Props: MMAweekly
I want to be the best. I want to do all these things. I want to fight the welterweight, I want to fight at lightweight and you gotta be in shape, you gotta be the best to do that. I’ll be with the UFC a couple more years and we’re probably looking at a fight [on] December 27. I’m looking at the Florian-Huerta fight and I’m also looking at the Fitch-St. Pierre fight. Jon Fitch is a great opponent, a tough opponent, but St. Pierre brings the whole backing of Canada with him to a fight. It would be great to put on a big fight with me and St. Pierre, but then again, it’s about me fighting the best fighter and if Fitch goes down and proves he’s the best fighter, then he’s the man. [But] I’m moving up to fight in the welterweight division and then I’m moving back down to defend my lightweight title.
-UFC lightweight champion “The Prodigy” BJ Penn reveals his plans for his UFC future after meeting with Dana White to renew his UFC contract. From these comments, it sounds like his contract extension wasn’t the only thing they discussed. Could we see Penn vs. St. Pierre 2 as early as December? Not if Jon Fitch has anything to say about it.
163 Comments »
BJ will own both titles by the end of the year!!!!!!
end comments!
Na! BJ’s got nothing on GSP at WW. Or even Fitch if he were to upset GSP. BJ is Elite at 155 thats it! At WW he is just another good fighter in the division. Ofcourse I would still like to see GSP/Penn 2 or Diego/Penn Thiago/Penn Fitch/Penn Kos/Penn all good fights!
when he moves up witch he will,i think you will be proven wrong jv
Correct. It seems like JV doesn’t know what’s in BJ Penn’s arsenal. Either GSP’s or Fitch’s strength and wrestling won’t affect BJ Penn because of his durability, his leather skin can’t be cut, and he’s ultra-flexible so GSP and Fitch couldn’t possibly tie his body up like a pretzel into submission. And what’s more, Penn’s a submission expert as well so it’s not as if he won’t be in any compromising position when he hits the ground.
Now in the LW div., Penn is the master so it would be quite a while before he fights a legit contender. Just like what Anderson Silva is now in the middleweight division!
I think B.J. will be more than just a good fighter at ww, but I also don’t think he will win a rematch with GSP. He can always catch a submission, but that is really the only way I can see him winning. GSP is a better wrestler and striker than Penn. He is also stronger and faster.
I would actually like to see a Penn/Hughes 3, except that I think that Hughes is too far past his prime. I get tired of people making excuses for Penn’s loss to Hughes in their last fight. That being said, I would pick Penn in the rubber match.
Was he just another good fighter when he won the WW title the first time? Personaly, I would rather see him clean out the LW division for a while, but at WW GSP is the only fighter I see giving BJ a problem.
i agree haze, it will be a tough fight and i could see gsp winning but its not like bj doesn’t have a good chance at beating him too, and no other ww will beat him.
Every dog has his day Haze….(Matt Serra) BJ won the WW title yes, wait how long ago was that? And how did the rematch with Hughes go? Oh right Hughes pounded his face in the mat. BJ is one of the best for sure. But hes not just going to run right threw the WW division.
There you go roy! “BJ has a good chance at beating him” ofcourse he does! But most BJ fans say hes a god and would destroy any WW. And thats what Im arguing. Anyone of the guys I mentioned above would have a chance at beating BJ.
gsp has a good chance the rest not so good, it will be a tough fight for either one of them to win but nobody is getting destroyed or tooled and my predition is bj comes out on top.
50/50 all the way! love both guys. someone’s gotta lose though.
Both are great fighters and anyone with a heart beat can be knocked out or knock someone out. BJ has fought some world class fighters and is definately up there. GSP at the moment seems to be in a world of his own like A.Silva is but I’m really looking forward to the Fitch fight to see if he keeps it up
enjoying reading these comments, just sitting here waiting for my groceries to get delivered!!!
I love BJ Penn but I dont see him beating Pierre or Fitch. He may just have to stay at lightweight. The old St Pierre beat him, and the new St Pierre would most likely destroy him.
Don’t forget the old GSP beat the old BJ they have both matured as fighters and have both hit that next level.
