BJ Penn ready to own two divisions starting this December

[Bluto]

"I want to be the best. I want to do all these things. I want to fight the welterweight, I want to fight at lightweight and you gotta be in shape, you gotta be the best to do that. I’ll be with the UFC a couple more years and we’re probably looking at a fight [on] December 27. I’m looking at the Florian-Huerta fight and I’m also looking at the Fitch-St. Pierre fight. Jon Fitch is a great opponent, a tough opponent, but St. Pierre brings the whole backing of Canada with him to a fight. It would be great to put on a big fight with me and St. Pierre, but then again, it’s about me fighting the best fighter and if Fitch goes down and proves he’s the best fighter, then he’s the man. [But] I’m moving up to fight in the welterweight division and then I’m moving back down to defend my lightweight title." - BJ Penn

[chixlegs]

When he fought at welterwieght he lost to both GSP and Matt Hughes.  He needs to worry about defending his title against Ken-Flo or Huerta, both of whom will give him a real challenge.  GSP will fuck BJ Penn up in a big way.  There are several welterweights that would beat BJ.  He is a little doughboy at 170. 

[Dball]

I don't believe this is a train BJ wants to ride.  Talk about someone believing their own hype.  BJ is a great fighter at 155, no doubt, but He should stay in his own division and clean it out of the new talent before he decides to make a run at the welterweight title.  Pudgy bastard.

[TheIronWarrior]

When he fought at welterwieght he lost to both GSP and Matt Hughes.  He needs to worry about defending his title against Ken-Flo or Huerta, both of whom will give him a real challenge.  GSP will fuck BJ Penn up in a big way.  There are several welterweights that would beat BJ.  He is a little doughboy at 170. 

Gotta disagree. Penn has come a long way, and he has gotten better through his continued training. I think he would make for an awesome competitor at 170 pounds, and give a majority of those fighters a run for their money. I guess we'll see how this all plays out: coupled with the outcome of GSP vs. Fitchy.

[gymrat75]

I have to disagree as well. Penn is 1-1 with Matt Hughes, in there first fight...he won in the first round. Second fight, he was beating the crap out of Hughes before he gassed out (thats why everyone says he was wasting his potential). Same thing happend when he originally fought GSP. He was beating the crap out of GSP but gassed out. Not only that, but it was quite obvious that GSP had WAY more damage done to him in that fight!

[*ChuteBoxe*]

I have to disagree as well. Penn is 1-1 with Matt Hughes, in there first fight...he won in the first round. Second fight, he was beating the crap out of Hughes before he gassed out (thats why everyone says he was wasting his potential). Same thing happend when he originally fought GSP. He was beating the crap out of GSP but gassed out. Not only that, but it was quite obvious that GSP had WAY more damage done to him in that fight!

Bj suffered a pretty severe rib injury going for that triangle against Hughes in that second fight, he had to see one of the most sought after chiropractors in MMA (Dr. Goldman I believe is his name) to fix him up.  After that injury he was pretty much done in his own words.  He can definately hang with the top guys, but it seems like the size and athleticism of some of the bigger,younger top tier fighters might affect his stamina  ( don't get me wrong he is extremely talented and gifted, but if his opponent can get past the talent and gift part of him then Bj is left with his gas tank issues).  He was doing good against GSP but GSP's size and strength kinda wore him out a bit.  If the new BJ bettered that part of his game then GSP/Fitch better enjoy the belt while they can.  Although, more recently, when Bj fought Joe Stevenson (he destroyed him) but right after subbing Joe, he rolled over and seemed pretty gassed, he was huffing and puffing pretty bad which is weird since he finished the fight in the second.  The sherk fight wasn't a very good gauge because Sherk didn't pressure Bj, he pretty much methodically out boxed Sean. 

[TheIronWarrior]

Bj suffered a pretty severe rib injury going for that triangle against Hughes in that second fight, he had to see one of the most sought after chiropractors in MMA (Dr. Goldman I believe is his name) to fix him up.  After that injury he was pretty much done in his own words.  He can definately hang with the top guys, but it seems like the size and athleticism of some of the bigger,younger top tier fighters might affect his stamina  ( don't get me wrong he is extremely talented and gifted, but if his opponent can get past the talent and gift part of him then Bj is left with his gas tank issues).  He was doing good against GSP but GSP's size and strength kinda wore him out a bit.  If the new BJ bettered that part of his game then GSP/Fitch better enjoy the belt while they can.  Although, more recently, when Bj fought Joe Stevenson (he destroyed him) but right after subbing Joe, he rolled over and seemed pretty gassed, he was huffing and puffing pretty bad which is weird since he finished the fight in the second.  The sherk fight wasn't a very good gauge because Sherk didn't pressure Bj, he pretty much methodically out boxed Sean. 

Very true, I would have to say though that BJ does have a vicious ability to end a fight early on. If he gets that cardio optimized then he could be a threat to the upper weight division. Against GSP though...... no chance.

[Bluto]

BJ very rarely ends a fight early on

[Dball]

BJ very rarely ends a fight early on

He used to.  he used to have great hands.  But it seems like he likes to use other tools now.  Sad

[americanbulldog]

He used to.  he used to have great hands.  But it seems like he likes to use other tools now.  Sad

He still does.  Great head movement, footwork, timing, economy of motion.  GSP nuthuggers, beware.  BJ is motivated. 

[Logan32]

He still does.  Great head movement, footwork, timing, economy of motion.  GSP nuthuggers, beware.  BJ is motivated. 

Definitely not a guy. I think this will be a great fight. The only problem that I have ever noticed with BJ is when he starts to move up in weight classes his stamina more times then not really takes its toll. I think at 155 he is definitely the man. At 170 he can definitely hang with the best just not sure how good his gas tank will be.

Hey anyone know what BJ's walking around weight is?

[Dball]

He still does.  Great head movement, footwork, timing, economy of motion.  GSP nuthuggers, beware.  BJ is motivated. 

I take nothing away from BJ.  But in all his fights at 170 he is pudgy and his cardio is shot after two rounds.  I think GSP is way too strong for BJ, and BJ would not be able to strike with him.  Sometimes its easier to defend that attack, and after five rounds of attacking, GSP was still as fresh as he was in the first round against Fitch.

[Bluto]

at any rate it will be an exciting fight!

[Dball]

at any rate it will be an exciting fight!

Agreed.  What a war...

[americanbulldog]

I take nothing away from BJ.  But in all his fights at 170 he is pudgy and his cardio is shot after two rounds.  I think GSP is way too strong for BJ, and BJ would not be able to strike with him.  Sometimes its easier to defend that attack, and after five rounds of attacking, GSP was still as fresh as he was in the first round against Fitch.

BJ outstruck GSP in the first fight.  BJ walks at 175-180.  He weighed 178 at the Pacific Rim Sub Grappling tourney last month.  Sat at his booth for FIVE HOURS straight signing autographs and taking pictures.  Not a grumble, truely maturing.  GSP has conditioning and better takedowns on BJ, that is it. 

[Dball]

I didn't know I was supposed to be taking BJ's maturity level or ability to sit for fans (finally) into play.  BJ is the best 155 in the game no doubt.  It looks like BJ has gotten his shit together, the chip off his shoulder, replaced his sense of entitlement with an actual work ethic and really started to care about his career, and for that he gets my respect.

On the same token, GSP has also started to focus on his career and has dominated his division with the same ferocity BJ has held down the strap at 155.  To take anything at all away from GSP would be ignorant.