And the edge goes to...
What do you get when you take one of the most naturally talented fighters in the world, who is a world champion, and considered in the top five of any pound for pound list and put him up against the sports most athletic fighter, who has no holes in his game and is also a world champion and in the top five of any pound for pound list?
It's BJ Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre.
For fight fans, hardcore or casual, this is a dream come true and is the first big super fight set up by the UFC for fighters crossing weight classes. (The fight will be at 170lbs, the same weight BJ fought at before the 155lb division was brought back.)
So, what can be expected during the main attraction of the UFC 94 event?
Well, undoubtedly it's the matchup of the year thus far, and how it will play out and finish,0 is anyone's guess as both of these guys have all the skills to finish the fight standing or on the ground. But each fighter will want to exploit the others weaknesses, which are few and far between for each fighter and their weaknesses actually don't have anything to do with their skill at fighting at all.
Weaknesses and Strengths
For Penn, it's conditioning. This has always been an issue with Penn, he will dominate you, beat you down and will not break but as soon as it gets to round three, round four and round five, Penn has the tank of a 1964 push lawnmower, he's going to gas out. On the other hand Georges St. Pierre is one of the most well conditioned athletes in the sport, and he's already proved he can go five rounds at a very high pace (see vs. Jon Fitch). The one weakness GSP can try to exploit is Penn's conditioning. Penn has to put on 15 pounds for this fight, now if that is 15 pounds of fat, or muscle remains to be seen but either way it will be a heftier Penn that enters the octagon, and one that could not have anything left to give by the third or fourth round.
It's not going to be the easiest thing in the world for GSP to take the fight to the later rounds; Penn is dangerous and has the ability to finish GSP. Effective take downs and physical control in the clinch will work in favour of GSP if he wants to wait to try and finish Penn but the weakness that GSP has is in his head.
There is no doubt GSP can wrestle, strike, grapple, and compete in all aspects of MMA with the best of fighters, but his mental toughness is what his big concern is. If you want to believe it or not, GSP quit in his fight against Matt Serra, he turned over and tapped and couldn't take the punishment from the strikes anymore. In his first fight with Matt Hughes, he was psyched out by facing Hughes for the first time and couldn't compete on the top stage.
Penn knows this so-called weakness of GSP and has already looked to exploit it to work in his favour. Saying GSP is weak-minded, a quitter and that he's afraid to stand and trade with the heavy handed Penn, which would clearly play into the game plan of the 155lb champ.
Apparently GSP has gotten over this challenge and is in a better mental state these days, seeing a sports psychologist and is in a better place in his personal life. We will have to wait and see if this translates well to his fight game or if he even needs to use it.
Training Camps
When it comes to the actual training each fighter has put in, you would think that credential wise, GSP has the advantage, and I am a big believer of this as well.
Instead of sticking in one place, and training with the same stable of fighters, GSP changes it up, and the majority of fighters he trains with are also professionals, including Keith Jardine, Rashad Evans and Nate Marquardt to name a few.
Technical Aspects
When it comes down to whom is better at each aspect of the fight, it's fairly clear cut.
Boxing
Without a doubt it goes to Penn. Not to knock GSP's striking ability but Penn is heavy handed and can strike with the best of them. GSP's hand power remains to be seen but he is technical with his striking and I am sure that taking a punch from him isn't like being brushed with a feather.
Wrestling
GSP is the best wrestler in MMA. A bold statement yes, but something that I strongly feel is so true. He has transitioned the traditional wrestling style over to MMA in a way no one really has before and uses it in a manner that is unreal and totally neutralizes every other fighter.
Jiu Jitsu
The edge goes to Penn in this category. The Hawaiian has the better submissions and his extreme flexibility attests to that. GSP can land a power submission but as far as anything super technical I am not so sure.
Maui Thai
Use of effective striking with knees and kicks is a pretty close toss up. I am going to throw the advantage into GSP's corner though. He's bigger, has longer limbs and will be able to effectively use kicks to his favour, plus he has used them effectively before where Penn strays away from the kicking game a little bit more and sticks to his bigger strengths.
Strength and Conditioning
Hands down, it's GSP. He's probably one of the best conditioned athletes in MMA and sports in general. Until Penn proves to me, and the world that he can effectively fight at 170lbs and not be fat, then he will never win in this category against any fighter, except maybe Tim Sylvia (ha ha).
Prediction
It's going to be a tough fight, it's going to make history and it's probably one of the most difficult fights to call since I've been watching MMA.
In the end though I need to put my money where my mouth is, and if I was placing a wager, it would be on GSP to retain the 170lb crown via decision.
I see Penn starting strong effectively hitting GSP with some strong punches, then GSP getting a take down on Penn and pounding him down a little bit. Later on in the fight I can see Penn losing some air, gasping, as his gas tank runs out once again from the excess weight and lack of cardio training. With Penn vulnerable, GSP will be able to pick him apart with kicks, takedowns and physical dominance.
