There are a lot of great fights coming up for MMA fans. We have the recent announcement of Randy Couture returning to UFC to fight Brock Lesnar and the BJ Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre rematch rumored for early next year among others.
The BJ vs. GSP fight is one I personally have looked forward to since they first met at UFC 58 in March of 2006. I have heard many say that this fight is too soon and both should defend their belts at least a few more times. I have also heard that since BJ moves up he has nothing to lose since his light weight belt is not on the line.
While those are valid and interesting points I feel it should happen now. I think that their first bout remains one of the best MMA fights I have ever seen. Ending in a split decision win for GSP that of course caused controversy, many have awaited the day these two incredible fighters would meet again.
- B/R Ticket Guide
So why now?
It's simple, really. Both are in their respective primes and better than when they first clashed over two years ago. The two styles match up well, especially considering some of the action from their first bout.
GSP was known more as a striker at the time while BJ was noted as a BJJ guy. Ironically, BJ busted GSP up with superb boxing like no other opponent and GSP took BJ down almost at will. It was an interesting role reversal at the time and an awesome fight.
Both have since improved greatly, honing their already phenomenal skills to new levels and dominating their opposition. They have shed the skins of cocky youths and become truly awesome fighters. These two are some of the best in the sport today and have the potential to be for MMA what Ali-Frazier was for boxing.
GSP possesses incredible athleticism, well-rounded abilities, and now freakish wrestling prowess that seems unstoppable. He held down Josh Koscheck in their fight owning the guy in his own realm of wrestling and Koscheck was a nation champ GSP never wrestled in high school or college.
BJ has always been known for his freakish BJJ skills, insane flexibility, and a jab that is one of the best in MMA. He utilized that jab to pick apart Sean Sherk with ease. Once known for the ground alone, his stand-up is equally feared now.
Just an opinion. Let me know what you think :)
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2 months ago
Naturally I don't think that BJ has shed his skin of cockiness at all, but I do have to agree with all your other points. His "excellent" jab needs to be perfected so his fingers don't project into other people's faces (and occasionally eyes). Otherwise you have made a great summary and valid reasons for a fight. Hopefully the Anthony Johnson incident will demonstrate to everyone how dangerous poking an opponent in the eye is snd it will not happen to anyone again.
from 2 months ago
Yeah the eye shots are a unfortunate hazard of open fingered gloves. It has ended a few great fights early. BJ is still cocky but not as much as he was he may never entirely shed it :) Thanks for your comment
from about 1 month ago
haha gsp is going to murder bj penn and to start of bj penn is a dick to walk in the ring and call gsp after his best win yet and bj penn won't be able to use his jiu jitsu if st pierre doesn't take him down and there is no way bj penn will get st pierre down. like seriously koscheck couldn't when he had a deep deep single leg and me being a wrestler i can tell that is hard to defend and then fitch had a perfect double on pierre when he was a against the cage so there is no sprawl st pierre could do but yet didn't get taken down and then bj penn may have a good jab well look at pierre's he torn threw matt serra with his and same with fitch. also st pierre just recieved a black belt in bjj so there is nothing bj really has on pierre except flexibiliy and i don't think his face will be flexible when i 100 mile per hour super man punch catches him in the mouth and also st pierre is a black belt in kyoushin karate and spars with one of the greatest boxers ever so pierre hands down will own bj penn but gsp vs silva is a god vs god fight and my opionions go both ways on that fight but GSP IS BEST in my eyes
from about 1 month ago
I love the way you think!
2 months ago
Good article. On the point that BJ has nothing to lose on this fight, I just don't look at it as being unfair because for GSP, it's another title defense regerdless of whether his opponent holds a belt in another weight class or not. I think the outcome of their first fight has eaten away at BJ since day one. I have read in interviews, long before GSP became champion, that he wanted a rematch. Now, it looks like he will get it. Unfortunately for BJ, I don't see him finishing GSP and since it will be a championship fight, he has to prepare for 25 minutes of war. This favors GSP greatly. Even with his newfound cardio, I don't see BJ keeping up his pace for 5 rounds. We have seen GSP do it against Fitch. Georges was as fresh in the 5th as he was at the start of the 1st. BJ's only hope of winning is to somehow knock GSP out early. I don't see it. GSP's jitz, while not in the vicinity of Penn's, is good enough to avoid submissions. Jason Miller has excellent jitz, maybe top-5 in MMA, and he couldn't submit GSP.
from 2 months ago
Yeah BJs cardio will always be suspect and, I think he wants this fight more than GSP. Either way it has potential to be one of the best MMA fights ever. I agree on the idea that BJ should try to KO GSP early. BJ has never been KOed but GSP has so maybe thats BJs best bet. Speaking of I still have yet to decide who I am taking in this fight. These are two of my favorite fighters so its a tough one for me.
from 2 months ago
I pick GSP to win, but I'm backing BJ. I don't know if that makes any sense... Let's just say no matter the outcome, I will sleep well that night.
