With UFC 91 in the books, I figured it's never too early to preview the next date on my calendar that really gets my blood pumping.
No, I don't mean Thanksgiving. I don't mean Hanukah, Christmas or New Years either. I'm not even talking about the ridiculously stacked UFC 92 card on December 27th.
I, of course, am referring to UFC 94. More specifically, the BJ Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre superfight.
This is a "superfight" in every sense of the word. In fact, this is the biggest fight in MMA history. Whether you're a casual MMA fan, a GSP fanatic, a BJ nuthugger, or somewhere in between, you couldn't ask for a better matchup.
Dana White said it best: "This is the kind of stuff that will make one of these guys a legend." A legend, and likely the consensus pound for pound king of MMA. These are labels that both men want so desperately.
Granted, those are some bold statements—but in no way are they overstatements. It is virtually impossible to overstate the magnitude or the significance of this fight. Not only are these the two finest mixed martial artists in the UFC today, but they are both champions.
This will mark the first time that two current UFC champions are squaring off. This is Tupac vs. Biggie, folks. Nas vs. Jay-Z. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. LeBron James vs. Kobe Bryant. One icon vs. another icon.
We on Bleacher Report have been debating this fight for months. However, most of the comments I've read absolutely wreak of bias. I am guilty as any, and will admit to writing my share of these comments. That being said, this article is 100% objective. In no way will I attempt to sway your opinion one way or another.
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about 1 month ago
I've still yet to see firm evidence of the eye poke, even after watching it several times, one as recent as this past Monday. The strike I saw caught GSP flush in the eye, Penn's little finger is level with GSP's outer orbital bone, his thumb level with the opposite side of his eye level with GSP's nose. It was a punch, not open hand, so no pointed fingers going into the eye, which leaves Penn's thumb to do the damage. THe bleeding and marking on GSP's eye/face was on the opposite side of where BJ's thumb was, and I didn't see that digit close enough to GSP's eye to be a factor. In my opinion, it was simply a hard punch to the actual eye itself, but I can fully understand why neither fighter can confirm or deny this, and I can see why it has been viewed as an eye poke.
Penn may have taken the fight with Hughes at short notice, but so did GSP, when Matt Serra pulled out of his fight with Hughes for the title.
from about 1 month ago
Yo, Jay, BJ just stated during the promotional tour that it was a part of his glove that entered Georges eye, scratching it, and not his pointed finger, although the scratch undoubtedly felt like a fingernail to Georges.
about 1 month ago
Good point about the eye poke. I tend to favor BJ - obviously - so I mentioned the poke to keep GSP fans from jumping down my throat. I wasn't sure whether or was a finger, knuckle, or fist.
I remember GSP taking the fight once Serra pulled out. However, he was given about a month and two days notice. He was also training to potentially wrestle in the Athens olympics, and said he was training anyway in the event of an injury to Hughes or Serra. BJ was just chillin when Dana called him before UFC 63.
about 1 month ago
I can see why people say the first fight was split either way, but, despite my BJ bias, I have yet to watch it and be able to convince myself that Penn won. BJ stormed the first round, everyone knows that. Georges took the second. In the early moments of round 3, the awesome takedown/slam from GSP was a big point, and his other big takedown was a big point, too. Yes, BJ nearly got the omoplata, which showed he was always working and improving his position, but almost getting an arm/shoulder/triangle on isn't the same as getting one, as we all know. GSP shaded that fight.
I don't question GSP's ability, I question his mental strength.
from about 1 month ago
That's definitely true, the biggest question with GSP is always where he is mentally. I think it's less of a concern now than it used to be though.
from about 1 month ago
One could possibly argue that BJ has mental issues as well emanating from his loss to Georges which has had him lamenting the loss constantly and wanting revenge, and the loss to Matt Hughes which also must have stuck in his craw b/c of the injury making him impotent to do anything to stop Hughes but laythere praying for divine intervention.
With regards to the fight with Georges, pundits had stressed so strongly that the Prodigy could not be taken down, that I am sure Georges taking him down at will made more of an impression than anything else which happened during the fight.
about 1 month ago
Interesting way to approach this article Hawaiian- very cool. As far as giving BJ the advantage over GSP, based on Serra & Hughes evidence, I will have to respectfully disagree.
I would say GSP avenging his loss over Matt Serra was more impressive then BJ getting an uneventful win over Serra, at LW, so long ago its irrelevant.
Also, I would say GSP's 2-1 record over Hughes is more impressive then BJ's 1-1 record. Especially with the way GSP dominated Hughes in the last two fights. Whereas, BJ won his first fight, then lost the 2nd.
I like what you did here though and I think you can expand upon it for further articles as we get closer to the fight. Good job!
from about 1 month ago
A few of those could have gone either way. I didn't really count UFC 79 because Hughes absolutely sucked at that point. And GSP kicked Hughes in the groin twice during their fight at UFC 65. As I'm sure you know, low blows will take a lot out of you.
As for BJ, I think people forget how badly he was dominating Hughes at UFC 63. Like their first fight, Hughes did literally nothing. When Penn came out for the third round, you knew right away something was wrong. I broke a rib during a soccer game in high school, and couldn't move or even breathe. I can't imagine trying to fight like that.