In the end GSP will record his second win over Penn and go down as one of the best, if not the best, fighter to ever fight in MMA.
It's BJ Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre.
For fight fans, hardcore or casual, this is a dream come true and is the first big super fight set up by the UFC for fighters crossing weight classes. (The fight will be at 170lbs, the same weight BJ fought at before the 155lb division was brought back.)
So, what can be expected during the main attraction of the UFC 94 event?
Well, undoubtedly it's the matchup of the year thus far, and how it will play out and finish,0 is anyone's guess as both of these guys have all the skills to finish the fight standing or on the ground. But each fighter will want to exploit the others weaknesses, which are few and far between for each fighter and their weaknesses actually don't have anything to do with their skill at fighting at all.
Weaknesses and Strengths
For Penn, it's conditioning. This has always been an issue with Penn, he will dominate you, beat you down and will not break but as soon as it gets to round three, round four and round five, Penn has the tank of a 1964 push lawnmower, he's going to gas out. On the other hand Georges St. Pierre is one of the most well conditioned athletes in the sport, and he's already proved he can go five rounds at a very high pace (see vs. Jon Fitch). The one weakness GSP can try to exploit is Penn's conditioning. Penn has to put on 15 pounds for this fight, now if that is 15 pounds of fat, or muscle remains to be seen but either way it will be a heftier Penn that enters the octagon, and one that could not have anything left to give by the third or fourth round.
It's not going to be the easiest thing in the world for GSP to take the fight to the later rounds; Penn is dangerous and has the ability to finish GSP. Effective take downs and physical control in the clinch will work in favour of GSP if he wants to wait to try and finish Penn but the weakness that GSP has is in his head.
There is no doubt GSP can wrestle, strike, grapple, and compete in all aspects of MMA with the best of fighters, but his mental toughness is what his big concern is. If you want to believe it or not, GSP quit in his fight against Matt Serra, he turned over and tapped and couldn't take the punishment from the strikes anymore. In his first fight with Matt Hughes, he was psyched out by facing Hughes for the first time and couldn't compete on the top stage.
Penn knows this so-called weakness of GSP and has already looked to exploit it to work in his favour. Saying GSP is weak-minded, a quitter and that he's afraid to stand and trade with the heavy handed Penn, which would clearly play into the game plan of the 155lb champ.
Apparently GSP has gotten over this challenge and is in a better mental state these days, seeing a sports psychologist and is in a better place in his personal life. We will have to wait and see if this translates well to his fight game or if he even needs to use it.
Training Camps
When it comes to the actual training each fighter has put in, you would think that credential wise, GSP has the advantage, and I am a big believer of this as well.
Instead of sticking in one place, and training with the same stable of fighters, GSP changes it up, and the majority of fighters he trains with are also professionals, including Keith Jardine, Rashad Evans and Nate Marquardt to name a few.
Technical Aspects
When it comes down to whom is better at each aspect of the fight, it's fairly clear cut.
Boxing
Without a doubt it goes to Penn. Not to knock GSP's striking ability but Penn is heavy handed and can strike with the best of them. GSP's hand power remains to be seen but he is technical with his striking and I am sure that taking a punch from him isn't like being brushed with a feather.
Wrestling
GSP is the best wrestler in MMA. A bold statement yes, but something that I strongly feel is so true. He has transitioned the traditional wrestling style over to MMA in a way no one really has before and uses it in a manner that is unreal and totally neutralizes every other fighter.
Jiu Jitsu
The edge goes to Penn in this category. The Hawaiian has the better submissions and his extreme flexibility attests to that. GSP can land a power submission but as far as anything super technical I am not so sure.
Maui Thai
Use of effective striking with knees and kicks is a pretty close toss up. I am going to throw the advantage into GSP's corner though. He's bigger, has longer limbs and will be able to effectively use kicks to his favour, plus he has used them effectively before where Penn strays away from the kicking game a little bit more and sticks to his bigger strengths.
Strength and Conditioning
Hands down, it's GSP. He's probably one of the best conditioned athletes in MMA and sports in general. Until Penn proves to me, and the world that he can effectively fight at 170lbs and not be fat, then he will never win in this category against any fighter, except maybe Tim Sylvia (ha ha).
Prediction
It's going to be a tough fight, it's going to make history and it's probably one of the most difficult fights to call since I've been watching MMA.
In the end though I need to put my money where my mouth is, and if I was placing a wager, it would be on GSP to retain the 170lb crown via decision.
I see Penn starting strong effectively hitting GSP with some strong punches, then GSP getting a take down on Penn and pounding him down a little bit. Later on in the fight I can see Penn losing some air, gasping, as his gas tank runs out once again from the excess weight and lack of cardio training. With Penn vulnerable, GSP will be able to pick him apart with kicks, takedowns and physical dominance.
In the end GSP will record his second win over Penn and go down as one of the best, if not the best, fighter to ever fight in MMA.
