Tag Archives: BJ Penn

UFC 112: Invincible (Abu Dhabi)

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Great time to be a fight fan as the UFC is giving us a double dose of goodness featuring two title defenses in the lightweight and middleweight division!  Also on the card is the return of Renzo Gracie who will be making his UFC debut against former welterweight king Matt Hughes.  Let’s get it on!!

Anderson “The Spider” Silva (25-4) v. Demian Maia (12-1)

The champion needs no introduction, since entering the UFC he’s been taking names and making it look easy in the process.  Not a single fighter has ever put the The Spider in danger and it’s hard to see his winning streak come to an end, but the challenger Maia could very well be the man to untangle the web of Silva.  Many would say Maia doesn’t deserve to be here and while I may agree to a certain extent, Maia has proven himself to be among the elite of the middleweights.  Though Maia got his title shot on default due to a Chael Sonnen medical suspension, Maia has finished 80% of his opponents and was stopped once in his career by fellow middleweight contender Nate Marquardt.  In order for the title to change hands, Maia will need to rely on his jiu-jitsu to win the fight, standing with Silva will only spell an end to Maia’s chances.  Maia will of course need to set up his takedown attempts with striking but he shouldn’t get overconfident if he manages to land a couple on Silva.  If Maia gets Silva to the ground, which I think he will due to Silva’s poor wrestling, he will need to attack with submissions and mix it up with punches to avoid being stagnant and potentially restart on the feet.  Although it sounds easy, Maia will still need to eat some punches whenever he shoots in and that could very well be the ender.  Silva has a huge reach and size advantage and his game plan is pretty simple, avoid the takedowns and fire away.  Although I like Maia’s chances and I’ve always known he’d get a title shot one day, I still think he’s not ready for Silva.  The Spider will once again reign supreme.

Silva by KO Rd 3

BJ “The Prodigy” Penn (15-5-1) v. Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (11-1)

The co-main event and fourth title defense will no doubt include some fireworks.  Whenever you get BJ Penn in the cage, you know you’re in for treat and it only spices it up more when an exciting fighter like Franke Edgar is standing in front of the champ.  Does Edgar have “The Answer” to solve BJ’s ever improving game?  To put it bluntly, no.  The formula to defeating The Prodigy lies in his past fights with welterweight uber-god GSP.  Edgar may have the wrestling credentials to execute that game plan, which GSP certainly has, but Edgar is not as strong as GSP nor does he have the smothering top game GSP has.  Instead Edgar will need to utilize his crisp boxing skills and take a chance standing with Penn.  But as Penn’s previous title defenses has shown, Penn is a pretty damn good boxer and puncher as well.  Edgar doesn’t possess the size in height or reach to threaten BJ in any aspect of the game.  Expect BJ to put on another dominating performance and stop Edgar before the championship rounds.

Penn by Submission Rd 3

Matt Hughes (44-7) v. Renzo Gracie (13-6-1)

If there’s any story of “bad blood” behind a fight on the card, it has to be this one.  Former welterweight champ Matt Hughes will once again welcome a Gracie to the UFC in Renzo.  For many hardcore fans, Renzo is a legend from the PRIDE days and probably the most successful from the Gracie family in transitioning from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to MMA.  Only losing to the elite of the sport, Renzo has proven to be a dangerous opponent for anyone.  Though he last competed nearly 3 years ago, he was winning his fight with Frank Shamrock before things got dirty and Renzo was awarded the win via DQ.  Now making his debut, he’ll be looking to seek revenge not only for his family, who have had a bad showing in the UFC since its inception, but also for Hughes previous opponent Matt Serra, who received his black belt under Renzo.  It’s a tough pick for any fan and naturally I’d go with the more active fighter which is Hughes, but I’ve always been a fan of Renzo and I’d like to see him get a little revenge for his family and student.  I’d like a brawl to ensue because neither fighter really possess standing KO power but whoever imposes their will first will dictate the fight.  My heart says Renzo but my brain picks Hughes.

