MMA-NEWS.NET POUND-FOR-POUND TOP TEN
By John Gagne
BJ Penn, Frank Mir, MMA News, MMA Rankings, Miguel Torres, Mike Brown, UFC, fedor emelianenko, georges st pierre, mma
Champion Vs. Champion
By John Gagne
The fight between GSP and BJ Penn is the biggest in MMA history. Not only is there a huge rivalry between the two combatants. They are both champions in there respected weight classes. We have seen the best versions of each man over their last few fights. I do have to say; I believe that BJ has improved more than GSP has.
This fight is going to be a chess match. Both men know each others strengths and weaknesses. We saw in their first fight. That GSP virtually took BJ down at will. While BJ threw Georges off of his game with his jab and improved boxing. I personally thought if BJ trained a little more serious; he would have won that fight. BJ was too cocky back then. His ego definitely got the best of him in that fight. Now that he is taking this fight serious there may be a different outcome. I will analyze this fight and break down what each man will need to do to be victorious.
GSP will need to take BJ down, and hold him there. Even though BJ is great off his back. A guy as good as GSP should be able to avoid the submission attempts. While progressing to a better position and landing strikes. He will also need to use his reach and his kicks. Training with Kru Phil Nurse has allowed GSP’s Muay Thai to grow exponentially. His training with Team Jackson has also brought him amazing training partners. And a coach that can break down an opponent, and create a great game plan.
I do see some aspects that may affect GSP’s performance. If BJ can stop the take down. GSP may get frustrated, especially if BJ can land strikes and make him pay for his failed attempts. If he allows BJ to counter punch and use his jab, he may not leave this fight the winner.
For BJ to win he needs to avoid takedowns. That is really the biggest and most important factor of tis fight. If he can sprawl and brawl. BJ can take this fight. He also needs to out strike GSP, which he is capable of and some say may have already done. His BJJ will only come into play if GSP can get tired, or get stunned and give BJ an opening.
I think we all know what BJ cannot do in this fight…get taken down. If he is fighting off his back, it will be a long night. In the past if BJ cannot implement his game, or stay off his back he tends to fight poorly.
Saturday night’s main event will come down to a game of inches. The first person to make a mistake, will pay for it. I do think that BJ will be victorious. I just think he has the ability to get into GSP’s head and throw him off his game. Its going to be a war, and it could go the other way. But I do not see that happening. BJ in the 4th via TKO
I would definitely place a bet on this fight. Honestly, you can bet on either fighter, depending on your personal opinion. But BJ is the underdog, and the odds for him are a lot better. And he is going to finish the fight before the 25 minute mark.
Throughout December we are going to highlight the year of mixed martial arts with a selection of “Best Of” articles. These will include subjects such as Most Improved MMA Fighter of the Year, Biggest Disappointment in MMA, etc. For now MMA Punch contributor Jon Terrazas will revel his selection for Fighter of the Year.
This may come as a surprise to some, especially those who limit their MMA consumption to the UFC. However for those those more in touch with the larger mixed martial arts community won’t find Eddie Alvarez too surprising of a pick.
The facts: After losing his Welterweight Bodog title to Josh “The Goat” Thompson in ‘07, he dropped down to Lightweight and has won four straight victories in ‘08. The W’s are good, but in the process, he’s KO’d Ross Ebanez (2nd Rd - Bodog), Andre Amade (1st Rd - Dream 1), and Tatsuya Kawajiri (1st Rd - Dream 5) and then won a decision in an all out war and Fight of the Year Runner-Up with Joachim Hansen (Dream 3) to eventually become the Dream Lightweight Tournament Champion. He was scheduled to fight Nick Diaz with EliteXC’s Novemeber show before going bankrupt demonstrating that Eddie will fight anybody, any place, at any time. It’s unfortunate that the Dream organization receives very little coverage in the states and little is really known of this guy and his opponents. Eddie has earned MMA Punch’s 2008 Fighter of the Year.
A demo of his brutal KO abilities
Disagree with the selection? Leave a comment and make sure to back up your selection!
Sengoku 6 Middleweight GP Finals
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Sengoku 6 Lightweight GP Finals
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Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs Moise Rimbon - Sengoku 6
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Bang Seung Hwan vs Jorge Masvidal - Sengoku 6
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Jorge Masvidal, MMA Fighting Videos, Sengoku, Sengoku 6, mma
Takanori Gomi vs Sergey Golyaev - Sengoku 6
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