It's the biggest fight of the year and it's only January! The rematch everyone has been waiting for: B.J. Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre for the UFC Welterweight Title.
Who is Georges St. Pierre?
He's the UFC Welterweight Champion and is universally considered the #1 ranked fighter in the world in the weight class and one of the top few pound for pound fighters ever. Except for a flukey loss to Matt Serra that he's since brutally avenged, GSP has completely cleaned out the very tough Welterweight division and is left with no real challengers, making this the perfect time for this superfight.
Who is B.J. Penn?
Oh, he's only the UFC Lightweight (155 lbs.) champion, former Welterweight (170 lbs.) champ, and the greatest and most decorated jiu-jitsu practitioner that the United States has ever produced. He earned his black belt faster than any other American and won the 2000 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships. He's starred at Welterweight in the past but has since slimmed back down to Lightweight and he has ruled the division with an iron fist. He's got something to prove since his contraversial loss to St. Pierre in 2006 and has been waiting for a chance to move up in weight again for a shot at GSP's title.
What's the case for St. Pierre?
No one can question BJ's talent, but his conditioning has always been a question mark. BJ gassed out in the first fight with St. Pierre, and though Penn dominated Round One, GSP's superior conditioning won him the last two rounds for a split decision. As a title fight, this one can go a maximum of five rounds and this plays directly into GSP's strategy. He can use his world class wrestling to try to control BJ and drag the fight into the later rounds. A tired BJ will be susceptible to St. Pierre's extensive arsenal of kicks and take downs.
What's the case for Penn?
Though a great striker in his own right, GSP will want no part of standing and trading with BJ as Penn has shown time and time again that his boxing is among the best in the world. In addition, BJ has an advantage on the ground over just about anyone on earth. BJ has made a commitment to conditioning in recent fights and the results have shown with his domination of the Lightweight ranks. If he's brought his new gas tank with him to the 170 lb. division, then he is capable of brutalizing GSP on the feet and submitting him on the ground. Questions have been raised about GSP's heart and that he is a quitter due to his tapout loss to Matt Serra. I don't know about that, but he'll BJ will definitely put those claims to the test.
Who will win?
The Suite Spot believes that BJ has trained hard and wants to cement his legendary status. Penn will win by submission in the 3rd round. That said, this is going to be a hell of a fight and even if BJ shows up ready and in shape, GSP is a phenomenal talent and has every chance to come out victorious. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this huge super fight that the UFC has put together for you this Saturday!
2 comments:
I think that the UFC hype machine is pretty good. UFC had me believing this would be a good fight and it was over from the start.
GSP is just better than I could have imagined. BJ came ready to fight and he simply wasn't strong enough to hold his own. Very impressive performance for GSP because BJ beats any other welterweight pretty handily, in my opinion.
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