UFC 94: St Pierre Vs. Penn II

[Manji]

UFC's "Superbowl Card" with the long awaited fight between Penn and GSP....




Main event:
UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre vs. UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn in a 170-pound title bout

Main card (Televised):
205 lbs.: Lyoto Machida (13-0) vs. Thiago Silva (13-0)
205 lbs.: Stephan Bonnar (11-4) vs. Jon Jones (6-0)
155 lbs.: Nate Diaz (10-2) vs. Clay Guida (24-9)
170 lbs.: Karo Parisyan (18-5) vs. Dong Hyun “Stun Gun” Kim (11-0-1)*

Under card (May not be broadcast):
170 lbs.: Jon Fitch (17-3) vs. Akihiro Gono (29-13-7)
155 lbs.: Manny Gamburyan vs. Thiago Tavares
155 lbs.: Chris Wilson (14-4) vs. John Howard (10-4)
265 lbs.: Jake O’Brien vs. Christian Wellisch
170 lbs.: Matt “No Regard” Arroyo (3-2) vs. Daniel Cramer (0-0)

 

[Tao]

I can never understand the UFC and the way they show fights Jon Fitch and Gono on the undercard and Bonner on the televised card coming off injury and a drug suspension I believe, makes little sense to me

 

[Kyra.Graves]

Also, from a marketing standpoint, why hold this historic fight on Superbowl weekend when it will just get lost in all the SB hype???

I'd guess that's Dana's point, probably a very smart move on his part and I hope it works for him. The card is stacked with a lot of international fighters and he's been working very hard to build up the UFC's international fan base by hosting the UFC's in the UK, the aquisition of the Pride fighters and South America has always had a strong UFC presence. Dana has worked hard to bring in other fighters to make it a little more global so everyone has someone they will connect with and feel they can support.
If he can secure a good market share on Super Bowl weekend I suspect his advertisers will take notice and the best way to do that is a big card, strong matchups with international fighters. Sure North America might not take as much notice but the timing isn't accidental, especially coming off such a big MMA month with the UK fight. No one in the UK will take notice of American Football (it's not real Footie), so they'll be hyped about having just watched a UFC and will hopefully order the next one which will be up against the Superbowl, which shows Dana can make his numbers. Hopefully!

I really hope this works for him and he bumps his market share up a few notches, this could help the sport become even more mainstream and the fighters could start to really get the credit they deserve as the athletes they are.


As far as the card itself, I'm giving a slight edge to GSP. Both fighters are at the top of their games right now but GSP has size and power that I think will dominate. IMHO when both players are fairly even in technical skill size and power is the determining factor and I just don't think that BJ will have enough of an edge on the ground to overcome that. I mean if Hughes was dominated by GSP's power then I can't imagine BJ who is much smaller (yes better technically, but much, much smaller!) will be able to overcome.
However that's what makes this sport great anything can happen, can't wait to see this fight!

 

[The Oracle]

The GSP Penn fight has all the makings of one of the best matches of all time.I mean are there ever going to two more skilled fights in the ring at the same time? BJ has every to win and nothing to lose. He is afterall moving up in weight and taking aim at the 170lb title. At 155lb he has no parallel in the UFC.
I'm thinking GSP will try to ground and pound another victory but if he tries to stand with Penn he might get a rude awakening.

 

[punter]

Rush will crush the Prodigy in 2-3 rounds!

The Dragon will devour Silva.

Can't wait til 31st.

 

[dj1470]

GSP wins with a TKO in round 1.
BJ is done.
This is it for him.
When he loses in two weeks he'll vacate the lightweight title.
This one is going to be ugly for any BJ Penn fans.

 

[Tino]

GSP in 3 rounds. I think he'll try to tire BJ out and then go for the KO or submission. Go GSP Go!!!!

 

[Captain Fantastic]

As a patriotic Canadian, I should say GSP, but I think BJ will beat him silly standing up (again), neutralize St. Pierre on the ground (watch him stuff the takedowns from the second round onward) and win by submission. GSP's only chance is lay and pray - and BJ won't even let that happen.

I could care less about the rest of the card right now - too many big fights are coming up before.

 

[smuddan]

As a patriotic Canadian, I should say GSP, but I think BJ will beat him silly standing up (again), neutralize St. Pierre on the ground (watch him stuff the takedowns from the second round onward) and win by submission. GSP's only chance is lay and pray - and BJ won't even let that happen.

I could care less about the rest of the card right now - too many big fights are coming up before.

I know you're a big BJ fan CF, but I tend to agree more with the other poster that he's on a decline. If he was in his prime he would have a good chance because I do think that GSP has a weak chin. I don't know what kind of shape BJ will be in on fight night but not too long ago I saw him lose a fight in Japan (before he beat Pulver)when he really looked out of shape.

This fight will prove if he's really over the hill or not.

