Dana White has confirmed what BJ Penn has been talking about since last week — a rematch between Penn and Georges St. Pierre could happen by the end of the year:
“If St. Pierre buzzsaws through (Jon) Fitch then yes, we’ll do Penn vs. GSP,” said White.
Though by no means guaranteed, GSP buzzsawing through Fitch is a likely scenario, and Penn would be granted an opportunity to avenge his UFC 58 split decision loss against St. Pierre. Which means, theoretically, Penn could become the UFC’s first two-division champion well before Anderson Silva, who will be attempting the same feat. A lot of “if”s there, I know, but the possibility is compelling. Who ya got on GSP/BJ 2?
In other UFC news…
— Early speculation points to UFC 90 being held on October 25th in Chicago. This would depend on a SpikeTV deal being locked down for UFC 89: Bisping vs. Lebven, which would be held just a week earlier.
— Medical suspensions for UFC 86 have been released, and Quinton Jackson, Justin McCully, and Jorge Gurgel could potentially be out of commission until January.
— The UFC wants you to know that you can watch all of Anderson Silva’s UFC and PRIDE fights on UFC.com for $9.99. I guess this is for people who don’t have Google?
Cagepotato Comments
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commentsI dunno.... I have read thru alot of the hype of the Penn vs GSP matchup! And let's face it there is no favorite. I have followed this sport since it's onset and it blows me away to watch what these guy's put their bodies thru!! I have to say I am partial to B.J. The man has the best legs in the sport, the dextarity is unbelievable!! He won the first fight ...yes it was close, but GSP's 3 takedowns in the third did NOT win that fight..I'm not sorry it just DID NOT WIN THE FIGHT! He should win this one too...Penn submission in the 2nd Round.
BJ Penn may be the lightweight champ (and rightly so), but he is also an arrogant prick. What kind of egomaniac thinks that by winning a belt in one weight class he deserves a shot at the championship in another weight class IMMEDIATELY?!
I'm not denying that it would be a great fight, but that's not the only thing that matters. Your comment about the WWE hit the nail on the head. Brock Lesner's situation has started a bad precedent for the UFC. MMA is supposed to be about real competition and earning your way to the top. BJ has done that in the lightweight division. He has NOT done that in the welterweight division. But I guess he figures 'Hey, they gave me a welterweight title shot before......'
Compare him with Anderson Silva. The man has DOMINATED the middleweight division. More so than BJ has done in ANY fight in ANY weight class. Do you see him demanding a light-heavyweight title shot? No. He fought a well-ranked (but not top-ranked) James Irvin....and destroyed him in order to prove he could bang at light-heavyweight.
does any one else agree, that bj , should fight thiago, or at least koscheck even. befor he fights for the title in welter weight.. or is ufc , turning into wwf , and pre meditaded match up. for money and spectator satisfaction. i think it is disrespectful to the other fighters who has stuck in welter weight, not dropping classes, and someone who tucked tailed and ran from the division when hitting a brick wall, walses back in and gets a title shot ppphhh. next thing you know we may see jimmy superfly snuka taking on chuck liddel.. hang on boys for the circus show!
Can you see BJ thumbing GSP in the first round,
a sad accident that happens.
Now check out Mat Hughes vs. BJ 2, thumb in the eye.
Now am not implying BJ cheats, what I am saying is that
when an unfortunate accident likes this happens, it puts the other
fighter in a disadvantage.
SO lets brainstorm guys, GSP thumbed in the eye & continues to fight with no referee time out, perhaps HE COULDNT SEE 100% which resulted in an BJ getting in some shots in that otherwise he couldn't get in.
Ok forget first fight questionable decision (that matt hughes also admitted scoring in favor of GSP), lets just look at the three factors in a fighter
1. athletic skill,
2. fighting skill (natural and trained) and
3. mental strategy
1. Athletic Hands down goes to down to GSP, lets not argue.
Fighting skills......ok i'd say BJ, but many would argue and I would fairly listen.
2. fighting skill, BJ has that natural talent.
In terms of who has trained hard to become a stronger fighter... that goes to GSP. GSP trains to be the better athlete and by doing so he endures longer. If you look at BJ, he comes out BLITZKRIEG style, Because he knows if he doesn't get them fast he doesn't stand the better chance of lasting past the second round. Look at BJ's history in fights , w/Joe Stevenson he came out BlitzKrieg won it early on, Ok now opposite With Sean Sherk he lasted but BJ definetely did not show athletic ability, HE showed good use of jabs to keep Sean away (athletic NOT, Fighting ability YES) & it's obvious that HE Was the more winded than Sean. And take a look at the ENDing of that fight KNEE, BELL, Referee stoppage, Sean asking what happened, BJing saying the fight is over...???? maybe am wrong about the order, BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, I can't help but think BJ would have been too tired to continue in the next coming round and sean would have turned it around. Points made???