Basically the way I looked at it was, GSP has a first round loss to Hughes, and BJ has a first round win over Hughes. And overall, I feel like BJ was more dominant, even in the losing effort.
from about 1 month ago
Actually, as I have mentioned a couple of times or more, Hughes has admitted to faking the blow to the groin in the second instance b/c he needed a rest and realized he could pull it off. That is why Serra was making a mokery of Hughes and the groin kick on UFC 6. Guessed you guys missed it. However, this got me wondering if, based on what had happened to Georges, Hughes faked his eye gouge from BJ in their second match to gain a rest/time out and therefore was responsible for reinforcing that BJ is a dirty fighter. If this, like the groin kick which did not occur, was another Hughes hoax, then Matt Hughes is responsible for making BJ look like a dirty fighter and consequently giving me a very low impression of BJ who certainly did not deserve it. That is just dispicable! Don't you agree?
from about 1 month ago
Yeah for sure. I didn't realize that Hughes admitted to faking the low blow, but I've actually heard BJ mention it before.
You see, on TUF 5, Matt Pena was one of Jens Pulver's assistant coaches. Pena also cornered Hughes in his fight against BJ. On the DVD, BJ explained that after the "eye poke," Pena started yelling "f*** you, what the f*** do you think you're doing?!?!" through the cage. So in the special features, it showed BJ confront Pena during the show. It was hilarious. He told Pena to watch what he says for the rest of his life, and he would leave him alone. He also called Hughes a b**** and said he's always pretending to get poked in the eye and kicked in the balls. Pena looked scared and said, "you're a wonderful fighter, and I'll root for you as long as you're not fighting one of my guys" and then left. It was great.
about 1 month ago
Absolutely spectacular. I dont know what else to say. Like Im not salivating as it is. Today I was given permission by the Mrs. to pursue tickets to this. Im hot on the trail, looking for the best deal I can find within my price range, wish me luck. POTD 5 stars.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks man. That's sweet you're getting tickets, that place is gonna be rockin'. Good luck with your search.
from about 1 month ago
yeah, im not holding my breath but if i find the tix, im there.
about 1 month ago
What I'll be looking at is How is BJ's gas tank? With it he wins, without it he loses (this has been the case in most BJ Penn fights)
GSP has improved, so has BJ, but GSP improved more. BUT there is one more thing, GSP is gun-shy these days. Lots of interesting elements. 2 great fighters.
My heart says BJ wins this time by punching GSP in the mouth and giving him a BJJ class, but my brain says GSP will control him and use his size to win.
from about 1 month ago
Here's the deal with BJ's conditioning:
Besides the fight with Paul Creighton, which BJ won by TKO, I've seen every single BJ Penn fight. Only once did BJ noticeably run out of gas, and that was the first fight with GSP. Like I've said before, BJ did not gas in the second Matt Hughes fight. I challenge anyone to prove me wrong.
I think people make way too big a deal over BJ's conditioning. Even if it was a problem three years ago, it isn't anymore. That being said, this fight at UFC 94 could easily go the distance. I definitely expect GSP to be fresher than BJ in the championship rounds, but BJ will still have plenty left.
BJ's conditioning has only really cost him one fight, the first GSP fight. His other three losses had nothing to with conditioning. End of story.
from about 1 month ago
Well, generally it is believed based on BJ's and his camp's opinions, is that BJ got injured in the 2nd Hughes fight, and got tired leading to the loss etc.
There are many stages of gassing I suppose :) But I understand what you're saying.
It's just that BJ's general work ethic was always in question. Being in shape is not just about the gas tank, and BJ was not in shape for his losses, not worthy of his potential skill. You know what I mean?
about 1 month ago
Huge BJ fan and It is never talked about but i would say BJ gassed in the second fight with Jens Pulver- He could barely stand up on his own(leaning on Rogan), and had trouble getting a sentence out. This was late first or second round and after his "newfound conditioning and dedication."
from about 1 month ago
I know exactly what you're talking about, and I agree he seemed a little winded. However, that was a huge moment in his career and part of that could have been emotion. During the fight itself, he didn't seem tired at all, which is what's important. Besides, the only thing he said after the fight was: "If you wanna know how I feel, go to BJPenn.com right now." So I wouldn't say he had trouble getting a sentence out.
After his fight with Sherk, which was a pretty good pace for three rounds, BJ was parading around the ring and seemed like he had energy to spare. I've seem countless fights where the fighters were exhausted, and none of those guys ever get criticized. I think BJ's high profile status makes him a target of criticism. Like I said, I believe conditioning is a non-issue.
about 1 month ago
Giving the edge ,o Penn on the Matt Hughes fights?!? I don't think so...... . In the last 2 fights between Hughes and GSP GSP absolutely destroyed Hughes. Last Fight between Penn and Hughes...Hughes pounded on BJ's head until he was given the TKO (this was a few months before GSP and Hughes would meet for the 2nd time where GSP manhandled Hughes).....come on now.
As for the strategy...we are going to see a similar GSP as the one we saw in Montreal agaisnt Matt Serra for their second fight. Although GSP's BJJ is pretty damn good..Penn's BJJ is world class and GSP is going to have no part of it. GSP is going to turn this fight into an up and down rollercoaster...and when it goes to the gorund...GSP is going to brock lesner him and just use his wrestling for control and some ground and pound.
I don't see Penn hanging with GSP in absolute grind similar to the GSP vs Fitch fight.
from about 1 month ago
Sometimes I get the feeling that people completely ignored the reasoning behind my picks.
This is why I gave BJ the edge:
1) GSP only really fought Hughes in his prime twice. The first time, he got submitted in the first round.
2) The only reason BJ lost to Hughes the 2nd time was because of the injury. Check out the link I posted in the article. Both times BJ fought Hughes, Hughes was coming off of multiple title defenses.
about 1 month ago
Your feelings right...because I still disagree (even though i knew about BJ's FIGHT SUSTAINED injury a while ago) lol but I have taken plenty of heat for my picks in my article as well....so get used to it.......... Har Har =p
about 1 month ago
I find it funny that you would say this is a 100% Objective article when it is very clearly not
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