 

[slamtart]

I've been watching this sport for a long long long time...all the way back to UFC1. And quite honestly, BJ Penn is one of the very best guys I've ever seen. And to think that he used to barely train for his fights and still dominate in that fashion is unreal. BJ Penn has been feeding us with thoughts that he'd been training his ass off the last couple years to get where he is... well.. not sure if you guys saw the UFC special this past Wednesday which focused on the way BJ and GSP are training, but Penn decided to take a 5 day vacation with his girlfriend in the middle of his training for the fear of 'peaking too early'. So while BJ is fluttering around in the ocean, GSP is training his ass off and is shown to be dominating in training. GSP will take evenings off to go have a good time with friends, while Penn will just avoid training for days at a time. There was a scene where Dana White calls BJ Penn on his cell, and BJ blatantly avoids the call and says "shit, it's dana white, i better not take this call". So Dana calls BJ's brother, and his brother covers up and lies for him and tells him that he's not on vacation for 5 days...

I mean c'mon...I don't even think BJ Penn deserves to beat GSP now. Yes, BJ has got a hell of a chance to do it, but after seeing that crap, that while he's training, it's still sort of a joke to him....I don't know. GSP has dedicated his life to this..

I was unsure of whom to pick or who I want to win the fight as I love both fighters, but now? GSP all the way. I hope GSP smashes BJ and shuts him up for good.

 

[The Oracle]

I've been watching this sport for a long long long time...all the way back to UFC1. And quite honestly, BJ Penn is one of the very best guys I've ever seen. And to think that he used to barely train for his fights and still dominate in that fashion is unreal. BJ Penn has been feeding us with thoughts that he'd been training his ass off the last couple years to get where he is... well.. not sure if you guys saw the UFC special this past Wednesday which focused on the way BJ and GSP are training, but Penn decided to take a 5 day vacation with his girlfriend in the middle of his training for the fear of 'peaking too early'. So while BJ is fluttering around in the ocean, GSP is training his ass off and is shown to be dominating in training. GSP will take evenings off to go have a good time with friends, while Penn will just avoid training for days at a time. There was a scene where Dana White calls BJ Penn on his cell, and BJ blatantly avoids the call and says "shit, it's dana white, i better not take this call". So Dana calls BJ's brother, and his brother covers up and lies for him and tells him that he's not on vacation for 5 days...

I mean c'mon...I don't even think BJ Penn deserves to beat GSP now. Yes, BJ has got a hell of a chance to do it, but after seeing that crap, that while he's training, it's still sort of a joke to him....I don't know. GSP has dedicated his life to this..

I was unsure of whom to pick or who I want to win the fight as I love both fighters, but now? GSP all the way. I hope GSP smashes BJ and shuts him up for good.

Great post and way to funny. You are right thats not exactly training your ass off is it?

 

[fearnoevil2005]

I'm with you on that. On a similar note, I think someone should shut Dana up too - the guy's been dropping F-bombs literally every other word he speaks. What's he trying to prove?!

...I was unsure of whom to pick or who I want to win the fight as I love both fighters, but now? GSP all the way. I hope GSP smashes BJ and shuts him up for good.

 

[smuddan]

I'm with you on that. On a similar note, I think someone should shut Dana up too - the guy's been dropping F-bombs literally every other word he speaks. What's he trying to prove?!

He's not trying to prove anything, he's doing everything to promote UFC and be a role model to those in the 14-25 age bracket who think swearing is a cool way to speak.

 

[C Dick]

I'm with you on that. On a similar note, I think someone should shut Dana up too - the guy's been dropping F-bombs literally every other word he speaks. What's he trying to prove?!

I met Dana White in Montreal at the UFC there. He was very gracious and well-spoken, not like on TV. So the f-bombs are not the way he speaks, it is for effect.

 

[fearnoevil2005]

No doubt he's a clever businessman, but his onscreen persona is quite annoying.

 

[Smash]

If GSP was too win the fight I wouldnt be surprised if after the fight he looked worse for wear. The last time they met BJ re-arranged GSP's face quite good without being in any trouble throughout the fight.

I'll say BJ wins this by KO since he's actually training this time. BJ said in the past he'd only train 2hr's a day before big fights and even that was half-assed. He used to rely on his skillz and never work his cardio/ diet.

Either way this should be a great fight.. The best fighter (that night) will win

 

[dj1470]

The best fighter (that night) will win

You're kidding???? Is that the way it works? Duh.

 

[Manji]

Bump!!!

Penn vs GSP less than five days away....Can't wait!!!

 

[testind]

As a patriotic Canadian, I should say GSP, but I think BJ will beat him silly standing up (again), neutralize St. Pierre on the ground (watch him stuff the takedowns from the second round onward) and win by submission. GSP's only chance is lay and pray - and BJ won't even let that happen.

I could care less about the rest of the card right now - too many big fights are coming up before.

You're totally right!! I should say GSP, but can't. I can imagine GSP ontop of BJ trying to pound him out, but BJ's rubber guard is sick, so it'll be hard for gsp to fully dominate

 

[C Dick]

The odds seem to be about 2-1 in favour of GSP. I think you have to favour GSP, he has improved more since the first time, and with Penn going up in weight, there is always the risk that he will be out of shape, as he has been sometimes in the past.