2 months ago
I cant wait for this to happen. It is very confusing for me as I think both fighters are top notch. BJ is super cocky.....I just want to be known as the best ever is that too much to ask....that was two fights ago. Overall, Caesar is right, the nature of going 5 rounds is to GSPs favor but I do disagree that Penn cant stop him either. For whatever freak of nature that took place, Serra dismantled Pierre with strikes, none of which were lucky, Ive revisited this fight many times. Penn is every bit if not twice the striker GSP saw in Serra. That being said when and if it goes to the ground, Penn is very strong from any position as far as finishing capabilities. Overall, GSP is the better fighter, but Penn is so unpredictable it will be hard to GSP to prepare for all aspects of Penns game. I believe if Penn had cardio in the first fight he would have beat GSP, in some respects I think he beat him anyway. This should and will be fight of the year when it happens. In the end, I agree it should happen sooner out of resepect for prospective opponents deserving of title shots in both classes. Its not fair to the likes of Florian to have to wait and see when he has earned the shot at the LW title. This should be expidited, I felt it was a perfect cap to the end of the year, say Jan 31. Anwyay, thats my two cents plus.
from 2 months ago
I agree about BJ being able to finish Georges. BJ's game is so diverse and, like you said, unpredictable. I'm saying the ON PAPER, GSP wins this one and this is why I want to see this fight. I actually wasn't sure if BJ could beat Sherk and certainly didn't expect him to dominate him the way he did in the fashion he did it. I thought, if BJ beats Sherk, it would be on his back by some kind of submission or at least on the ground with BJ on Sherk's back like he did Stevenson and Pulver. I want to see Greg Jackson's gameplan for a BJ Penn. Jackson has had the perfect game plan for Kos, Hughes, Serra and Fitch but where do you attack a BJ Penn? Some say it would be "picking your poison". Should GSP take him down immediately to avoid the damage he sustained on the feet the last time (in which case he is basically playing into BJ's strengths)? Or stand with him and stay illusive for a few rounds in the hopes of BJ's gas tank going empty (which apparently was Sherk's plan)? Those questions, alone, make me want to see this fight TODAY.
2 months ago
...these guys need rematch ....because the first one was close ... it wont be close this time....gsp is close to being p4p #1..penn has improved also . but no match for gsp...less chance now of beating him the the first time..
from 2 months ago
See now that a good reason. Thanks Caesar. I can live with that.
2 months ago
Why should BJ get a shot right away when Anderson Silva has to work his way to a title shot.
from 2 months ago
BJ is already a title holder and has paid more than his share of dues to challenge anyone hes capable of catching by weight. Anderson also is a current belt holder, and for the record never really "earned" a shot. He had one fight iin the ufc and then fought for the title although now I understand the logic it didnt make sense at the time. Im confused by your question. Sorry.
from 2 months ago
It's simple Anderson is consider one of the best pound for pound in the world, why should BJ get a pass are they afraid he would lose before getting a title shot. BJ has a good record but Anderson is just as good and getting better.
from 2 months ago
It also has a lot to do with Dana. BJ is in the lightweight division at Dana's request. He needed a superstar in that weight class which, quite frankly, is deep in talent but lacking of any real strong viewer draw. BJ wanted to stay at 170. I certainly would love to see what sort of "sweetener" Dana threw in there for BJ to drop back down to 155. Initially, it was supposed to be a 1 time deal against Pulver. Having said that, BJ has always felt that he is a contender for the WW belt and getting diverted to the LW division was not his idea. With fighters like Alves and Sanchez sniffing around for title shots, BJ probably felt he needs to get his shot now before he gets too deep into the LW division and lose his WW ranking.
from 2 months ago
I need to add that Anderson Silva is not (YET) ranked as a light-heavyweight and should not get an immediate title shot. BJ has always been in the top-3 welters in the UFC. Dropping to 155 doesn't change that. I would be more inclined to agree that BJ didn't deserve the title shot at 155 for the same reason that Silva doesn't deserve a title shot at 205.
from 2 months ago
See now that a good reason. Thanks Caesar. I can live with that.
2 months ago
Pretty good article. But you didn't list one of BJ's greatest and most well-known skills: his take down defense. Which is pretty much the key to this entire fight.
from 2 months ago
Thats true I was really just thinking of the first fight when GSP seemed to bypass BJs takedown defense at will. The new and focused BJ could prove to be different this time around. You are right that will decide if he can stand and trade with GSP one of the reasons I didn't try to break down to much of analysis is because I have actually been going back to both of their old fights that I have and seeing the improvements in each ones game and how it applies to their upcoming battle. The thing is both have really come miles since their first encounter and its hard for me really decide who I think will win it. I guess its like Ceasar said I pick GSP on paper but in my instinct is BJ.
2 months ago
Im probably one of the few people who actually doesnt think this match should happen
right now, Honestly i think its a little disrespectful for the lightweights who deserve a
crack at the title (i.e. Kenny Florian)
It reminds me of the LHW division and Chuck Liddell, how Chuck is pretty much
guranteed a title shot when he beats Evans even though theres a couple other LHW's
who truly deserve a shot at Griffin first.
I think if BJ is serious about this match, he should relinquish his Lighweight title
move up a weight class again, and earn his shot just like everyone else
from 2 months ago
Yeah there is some merit to what you say but, I thing BJ vs GSP 2 may be one of the few bouts on the horizon that isn't completely based on the money it will generate. Though it sucks for Florian that he has gotta wait until some time next spring maybe April if GSP and BJ fight in January as rumored. Also I am a bit biased as I mentioned I have personally wanted to see this one for a long time.
2 months ago
Of course this should happen now. Once in a blue moon you are going to get to of the best MMA fighters of all-time from two different weight classes doing battle.
We should all sit back and enjoy this one because we might not see a fight like this in the next 5 or 10 years. Can't wait for this one.
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