This would be a sweet X-mas present for the fans. Too close to call although I would give GSP/Fitch the edge because that is not BJ’s natural weight class. You cannot fight against physics, BJ… but you are the man for having the stones to try !!!
Don’tforget GSP got poked in the eye
I dont give a f&^k about the eye poke, this would be a war! the Gsp and Bj of yesterday have both evolved but Bj more than gsp. The out of shape Bj almost beat the in shape Gsp back then. The in shape Bj is a force to be wreckoned with.
you didn’t but GSP lost his ridum.
I don’t give a f&^k about an out of shape BJ,because any fool knows that the eye poke made GSP out of shape and when he got his vision back he still WON. That was neither one of their better fights,however GSP has improved way more than BJ and it WILL show when they meet again.
I have never seen an in shape B.J. at ww, and he hasn’t exactly put on a ton of muscle mass. Who is to say that B.J. will not be in almost the same shape as before?
Finally, someone with sense, I see the fight playing out much the same way as it did the 1st time except GSP will try to stick and move more before selecting his takedown shot. BJ will have a better takedown defense but won’t be able to fend off GSP’s strength n’ speed. Most of the fight will be won by GSP laying n’ praying using his strength and size advantage. It would be a mistake for GSP to exchange with BJ.
Why would it be a mistake for GSP to trade with B.J.? I think striking is probably the area that GSP has the biggest advantage over Penn.
i think he can beat either one of them, not with ease and he could lose but he definetly could win.
No no no.. A new BJ will not lose to the new GSP…or Fitch IMO.
I don’t see BJ beating the new and improved GSP also. BJ looked good in his last two fights and has shown much improvement, but moving up to meet GSP would be a mistake. GSP is faster, taller, and would weigh more at WW. Also, GSP has not just been dominating his opponents like BJ, rather he has been destroying them and at a level that only Anderson Silva has been matching lately.
GSP has the ability to lose, but I would put my money on him over any fighter at 170 or 155 easy.
I do think that BJ would beat Fitch though and anyone else in the 170 division, just not GSP.
Penn and Fitch would be a damn good scrap, however, Penn has work to do to compete with a vastly improved, and razor-sharp GSP. He’s good, but not THAT good!
Cantrim, that is what the BJ fans are neglesting to notice. BJ beat Joe and Sherk, but NOT like GSP beat BETTER fighters Hughes and Serra. They NEVER even touched GSP. Sherk rocked BJ twice and he didn’t even try to fight his own game, he fought BJ’s game and went 3 rounds. Fitch has a better chance to beat GSP and that isn’t very good.
Neglecting
Whats new about BJ??? What his cardio? Thats it thats all BJ has improved right? So yes the new GSP would most likely destroy the “new” BJ.
And what has GSP improved? He was beating great wrestlers back in teh day in trigg, and Sherk, and now he keeps doin it now, in Hughes and Kos, he has alwasy been good, and Penn already showed he can cause problems for him.
GSP was dominant in most of his fights, but not like his last 2. They never touched him. They were CONSTANTLY scrambling and never got close to mounting an offence. Going by GSP’s interveiws, I think we are going to see another big improvement. When a guy like Fitch gets dominated, maybe you will beleive what I’m saying.
Thank you PhilQNY
Correct Phil! The “New and Improved” BJ Penn will have more cardio[to outlast “Rush”]and doesn’t party out as much as he used to back then. Bj may be the 3rd best p4p[there goes the p4p phrase again!LOL!]!
I second that!
I gotta agree. Just like Koscheck said “BJ is 0-2 in the welterweight division since coming back”. Why should he deserve a title shot in that division? Because he ALMOST beat GSP when they fought years ago. I ALMOST won the lottery but only hit 5 out of 6 numbers. Should I still get the Jackpot?
