Well, what do you know! Dana White has thrown up his hands in exasperation and surrendered!
After a great deal of badgering, begging, and brow beating, the verdict is published in BJ's favor. Yes BJ, you may have Georges again AFTER his fight with John Fitch.
Ever since his fight with Sean Sherk was announced, and possibly even prior to that, Mr. Penn (the "pretend Emperor" of Hilo, Hawaii) has been absolutely obsessed with a rematch with the Canadian fighter. He feels he escaped with a dubious (to BJ and certainly NOT me) win by split decision in their first meeting.
To say BJ is out for blood would not at all be stretching the point. He has in fact developed the distasteful (to me, being a former RN) post fight ritual of licking his opponent's blood off his gloves to celebrate his win.
But perhaps the formerly chubby Hawaiian has turned from Mickey D's cheeseburgers to draining the blood directly from the bovines, and thereby developed strength of mythic (vampiric) proportions. This would explain how he beats fighters without the benefit of steroids.
Seeing BJ bloody my favorite "Gentleman" of the MMA would most likely turn me from MMA entirely. All nurses know about blood bourne pathogen precautions and how time consuming starting IV's and dealing with blood spills has become today.
While BJ is doubtlessly very proud of being the first fighter to put Georges in the hospital after a fight, I found his attitude very offensive and unsportsmanlike. Consequently, I will never be a fan of BJ Penn. The fact that his Hawaiian crowd worships him makes travel there very unlikely for me, even if I could afford it.
Since both GSP and Penn have improved markedly since last meeting, it is not a foregone conclusion that either one of them would be favored to win. If BJ would lay off the "accidental eye gouges" I would say their chances were even.
BJ's freakish ability to contort himself into unbelievable positions is always a plus and a frustration to opponents trying to work him on the ground for a submission.
Georges has seemingly unlimited strength, agility, and the ability to resist being taken down. He can and has taken BJ down, however.
Since I can't recall their comparative reaches, I don't know who has the advantage there, and I am drawing a blank on their striking ability so I can't make any comparisons.
Fans of each fighter have been clogging blog sites requesting this fight and speculating endlessly on which dynamo will win.
As far as the Lightweight division, I suppose everything will remain on hold until the prima donna "Prodigy" decides what substance he is craving the most after he faces off with Georges.
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3 months ago
I always thought BJ had tons of natural talent, just to bad his attitude is the pits. That and the bloodlicking is in such poor taste.....(no pun intended)
from 3 months ago
I rather like your pun.
3 months ago
In their fight before BJ had the definitive advantage on the feet. He did beat GSP on their feet in the first round. It wasn't til the second round GSP was able to take BJ to the ground and win the fight that way. Now I don't know how much either has improved on their striking game as to whether it would be a different story on their feet since they both seem to just beat the piss out of their opponents on their feet, but BJ won't gas this time making it a different fight all together. His wearing down after not being able to finish opponents before was his definite weakness, but this should be the fight of the year. Hopefully there will be an actual winner and not just another decision for people to bitch about...it really doesn't make a difference.
from 2 months ago
It wasn't until his vision cleared from the eye poke in the first round that Georges could see well enough to fight in the second and third rounds.
from 2 months ago
I will make a friendly bet with you, because I personally think BJ will beat GSP. I like GSP, I am a fan of his, but I think BJ can take him. I am gonna come out and say that. I am a fan of both, and I didn't want to admit it, but I do think BJ can beat him.
2 months ago
The thing with those guys is that they are both getting better all the time, I'd give 2/3 fights to GSP at this point. I just don't see a KO from either of them...sadly it would go to the "judges" every time.
2 months ago
Why don't you lay off the snide cheeseburger and blood remarks and just try to make some honest commentary, instead of putting quotes around "pretend Emperor" (when did he ever say that?) and feeling sorry that your favorite "Gentleman" who was blatantly caught juicing got destroyed by BJ.
from 2 months ago
Marco, BJ was interviewed at the airport after his last fight and told the interviewer about his training diet, how he would like to just "eat all of the time" (Mr. Penn's own words, and thus the quotes), AND the first thing he ate after his victory was from an "In and Out Burger." What conclussion would you make from that statement, sir? An aquaintance of mine told me that on the island BJ is called the Emperor by his fans--guess you are not one of them, huh? And finally, have you missed his fights with Daddy Joe Stevenson and Sean Sherk wher BJ slurped their blood off his gloves. Do your research, I have done mine and any MMA fan would recognize that fact. George has never used steroids--give me proof or go eat your sour grapes.
2 months ago
I despise BJ. His horrible sportsmanship and barbaric blood drinking sets MMA back 15 years. There are countless critics of the UFC/MMA claiming the sport is caveman entertainment at best. How can anyone conceivably argue that point, after seeing BJ's ridiculuous post fight antics? Even the most well thought out counter-debate gets deflated instantly thanks to the "pretend emperor".
He's an exciting and extremely talented fighter....it's just unfortunate that he has absolutely zero class and sportsmanship. In my opinion he's the Paris Hilton of MMA: Rich parents, spoiled upbringing and ridiculous behavior.
