thing that came to mind when I saw the choices was how about a none of the above vote.
by scrambledeggs on Jan 12, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
frankie b/c the others have already been decisively beaten.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Jan 12, 2010 10:37 AM EST reply actions
Jose Aldo
Would be a great fight either at 145 for WEC belt, or at 155 for UFC belt. That dude needs some press, it’s sad that he’s not a superstar…
Please let Aldo grow before we start suggest he move up in weight.
He’s still very young.
Happy Holidays and A Happy New Year
by VeeisAnimated on Jan 12, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Diego Sanchez (#7) – …no
I think you mean …YUS!
by rabrown on Jan 12, 2010 10:43 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I'm gonna go with...
BJ Penn vs. Takanori Gomi
Gray Maynard vs. Kenny Florian
Frankie Edgar vs. Jim Miller
Sean Sherk vs. Diego Sanchez
I voted for Gray from the list, he has a win over Edgar, yes it was almost two years ago, but it is still a win.
terry etim
has a 4-fight win streak, albeit against mid-level talent. Put him in against any of the guys in this list (diego would make sense) and see how he performs. people often say that a superior striker is the only thing that can beat bj in the lightweight division… etim has looked really good on his feet and i think if he shows improved takedown defense and beats a top ten lw like diego, he would be ready for that test.
by FiatJustitiaRuatCaelum on Jan 12, 2010 10:59 AM EST reply actions
way too soon
no point in executing young talent for variety’s sake
'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 Jan 12, 2010 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
.........
he’s had 7 fights in the ufc since spring 2007…ain’t no time like the present
by FiatJustitiaRuatCaelum on Jan 12, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
Just throwing it out there.....
None of these guy stand a chance against Penn. So if your going to throw out a punching bag for BJ to tee off on, why not a choice that can at least absorb some punishment. CLAY GUIDA. Nobody expects any of these challengers to last into the championship rounds any way, so why not at least give the people a show for their $50. I have never seen a boring Clay Guida fight and I think the guy deserves the pay day and recognition. (If you don’t let the whole W & L thing get in the way)
From now on whatever event I am planning will be know as the ‘Bas Rutten Invitational ____’
good idea (kind of)
before he got ktfo and choked by kenny
'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 Jan 12, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions
all of these guy have cannibalized each other, or we would not be having this discussion in the first place. But if I have to listen to Joe Rogan explain to me how Frankie Edgar is the most realistic challenger of BJ’s crown in the last 5 years, I might vomit.
The fight is most likely going to be in Abu Dabi on tape delay and sans a huge co-main, its going to be mostly die-hards watching. So don’t treat us like children and tell us this is a ‘super fight’. No matter how you slice it, this is going to be a beating no matter the W & L . So give me Guida, maybe his gas tank and heart can will this into Rnd 4
From now on whatever event I am planning will be know as the ‘Bas Rutten Invitational ____’
sans a huge co-main? what?
This is the card Silva/Belfort is rumored to be on
Goldie: "Michael Jordan-esque in his grappling skills is Travis Lutter."
Rogan: "No, no he's not. No."
Why not let BJ scratch that itch
Since none of these guys have any right fighting for the title right now, let them sort it out by having some contender matches, and let BJ scratch his itch for going up in weight. But instead of fighting GSP, lets have rubber match against Hughes.
I like this
I think he’d have the time to bulk up a bit more properly, and let him re-test the WW waters while giving Frankie or Gray a chance to really show us if they’re ready.
if they're going to go for this,
let BJ have the winner of Hughes/Gracie, it’s a big fight and a rematch either way.
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 12, 2010 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I like this idea. If BJ really wants to try out WW again, he needs to win his first fight. Other wise it would be pretty hard to justify his return to the larger division in a competitive sense with his recent record in it.
Joso Aldo Please
Either that or put Diego back in just so I can see that freak get his ass handed to him again…… Goood times!
I think it’s premature to crown Aldo a top p4p fighter, but at least he has the tools to be competitive with Penn, which is more than I can say for the top 10 lightweights. What tools do Edgar and Maynard have to even make a fight with Penn semi-competitive? Outside the UFC there is Aoki and Alvarez, but to believe that Aoki has a shot is to believe that he can both get the fight to the ground and submit BJ once it gets there. Alvarez at least has power, but he gets hit a ton and has a mediocre chin.
i think this push for aldo to move up is premature. hes still has many challengers at 145. only penn gsp and a.silva have dominated thier divisions in such a fashion
by ironic sumo on Jan 12, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
Penn should take a fight at WW
Meantime the LW division can sort itself out a bit.
I’d like to see Penn face top WWs who have already lost to GSP – namely Fitch, Koscheck or Alves.
At LW I’d like to see a few rematches to sort out the pecking order. Nobody should get the shot unless he has avenged his losses to other contenders. For example, Edgar should rematch Maynard before he gets a shot. Florian needs to beat Sherk and Sanchez before he qualifies for his.