Irrelevant analogy. BJ is a star and as such gets special treatment from DW. Welcome to the world of politics…
I don’t think it’s fair if BJ gets the title shot before Alves if Alves beats Diego. That is B.S. Alves would beat 3 top ten WW. and not get a shot………. Plus I rather see Alves vs. GSP than BJ vs GSP hell I think Alves can beat BJ. The thing is I like BJ but he doesn’t deserve a shot at the title just cause he is moving up in division, similar to Silva didn’t deserve a shot at LHW and he didn’t get it.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter who deserves a title shot. It is who will sell more. And BJ sells. BJ/GSP will sell a ton of PPV. Period.
You are right TKO. The only diff here is that Silva has never been a LHW Champ. But also according to that logic, Silav has not lost 2 in a row at LHW. Catch 22. Penn needs to fight the loser of Fitch/St. Pierre, before he should get a crack at the title. Or at least the winner of Sanchez/Alves (if that). Special treatment my F’n ASS!
The best case would be if Fitch beats GSP then GSP can face Penn while Fitch takes the winner of Diego/Alves. Then the winners fight.
i agree w/ Arnold.
this is what sucks sometimes when fighters dont earn their way to a title shot when they jump divisions. it makes a lot of short-term money for the UFC but screws up the integrity of the sport.
i agree with stevo,as most people would rather see penn vs gsp, it would sell more, and has a better story
since its the second fight, and a champ moving up,so in that sense he does deserve the title
i still say penn has a really good chance of beating gsp, but the odds are definently on gsp side
If a fighter is a distinguished as a dominate Champion their weight class in the UFC they’ve earned the right to fight another Champion in another weight class. Besides a lucky Matt Sera, Penn is the only fighter to cut up GSP. BJ was a former LW, WW Champion and new LW Champion… What belt has Alves held? Alves or Diego will just have to wait their turn.
BJ Penn gets a WW title shot..Cuz he is BJ ” F’n ” Penn.
Exactly.
Exactly! I have to sit through guys like Forrest and Mir who were on 1 and 2 fight winning streaks get title shots, then tHe LEGEND BJ Penn should get one for sure! Not to mention it will be one of the best fights in the history of the sport….Thats why BJ gets a title shot!
I dont think that any man weighing 170 lbs or less can beat bJ PENN!!!
I agree 100% john. I put my morning conversation in the dream thread. taking my son to the park, hopefully when I get back, the comments I’ve been making for an hour will be up!!
Pumped for sat!!!!
Let’s be honest gents, BJ gets a shot at GSP (assuming he retains) because that fight would sell huge numbers of ppvs. This is about money and big fights lead to big dollars.
How many years has it been since BJ has won a fight at 170? You guys stop living in the Was! And start living in the Now. Let him get atleast 1 quality win at 170 before you guys Anoint him the KING of all divisions.
I am living in the NOW, thats exactly why i say bJ will be a BEAST at WW tODAY!!! when he used to fight at welterweight he was a fat and out of shaped slob….With his new found conditioning and dedication he will be very hard to beat. He will terrorize the whole division. Only fighter with a realistic shot at 170 of beating BJ are GSP and maybe fitch, but BJ would be the favorite in my eyes over both of them
couldn’t agree more…when has anyone finished bj? when he had a bad rib, he didn’t tap, never been ko’d. He will beat bj!!
Thx 24hrz. Thats what I was thinking but couldnt put it in the words. And John, he said start living in the now, not the speculative near future.
Realistically they both have a chance at winning. They are two extremely skilled and exciting fighters. Whoever can implement there game plan better will win this fight. I don’t necessarily see one better than the other. The winner will be whoever the better man is that night. If they did a re-match after that fight the loser could easily win next time around. I say let’s sit back and watch what could easily be one of the best MMA fights ever. GSP vs. Penn 2 – Winner = The Fans!
Kevin how do you think BJ’s rib broke? I guess ribs just break by themselves?
Anyway, BJ getting an instant title shot is cool, hes done enough at LW. But you BJ fans are just as bad as the Fedor fans. Put this image in your heads…(Matt Hughes pounding BJ’s face into the mat) LMAO!!! that was your god getting pounded!
JV, hey man that’s not funny. BJ is one of the best WW ever and he has never fought at that weight as focused and in shape as he is now. So what is to say he won’t be the same killer he is there as he is a LW? He has literally been toying with the guys at 155 so why do you think 15 lbs is so unrealistic?