Hughes by Unanimous Decision

Terry Etim (14-3) v. Rafael Dos Anjos (13-4)

Two lightweights looking to make a statement in the already stacked lightweight division battle it out in the second fight of the main card.  Etim has been on a streak since his back-to-back losses to Rich Clementi and Gleison Tibau stopping 3 of his last 4 opponent via submission and TKO.  Dos Anjos also on a win streak since back-to-back losses looks to put on a better showing over his last two decision wins.  I’ve never really followed either fighter but Etim has caught my attention with his steady style of fighting mixing up strikes and takedowns leading to submissions.  Etim seems to be the more diverse fighter and looks to have most of the advantages coming in to the fight.  Etim will dominate on the feet and add win number 5 officially declaring himself contender to the lightweight belt.

Etim by Unanimous Decision

Kendall “Da Spyda” Grove (13-6-0) v. Mark “The Philippine Wrecking Machine” Munoz (7-1-0)

The main card will kick off with an Araneae(scientific name fore Spider) and end with one though this one is Da Spyda and not The Spider.  His dance mate is probably the longest nicknamed fighter in the UFC, Mark Munoz.  This could be Fight of the Night and what better way to kick it off with two aggressive fighters.  Both are coming off wins and are looking to add their name to potential Silva victims.  Since his stint in TUF, Grove started his UFC career with a bang finishing his first two opponents before hitting a roadblock with back-to-back losses.  Since then, his career has been a roller coaster ride most likely due to his overconfidence in the striking game.  Munoz’s style feeds well into Grove’s in that he’s a wrestler with mediocre striking.  Grove’s strength has always been his grappling so I expect Grove to keep it on the feet then switch it up by putting Munoz on his ass and grounding and pounding from there.  It won’t be easy though, as Munoz trains with Black House who just happen to have some guys named Silva, Nogueira and Machida.  Ya it doesn’t ring a bell either.  Munoz plan should be to strike first, though he has a reach disadvantage, and then shoot for takedowns where he can grind on Da Spyda.  On paper, Grove holds most of the advantages but Munoz is no slouch.  Expect fireworks in this one.

Munoz by Unanimous Decision

Entertainment Wrap #2

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New in theaters this week are three pretty high profile releases: Taken, New in Town, and The Uninvited.  Taken is a thriller starring the always great Liam Neeson as a former spy whose daughter is abducted.  He then goes on a bloody rampage trying to get her back. At least judging from what the previews have led me to believe, that is what I am hoping goes down.   The movie looks like it has the same type of raw intensity as another abduction film, 2004′s Man on Fire starring Denzel Washington.  So far the movie has received mixed reviews but I’m still looking forward to checking it out.

New in Town is a romantic comedy starring Renee Zellwegger. Judging from the previews, she moves to a small town from the city. She doesn’t fit in with the townspeople. She meets a guy she’s attracted to. Hilarity may or may not ensue (my money is on “not”). The two of them wind up together in the end. I’m not really a fan of cookie cutter romantic comedies in general but there are a few that manage to bring elements that are new or hilarious that I have enjoyed quite a bit. Sadly, this does not look like one of them. Hopefully I wind up being forced to watch this movie and it surprises me by being far better than expected. Until that time, it’s not worth risking the $8.50.

The Uninvited is a remake of a Korean horror film about two sisters who must cope with not only a new stepmother but supernatural occurrences that are suddenly plaguing the family. This remake has big shoes to fill as the original is the highest grossing Korean horror film to date. Luckily this means that unless Hollywood has seriously screwed up the plot, the story should be quite good as millions of Korean moviegoers can’t be wrong.  Supposedly the film remains faithful to the original with a few minor tweaks. While I am interested in seeing this movie, the hit or miss rate for Hollywood asian horror remakes has been low lately so I will wait for video or a dead box office week to check this one out.

