B.J. Penn will face Joe Stevenson for the interim World Lightweight Championship at UFC 80.
Penn is a submission expert with an above-average stand-up game. His toughness and his desire to win make him a special fighter.
Joe Stevenson, at 25 years old, is three years younger than Penn. He's known for his takedown ability and also his submission work, and is coming off two impressive wins in a row.
First Stevenson beat Melvin Guillard in all of 30 seconds, making him tap-out on a guillotine chokehold. He followed that win by beating Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino on a unanimous decision at UFC 74.
In the other main event of the night, Gabriel Gonzaga will look to rebound against Fabrico Werdum.
Gonzaga shocked the world with a massive head kick that KO'd Mrko Cro Cop, then lost to Randy Couture in a well-contested fight for the Heavyweight Championship.
Gonzaga may have the best knockout power in the world, and was one punch away from the title no less than three times against Couture.
That said, Fabrico is no pushover, and Gonzaga will have to work to get back on track. Fabrico hasn't fought in the UFC since he was beaten by Andrei Arlovski in April. He sports a 9-2-1 MMA record, has a good ground game, and has proven he can go the distance.
My predictions?
I think Stevenson will surprise people by beating by beating Penn and establishing himself as an elite fighter in his division. Gonzaga will win the other fight by KO—I guarantee it.
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