BJ has already said he will come in at around 165 for a welterweight fight. He wont be cutting water weight. He was beating matt hughes in that fight then suffered a broken rib then gassed then lost. If he moves up to fight GSP he will be a little bigger than he is at LW and GSP will over power him in every aspect of mma.
he already beat hughes with ease and was working him like hughes was a rookie in the first 2 round of the 2nd fight.
You really don’t know much about the prodigy man. It’s not about size. BJ Penn trained with Randy Couture, and Randy said that even he couldn’t keep BJ down. Do you think the GSP is as dominating a wrestler as Couture??? BJ has incredible take down defense given that he doesn’t gas, alot better than Hughes or Kos. BJ Penn gained a ton of fat just to fight Lyoto Machida, and gave Lyoto a hell of a lot harder fight than Tito Ortiz gave him. I just don’t see why everyone thinks in anyway that GSP will impose his will on BJ!
because he already has.
Yo JV, that was years ago I believe, not NOW…
BJ Penn did not break a rib. He strained it or dislocated it I believe, and was unable to breathe properly after. BJ Penn admits in his autobiography that it was his diet, or lack thereof, that triggered the rib injury. He states that the injury would not have happend if he was in better condition.
JV: Please don’t make up some sort of a fallacy that Matt Hughes broke Penn’s rib.
BNF, The simple answer to that is, Sherk ISN’T anywhere near GSP and BJ took 3 round to finish him. If BJ took Sherk out in the first, then maybe he has a chance at GSP. So what if BJ got in better shape, maybe now he will be in HALF the shape GSP is in. The bad news for BJ is GSP’s cardio has improved more than his, so he will be at an even bigger disadvantage. If you don’t beleive me watch some of GSP’s older fights and then watch his last 2. He was never able to go full out like that for 2 rounds. I don’t know how some people can’t see the difference Greg Jackson has made (and still making).
I agree totally. Bj should not get a title shot against GSP. If he wants to move up to WW then he has to beat some top contenders to deserve a title fight. Bj may think all MMA fans want to see this fight however this is not the super match he thinks it is. Bj is one of my favorite fighters and has a great all around game next to none. I get tired of hearing about there first fight and how close it was. I have watched this fight at least 20 times and wonder what fight the doubters or other MMA fans were watching. Bj won the first round and round two and three could not stop the takedown Period. A much improved GSP in striking and every other aspect is saying alot. Bj’s cardio and game has improved. Watching Gsp vs Fitch showed how Gsps sriking has improved and once again proved he can take any fighter down at will. Bj thinking he can move up and take Gsp’s belt is just plan unrealistic, Gsp has lmproved too much and is stronger and faster. Bj has a chance however will not be able to handle Gsp’s strength and will not be able to stop the take down.
I don’t really see Fitch beating Penn. What threat does Fitch pose? His striking isn’t as good. His ground game isn’t as good. And he doesn’t have the wrestling to get Penn on the mat.
Fitch is going to get handled tomorrow, anyway, so it won’t matter. I just don’t see what people think he has for Penn, besides the classic “anything can happen!” argument you get from people who have no clue what they are talking about, and resort to the luck card.
I love BJ but GSP’s strength, athleticism and ever improving all around game are to much for him. It would be a stalemate on the feet. I don’t think BJ could submit GSP but GSP could and would take BJ down, control him and pound him out. No doubt in my mind.
No doubt in my mind either.
You really don’t know much about the prodigy man. It’s not about size. BJ Penn trained with Randy Couture, and Randy said that even he couldn’t keep BJ down. Do you think the GSP is as dominating a wrestler as Couture??? BJ has incredible take down defense given that he doesn’t gas, alot better than Hughes or Kos. BJ Penn gained a ton of fat just to fight Lyoto Machida, and gave Lyoto a hell of a lot harder fight than Tito Ortiz gave him. I just don’t see why everyone thinks in anyway that GSP will impose his will on BJ!