VIDEOS

New DVDs coming out this week are: Lakeview Terrace, Pride and Glory, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Rock and Rollah.  For more info on Lakeview Terrace or Pride and Glory, check the site as I have posted reviews for both films.  Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a Woody Allen romantic comedy about two women vacationing in Spain who fall for the same man, a local artist. Things become even more complicated when the man’s ex wife reenters the picture.  The film has a great cast with Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson playing the vacationing young women. the ex-wife is played by the stunning Penelope Cruz. Finally, the role of the artist is played by Javier Bardem of “No Country for Old Men” fame. I for one am interested to see whether he uses his infamous coin flip as a method of getting women to go out with him. All jokes aside, the movie has gotten great reviews and I’m interested in checking it out.

Of all the DVD releases this week, perhaps the one with the most potential IMHO is the Guy Ritchie directed RockNRollah.  I am a huge fan of Guy Ritchie’s work. Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch are two of my favorite movies.  He seemed to fall off a bit with Swept Away and Revolver, but buzz about this film is that is a true return to form for Ritchie, which is great news. RockNRollah is a tale of a scam gone wrong, leaving millions up for grabs, attracting every criminal and scumbag in London’s underworld attempting to get the prize. Perhaps Ritchie’s greatest strength is that he brilliantly captures the voice and feel of the London underworld like no other.  As evident in Revolver, despite the movie’s confusing and convoluted plot, you couldn’t help but admire the style and presentation in which the story was told.  Another major plus for RockNRolla is that it stars Gerard Butler, Leonidas from 300, in the title role.  While Butler’s post 300 work has been mainly limited to chick flicks and kiddie movies, it will be nice to see him get back to true ass kicking form.  Look for a review of this film as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.

GAMING

There is nothing coming out for a few weeks for any platform right now.  Worth noting for Xbox360 owners is the long awaited release of the demo of Resident Evil 5.  Having spent a bit of time with the demo, I can honestly say the game looks amazing. The graphics showcase some of the most detailed zombie models ever. The gameplay is farily fast paced for a resident Evil title and the controls are quite smooth once you get used to them.  The game also features a co-op mode which is a blast to pick up and play with a friend. The demo is definitely worth checking out as it is free and if you don’t like it, simply delete it.  Not much else going on gaming wise, but I expect it to start ramping up in the next few weeks with some high profile releases on the horizon for February and March.

Mixed Martial Arts

This weekend is the much anticipated rematch between UFC welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre and UFC Lightweight champ BJ “The Prodigy” Penn. You’d be hard pressed to find an MMA fan that isn’t looking forward to this rematch.  St. Pierre won a controversial split decision in their first meeting and now both fighters are looking to win decisively this time to clear up any previous doubts.  This has the potential to be one of, if not the, greatest MMA showdowns ever. For those of you who aren’t ordering this one from pay per view, I suggest you get to your nearest computer on fight night and find someone uploading a feed of the fight. You won’t be disappointed.

SPORTS

There is also another minor sporting event this weekend that may have slipped under everyone’s radar. A little game called the Superbowl. For fans of football AND MMA this is truly a great weekend. The Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet at Superbowl XLIII on Sunday to determine who will be this year’s championship team.  Steelers are the favorites to win based on their bone crushing defense and well balanced offense.  However don’t count out the Cards who are red hot behind the amazing play of receiver Larry Fitzgerald and veteran quarterback Kurt Warner. Personally, I think the Steelers will win but I would like for the Cardinals to take this. Like most people, my team was already eliminated in the playoffs (Ravens, R.I.P.) and I am more excited to see a close and exciting game than to see a particular team win.  Regardless, the Superbowl is always a good time no matter who is playing and I can’t wait for kickoff.  No matter what your plans are for the big game, have fun and stay safe out there.

There’s the week in entertainment so until next week- that’s a wrap!

BJ Penn versus George St. Pierre Predictions

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Call me crazy, but I sort of miss the earlier days of MMA when all we had were one or two fights to really look forward to. In today’s world, we get bombarded with so many dream fights, it literally becomes mentally exhausting. There is just so much to think about. We have win/loss percentages, grappling improvements, striking improvements, training partners, and coaching staff to consider. These are truly tougher times. However, we now have one fight that stands above the rest so much so, that it brings about a sense of nostalgia in more ways than one.