I personally hope that GSP destroys him.
from 2 months ago
Thank you for a dynamite comment, the best I could hope for, I love your opinions on BJ's behavior.
May I introduce you to Marco? He could use some of your insight.
from 2 months ago
Dorothy and Marco,
Dorothy, there is no doubt in my mind that your comments of BJ PENN is laced with praise and animosity. It seems as a writer who have "cherry picked" comments that BJ Penn made for your criticism and argument advantage. Like my MBA professor has said: "You can't have everyone compete and not expect someone to get bloody!" Why the surprise Dorothy? Is this not MMA? Oh, but it is ok for Tito, Jackson, etc... to talk trash about their opponents (maybe you are not used to someone being competitive who is not black or white?; therefore, it makes u uneasy to see someone who you cannot relate too or encountered frequently in the "Mainland USA"?)
There is no doubt that I am a BJ Penn fan, however, the blood licking incidents I will agree with you that at times it can be disrespectful.
Marco, again you can't expect people to compete and not expect the competition to be bloody!
2 months ago
Dorothy -
Almost every fighter forced to cut weight makes food remarks of that nature after a fight. It comes as a result of having to eat healthy, cut out all junk food, etc. from their diet. What BJ said is no different than what most fighters say. After weigh-ins, fighters are usually starving and will generally pig out after a fight.
And yeah, he said he went to In-N-Out burger after his Sherk fight. Big deal? At least he wasn't out getting hammered at clubs like most fighters after UFC 84.
The juicing remark I made because I thought you were talking about Sean Sherk, not George. I'm a very big admirer of GSP and have no sour grapes regarding his first match with BJ whatsoever. He beat BJ fair and square.
What I do take issue to is how you and now this Paul dude get all overly theatrical. BJ set MMA back 15 years? His "barbaric blood drinking"? He "slurped" blood? Please. Dramatic much? I won't defend the blood-licking, because in truth, I found it to be disrespectful as well and wish he would get rid of it. But you guys make it sound like he's some kind of vampire and destroying MMA.
But hey, it's a free country. If you despise him, fine. No one will lose any sleep over it.
from 2 months ago
SATIRE, Marco, SATIRE. And yes I am a former assistant direstor of some very fine dramas and just love using figuative speech. Sorry that I offend you, I will miss having you read my future articles as a consequence of your literal preferences. Bu bye.
2 months ago
Seeya!
Have fun slobbering over everyone who agrees with you and making condescending remarks to those who don't!
2 months ago
Dorothy and Marco,
Dorothy, there is no doubt in my mind that your comments of BJ PENN is laced with praise and animosity. It seems as a writer who have "cherry picked" comments that BJ Penn made for your criticism and argument advantage. Like my MBA professor has said: "You can't have everyone compete and not expect someone to get bloody!" Why the surprise Dorothy? Is this not MMA? Oh, but it is ok for Tito, Jackson, etc... to talk trash about their opponents (maybe you are not used to someone being competitive who is not black or white?; therefore, it makes u uneasy to see someone who you cannot relate too or encountered frequently in the "Mainland USA"?)
There is no doubt that I am a BJ Penn fan, however, the blood licking incidents I will agree with you that at times it can be disrespectful.
Marco, again you can't expect people to compete and not expect the competition to be bloody!
2 months ago
Dorothy,
Your article is filled with just pure hatred for Penn who may just be the best pound for pound fighter. I myself am not a big Georges fan but at least I have respect for his greatness to the point where I just don't try to blast him because I don't like him. I think you would have a lot more fans of writing if it was a little more informative and not so much of you giving your cranky biased opinions about what will most likely be one of the great fights in MMA. You should be licking your mitts in anticipation for this bought instead of sounding so dreadful because of the chance your favorite "Gentleman" might just get put back in the hospital but this time with a loss under his belt. Speaking of disrespect I mean you should applaud BJ's effort and willingness to search for touch fights, not to mention fights that fans would kill to see, instead of calling him a diva for not looking foward to easily defending his LW title against competition not on his level. I think as a fighter he knows he is in his prime and has to take those fights now cause if he waits who knows what will happen.
from 2 months ago
OH my gosh, Nick Don't tell me you didn't read my article "The New and Improved Version of BJ Penn UFC MMA Warrior"? I am so hurt! Bein opinionate comes with incurable illness and old age--it is the only "privilege" I have in that respect.
What I don't like is his ADHD lack of focus. And haven't you ever noticed how he can never remain still and has to swing his arms back and forth constantly. I wish I could see the Teachers' Comments on all his school report cards!
And I consider sticking around in the weight class in which you won a title to be a requirement of the job, otherwise it isn't fair to others in the weight class and shows a lack of respect and responsibility.
Acting like a small child having a hissy fit saying "I want it, I want it . . ." doesn't justify letting him call the end of his own fights (Sherk) or cutting someone so badly the fight must be stopped. Just like the eye gouging incident with Anthony Johnson that could have taken his sight and required a two hour surgery to repair, I think BJ has met his quotas of "oops" incidents with GSP and Hughes.
bout tough And I know what will happen, he will relapse, eat cheeseburgers and be lazy and older.
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