Well for starters, GSP has shown he can take ANYONE down, including BJ and all the heavier guys he trains with. I think GSP is better than Randy at wrestling. I have seen Randy struggle to get the takedown (Liddell),GSP just takes them down effortlessly and at will.
I think Gsp,Bj 2 would be awsome.Bj is way more dedicated now!
Mania had to do this…a debate over BJ the day before an event…gotta love it. The focused, driven BJ destroys fitch and beats GSP!
It does add a whole other reason to get pumped for Sat night. I for one am still on the fence when it comes to GSP, as far as him being overwhemingly dominant. If he beats Fitch, who is a completely different kind of fighter than Hughes or Serra, that may change my mind. Bottom line, I would not be putting any money on a fight between Penn and GSP just yet. Admittedly, I am waffling on this one (GSP vs Penn)and will probably continue.
Agreed.
I would love to see BJ’s bubble burst
you guys see this news? this guy didn’t even break a sweat in his last fight, and now this. I was looking forward to seeing him fight again!
*
So Nate Quarry was recently playing wiffle ball and some bimbo accidentally hit him in the eye with a bat. His orbital bone was broken and he is back on the shelf for a few months. If it wasn’t for bad luck, he wouldn’t have no luck at all.
Source-Bob Carson interview on CageSideLive (8-7-2008)
thats crazy. Dude cant catch a break!
Both BJ and GSP and totally different fighters then they were the first time they fought, however i still see GSP winning, even though they both are awesome. Be a hell of a fight.
5 comments and no one picking BJ. You guys are crazy. The current BJ is unstoppable. I don’t think the same thing can be said for GSP. GSP has a huge fight this weekend that he has about a 60/40 shot to win as far as I am concerned. I would give BJ an advantage in every aspect, except strength, which he more than makes up for every where else. Just listening to GSP talk about BJ I don’t think he wants any part of him. No way BJ looses…
I love BJ but he is competing outside of his natural weight class.
The bigger man always beats the smaller guy (provided that they both have the same skill set level).
Its not a diss on BJ. He is a great, great fighter.
BJ inches closer to legend everytime he challenges studs like GSP/Fitch for the title.
I cannot wait for BJ to prove me wrong!!!
O ye of little faith… BJ fights to cement himself as a legend and this is the fight that will launch him to that legedary status.
GSP and BJ do not have the same skill set so size doesn’t matter. He has been supposedly fighting guys his same size at 155 and has literally been toying with them. BJ is so good the size difference won’t play a role. I can’t wait for him to prove you wrong either.
BNF not you too!!! are you one of those BJ fans that think hes a god? (lol) You say BJ has the advantage in every aspect? GSP has kicks BJ doesnt. Striking I would guess their about the same. Wrestling we all know thats GSP’s advantage. JJ, Im not sure, but Id say the same. Cardio is GSP’s untill proven otherwise. Only thing left is flexability and ofcourse thats BJ’s.
JJ easily goes to BJ he’s top 2 in the world in my mind. But GSP’s JJ defense is very good especially since training in Brazil for the Fitch fight so I’d say that would negate the BJ’s advantage.
Yes sir… Me too. We can’t agree on everything. JJ, the same, are you just messing with me. I believe BJ’s boxing is far superior, especially considering GSP doesn’t even use his any more. The wrestleing will be countered by superior JJ and flexabilty. Hughes was only able to hold him down because he gassed. Won’t happen again. Will GSP even be able to apply wrestleing if he can’t even take BJ down. Who has better takedown defense than BJ?
JV, I am being moderated. Hold on…
BNF, I cant argue the fact that BJ at WW would be one of the top guys. But its crazy to hear comments saying, BJ would destroy this and run over that. Come on lets be real, Hughes pounded him and GSP already beat him. Hughes wasnt even in his prime anymore when he did that. I would love to see the rematch dont get me wrong.
I never said and by no means do I think BJ would destroy him. I just think BJ is the most naturally gifted fighter on the planet. Combine that with mental focus and physcially being in his prime, I just don’t see how he can be stopped.