We need to raise the bar of what it takes to contend for the title at LW to minimize the amouth of sub-par fighters challenging BJ Penn. Penn can while his time killing off WW contenders (those who are already defeated by the current champion) and preparing himself for a title run at WW.
This might be a good idea, but I’m not sure if that will fit in with BJ’s and Zuffa’s plans for BJ at 170. Moving up and down is a possibility, but they might think that the way for him to have the most success at 170 is to make the move permanent, like how GSP doesn’t want to go up to 185 for just one fight.
If they want BJ to go up to 170 for good (if/when he goes up) they should just give him Maynard than Edgar (or flip), then Gomi/Sanchez/Florian, then kiss 155 goodbye.
Penn vs. Alves would certainly be interesting.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate
by Richard Wade on Jan 12, 2010 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
open the ppv with Penn vs Edgar and close it with Maynard vs Edgar
by kanodogg on Jan 12, 2010 12:06 PM EST via mobile reply actions
^ LOL.
I vote Gray. He isn’t going to win, but he’s earned it. No way anyone can justify Edgar over Maynard. Some great ideas for other matchups – Aldo at 155, Fitch, Koscheck at 170.
certified warlord
Right now 62% of the people voting have some way of justifying Edgar over Maynard.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
by jemaleddin on Jan 12, 2010 12:13 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
And so does the UFC brass who just made it official.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
“Three of them have already been brutally beaten down by the champ already”
I think you need one more “already” to balance hat sentence out. :-)
But seriously: Frankie, and then after BJ gets done with the murder trial, Gomi, presuming Gomi beats somebody in that time.
Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ.
I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.
My web browser won’t allow me to see the poll results. Only that its up to 842. Can someone please state in the comments who is leading and trailing. Thx
Forward Ever, Backward Never...
by Tony NJ on Jan 12, 2010 12:17 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Penn vs Gomi 2? Really?
I get that people aren’t that enthused about seeing Maynard challenge for the title. He would be my preference simply because he is most deserving candidate. I could see giving the shot to Edgar, though, even if he’s probably not going to sell any better than Maynard.
Gomi should have to prove he’s still the same fighter he was before he gets a title shot. This is the same guy who lost to Kitaoka and Golyaev (though it was a bad decision). How many of the people who want Gomi to get the shot are Pride fanboys?
I'm not a pride "fanboy"
but having that fight is better, both business wise, and for my tastes as well…
It’s more interesting than a match against Maynard or Edgar, and it’s not like those two are going anywhere else soon right? I think the casuals would even tune in more on a gomi/penn PRIDE/UFC title unification bout than one against Gray/Edgar.. If I was UFC matchmaker, Gomi gets the title shot first, They Edgar and Gray would have a fight each, and the guy who impresses more, gets the next one..
by Anton Tabuena on Jan 12, 2010 1:10 PM EST up reply actions
It makes sense versus the alternatives. Zuffa can sell him as a pre-made contender from PRIDE.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Jan 12, 2010 2:00 PM EST up reply actions
By no means do I think Aldo is a top p4p guy but.....
I think givin the choices that the UFC has to offer at this point I would rather see Aldo move up and take the fight. Who really wants to see Gray, Edgar or any of the other UFC LW’s take on Penn, unless your just looking to see B.J “Diego” another guy. As Klown already stated a move to WW could be a good option for Penn. The LW’s can slug it out while Penn takes steps to get another crack at GSP ( which IMO the outcome will be the same as the last fight). Either way the fact of the matter is Penn has cleanded house at LW and the UFC needs to look outside of the 155 weightclass to find a true challenge for the refocused Penn
In order of what I would want to see (not necessarily based on rankings)
1. Penn vs. Aldo
2. Penn vs. Gomi
3. Penn vs. Cerrone
4. Penn vs. Etim
5. Penn vs. Hughes
6. Penn vs. Maynard
7. Penn vs. Edgar
8. Penn vs. Florian
9. Penn vs. Sherk
10. Penn vs. Anybody
Honorable mention. Penn vs. Sanchez
MMAMoneyLine
Edgar is the clear choice, Gray lost his shot after that horrible performance the other day. One thing I know for sure is that Edgar will bring it to BJ win or lose the guy is game for a fight not sloppy kickboxing or whatever Kenny’s strategy was last time.
Also people really need to stop with the delusional match making, Aldo is a 145 pound fighter the idea that he even belongs in the same ring with BJ is insane. Another thing while it’s hard to think of guys being able to beat BJ at the moment the best chance for a guy to beat him at LW is still in the UFC none of the japanese LW’s even stand a chance.
Aldo is fresh off beating the tar out of Mike Brown, who is as strong as a 155 pounder. Plus, if Penn vs. Aldo happens…most of the fight will take place on the feet. I can’t see how it even matter what weight class Penn’s opponent is…he needs to fight someone with very good striking and good submission defense.
I don’t know how Edgar is the clear choice…he lost to Maynard. How does that math work out?
At any rate, I’m getting pretty tired of Penn rubbing out wrestlers.
MMAMoneyLine
by MMAMoneyLine on Jan 12, 2010 9:11 PM EST up reply actions
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 © 2012 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.