3. Game plan, Mental Strategy.
Ok BJ, seems to BLitzKrieg for almost every fight, except for Sean seemed well planned, Keep him at bay and Jab him till KO.
GSP SEEMS TO NEUTRALIZE every fighter, he has a new camp....
Game plan goes to GSP...
So on paper am thinking GSP...., but then again I thought that GSP vs. MAT Serra 1,
ok , believe it or not it only took me about ten minutes to write this so forgive me if this general synopsis isn't 100 fair.
but am sure it'll be a good fight.
Bj Never "lost" the WW Belt. It was given up at BJ's choice to want to fight in a different leauge (Pride). One of his main reasons is because the Light Weight Division was gone in the UFC and BJ knows that is the best weight for his size. However the fact that BJ WAS Dominant at 170
BJ's carrer in the UFC started by dominating (except a iffy split decision to Pulver) the 155 lb. class with wins over Caol Uno and Din Thomas Joey Gilbert and Paul Creighton . Then he stepped up and beat Matt Serra
at 170!
When he got a title shot against Matt H everyone thought he didn't have a chance....except me and a few who knew the deal (I made 750$ profit on that one!!!).
Since he returned to his most natural weight he has beaten Pulver, Stevenson, and Sherk. He is the deserved Champion at 155.
Due to btoh guys dominance (GSP is a stud as well) this fight is the best for the fans since they are both capable of fighting at this weight. Silva cant cut past 185 (in good health) and I dont think GSP would step up in weight as he walks around at 185-188...Silva would destroy him.
So we should all quit whining about "eye pokes" and pizza and beer because NEITHER one of these guys will take fights lightly.
Oh and Penn FTW!!!!!! 2nd round submission...hopefully an omaplata!
Mike...
mental and heart ====penn WHAT???? he cant even disipline himself to train.
cardio ===gsp: true
striking ====could go either way :true
take downs ====gsp :true
submissions and ground control ===penn submissions, yes, GC , GSP
power === could go either way , NO, GSP once again
more to lose ===gsp for sure
biggest gain =====penn no doubt.
I know we all have our fav fighters, but come on, give other ppl credit too.
when bj left the welter weight division it wasn't because he just left it was because he wanted to fight in another company's event and dana white stipped the title from him.so for who ever was saying bj never beat anyone worth while in the ww division is a laugh cause he man handled a top title holder in HUGHS who was also the same guy to tap out gsp.bj penns skills were unbeleivable and he fought only using his skill not training like he should have and he was a dominant fighter till he lost to gsp hughs and little evil and realized that he needed to train harder which seems to be working for him.now gsp has a much improved fighting style w/ his take downs and take down defense but he has to be able to control a much and i mean the much better ground technician of bj who has monkey legs. and for those of you who say gsp will have the power advantage over penn are smoking something and i want some cause when penn faught machida at 205 he held his own with machida who has more power then gsp and is probably a lil more technical the gsp on the ground.
and for the striking aspect of the fight look at it this way gsp is known to have great strikes and when they fought the first time penn out struck gsp with bad cartdio but gassed and was then dominated for a round and a half. but tell me this have you ever seen st pierre bloodied or out struck by anyone other then penn no you haven't .
so here is how i see the fight
mental and heart ====penn
cardio ===gsp
striking ====could go either way
take downs ====gsp
submissions and ground control ===penn
power === could go either way
more to lose ===gsp
biggest gain =====penn
i see this being a great fight and a barn burner but if we see the to champions we have seen of late i give it to penn in the 3-4 round by rear naked and or cut.
i am not a penn or gsp fan but to those of you who beleive that huerta or florian deserve a fight for the championship need to do more research to cause yeah florian did just beat huerta but florian couldn't beat sherk and sherk couldn't beat penn . i look at it this way sherk is the nearest person who deserves a rematch and florian sherk 2 would be the fight to settle the #1 contender seat. and with that said who else in the lw division is #1 contender no one and with that said i beleive penn deserves a rematch with gsp and most likley if i am right it will be a rubber match.