GSP and BJ are both much different fighters now. It will be the best fight in the history of MMA and I got to go with BJ. As far as Hughes, I have no interest in seeing that rematch because at this point it is a total mis-match in BJ’s favor.
That sounds alot better than BJ is GOD! But it works both ways BNF. A focused and hungry GSP is a scary thing for any WW.
BJ at LW is unstoppable. He is entirely stoppable at WW, as seen in the past (excuses aside). GSP, Fitch, Kos, Alves, etc are a big step up from Sherk and Joe Daddy.
BJ is unstoppable at LW only because no one in the LW division has the skills to beat him. GSP at LW would beat BJ because he is top 5 P4P. I also think if Urijah Faber moved up in weight and to the UFC he’d give BJ a run for his money.
i think bj would beat faber no problem, i dont see faber beating sherk he beat jens but it went 5 rounds where bj toyed with him.
Now this is truely someone that has only seen Penn’s last 2 fights.
He beat Pulver, Stevenson and Sherk. Do you know how bad GSP would f*ck those three guys up?
GSP is stronger and faster. He has ten times better wrestling. I would give BJ a slight edge in submissions but don’t think he could catch GSP in one. Standup would be close but GSP has more strikes in his arsenal because he is much faster and more dynamic.
GSP is better than Jon Fitch in every aspect of MMA and has about a 10% chance of winning.
And you don’t think BJ would destroy Hughes, Koscheck and Serra? Get serious… The new 170 lb BJ will be ripped and in the best shape of his life, ready to fight 5 rounds not like the fat BJ of old that still took GSP to a contrivirsal decision.
BJ has gotten himself into very good shape, but his fitness is still a level below cardio freaks like Sherk, GSP, and Couture. He’s never won a fight where his opponent has made him work for 3 rounds or more. He picked apart Sherk in boxing and it was beautiful to watch, but he never had to work off his back, which is where his gas tank gets expended.
BJ is 1-1 against Hughes. He beat Serra but never destroyed him. I see him subbing Kos from the bottom, but wouldn’t call that a destruction.
BJ is not a natural gainer. He’s never been ripped as a LW, what makes you think he can be a ripped WW? His biology will make that a near impossibility.
Oh, and the only “controversy” was created by BJ fans. It was a CLOSE fight, but not every close fight is a controversial one.
The new GSP will be ripped and in the best physical and mental shape of his life, ready to be a defending champ not like the weak-minded GSP of old that still beat BJ in a split decision.
Never been ripped as a lightweight. What do you call the way he looked agaisn’t Sherk and Joe? Trust me that is ripped for BJ. He doesn’t have the typical “ripped” body type, but in no way does that mean he is not up to par physcially. I heard a BJ video yesterday where he said he just started training for a fight in December. That is 5 months added on to the previous 1-1/2 years he has been training. He will be in, by far, the best shape of his life and 5 rounds will be no problem with the “cardio freaks”.
I don’t know about Kos, but he didn’t destroy Serra (decision) and he sure as hell didn’t destroy Hughes last time they fought.
GSP already tooled Sherk. He made him cry, actually.
But BJ has a considerable edge in subs. He is the best MMA-rules BJJ practitioner IMO. He also has some of the best boxing in MMA.
I think GSP won the first fight clearly. BJ clearly won round 1, and GSP won rounds 2 and 3. Some ppl say GSP only out-wrestled BJ, but he definitely out-struck him in the 3rd round, and out-struck him slightly in the 2nd round.
I’d love to see them go at it for 5 rounds. Penn’s best chance would be to sub or KO GSP in the first 3 rounds. I don’t think GSP can stop BJ in the first 3. He’s not a power striker, plus Penn has a concrete head. I don’t think GSP can sub BJ at all, either. But I think GSP would own BJ in rounds 4 and 5, possibly stopping him via ground and pound, or taking the decision.
Pat:
You have just lost credibility IMO.
I can’t bring myself to correct you regarding BJ.
I will with the ripped thing, go search for BJ’s earlier fights on youtube or wherever. Look at him fighting Caol Uno, then tell me he isn’t ripped. That fight is LW.
Maybe just maybe his biology has changed lately, maybe by havin