Penn's Planet Has No Peer

By RODNEY S. YAP / HIsportsfolio.ning.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — BJ PENN is the baddest Lightweight fighter on the planet. The ass whipping Hilo's Penn put on Diego Sanchez confirms any suspicion in regards to that fact. No further evidence needed, Penn is without peer at 155 pounds in the world of MMA.
In a word, destroy. That is what Penn did to Sanchez — literally, figuratively, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Before 13,896 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Penn unleashed a series of powerful punch combinations that landed on Sanchez' face with enough regularity that it will probably take the loud-mouth Mexican two months to heal from the wounds, cuts, bruises, blood, and broken spirits that camouflaged the outspoken opponents game face. While Sanchez lived up to the hype in terms of his dogged determination to sell himself as something he's not — a seasoned champion — his split lower lip, swollen face, blood-leaking forehead, half-closed eyes and pitiful pre-fight snarl are all taking a backseat to the pain and suffering.
Penn talked about his re-commitment to the lack of cardio naysayers nitpicked in the months leading to the fight. But the Pride of Hilo has been grounded in dedication and hard work since losing to George St. Pierre 13 UFC Championships ago.

Penn proved not only to be powerful and poised in his execution and dismantling of Sanchez — just as advertised — he was also ridiculously accurate in delivering the punishment he laid down. And it did not take him long to find his mark, connecting on a straight right in the first minute of round one. The shot buckled Sanchez and sent him reeling temporarily. Penn calmly followed with a fury of more right hands, sending Sanchez to his knees, curled up in a defensive posture.

Sanchez survived the onslaught, but the writing was on the wall in terms of the outcome of this fight. Aside from an elbow and occasional left-foot kick to the side of the head, Penn stepped into each and every flurry Sanchez initiated, taking the air out of Diego's already limp sails.

With increasing frustration, Sanchez tried to takedown Penn, failing at an embarrassing rate that Diego's move to bull Penn to the fence and lock onto one leg became a defensive strategy to avoid the inevitable beat down that was coming to seal Diego's fate.

Things got lopsided fast, by the end of the second round, BJ's corner was encouraging their champion to end the farce, "This kid doesn't even belong in the same ring as you," they yelled.

It would last 22 minutes, and 23 seconds total — about 20 minutes longer than it should have, being that Sanchez was never the same fighter after getting rocked by Penn's initial right hand to the face. B.J. decided to extend Diego's lifeline for the sake of the paying customers and his Hawaii fans watching on pay-per-view.

What we saw was a well-oiled machine that hailed firepower from both fists with precision accuracy and lighting pace. Include a legendary takedown defense to go with Penn's relentless pace and the result was a paper challenger.

Unfortunately for Penn, their are no lightweight challengers or even potential contenders to keep the Hawaiian-born fighter motivated. Whispers of a possible third fight against his nemesis and welterweight champion St. Pierre bounced off the Forum walls Saturday.

Even UFC President Dana White dropped his two cents on possibly making the St. Pierre vs. Penn rivalry a trilogy. White said Penn would have to clean out the entire lightweight division, which in White's opinion is stacked with potential contenders.

“I think if he cleans out this division,” White said of Penn, ”he’s probably going to want to go back to 170 (lbs.) and take a run at that again. He’s a different human being then they were last time they fought.”

White made it clear that Penn would have to earn a third fight against St.Pierre. He also hinted that Penn may have to relinquish his title to make the fight happen and fight top welterweight contenders before earning a shot at St.Pierre.

Meanwhile, the names popping up as possible contenders are Jon Fitch or Josh Koscheck.

On the eve of Penn's 31st birthday, the Prodigy proved his plant has no peer. Among the UFC records Penn now owns are the following:

Most successful 155-pound title defenses - 3

Most successful consecutive title defenses – 3
Most lightweight championship fights won – 4

Most title fights – 6
Most championship rounds – 24

Most KO’s in title fights – 2

Most submissions in title fights – 2