The next two UFC events will feature Forest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans for the Light Heavyweight belt, Nogueira will take on Mir for the interim Heavyweight belt, and two wrecking machines with aliases such as “The Axe Murderer” and “Rampage” will put it all on the line in UFC 92. UFC 93 is already making some fans salivate with possible match ups between Rich Franklin taking on Dan Henderson, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua pitted against Mark Coleman, Jeremy Horn fighting Rouismar Palhares, and the long awaited UFC debut of Dennis Kang.

With all that on our plates, why then is it that fans worldwide are looking past all these great scheduled fights as if these were the under cards? One look through the internet and you will see that as far as MMA is concerned, there is one fight that seems to be the most anticipated match up since Royce Gracie vs. Dan Severn. This fight has caused so many rifts that since the announcement by UFC President Dana White; the divorce rate has gone up! Go ahead and look it up. If it still hasn’t dawn on you that I am referring to Lightweight Champion, BJ Penn, moving up a weight class to challenge Welterweight Champion George St. Pierre for his belt, then it is time for you my friend, to crawl out from that rock you’ve been hiding under. Oh and did I mention that this will be a rematch?

Who will win?

From everything I read and everyone I spoke to, that is a question that is probably better not asked if you do not want to get caught in the crossfire. But I love controversy so what the heck.

I am an island boy through and through so naturally I’m rooting for BJ Penn but for the sake of this article, I will try my best to be neutral and remain objective.

B.J. Penn is pound for pound one of the best in the world. With his new dedication to the sport, this man has the ability to dominate both weight classes. He has respectfully fought at 205, is a legend at age 29, and has beaten some of the best including Matt Hughes, Takanori Gomi, Renzo Gracie, and Sean Sherk. His strengths are his excellent boxing skills and a legendary ground game. He has great flexibility, which allows him to do amazing things from his back. One of his strongest weapons is his timing. His only weakness that everyone loves to point out is his cardio. However, the latest reports indicate that he is no longer relying on pure talent alone and is working hard on his conditioning. I wonder if he has improved on his wrestling and takedown defense as it is the only other missing link I can see.

GSP is one of the most athletically gifted people on the planet. In dismantling Hughes and Fitch in his last few fights, he’s proved he also is one of the pound for pound best. GSP is a master fight technician who finds his opponents’ weaknesses and tailors a fight plan to exploit that weakness. He is a well rounded fighter mainly because he does not train in a true MMA camp per se. Instead he trains at different gyms with professionals of singular arts such as wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and BJJ. This type of focus oriented training specifically isolates a perceived flaw and works to make improvements. With wins over Josh Koshcheck, Sean Sherk, Karo Parysian, Matt Hughes, Frank Trigg, and of course BJ Penn, he is highly unpredictable and one of a few strikers that likes to shoot. He loves to put grapplers on their backs with his explosiveness. It is very difficult for opponents to find a weakness to exploit however, BJ did dominate him standing up.

How will they win?

The first time these two gladiators met, GSP won a highly controversial decision, but the fact remains that Penn inflicted more damage to GSP. In fact, a bloodied GSP had to be admitted into a hospital immediately after the fight. On the other hand, the loser left without so much as a scratch. Many have argued that if it wasn’t for GSP’s superior and repetitive takedowns of the Hawaii native, the fight would have been in BJ’s favor. In fact GSP never delivered any significant damage once he took Penn down. Without a doubt, Penn dominated the stand up battle however; the judge seemed to have placed a higher value for the takedowns.

What GSP needs to do in order to win is to first understand why he lost the stand up aspect to BJ. And the reason for that is because of BJ’s impeccable timing. BJ timed his jabs to catch GSP in mid-combo. GSP always seemed too focused on putting together his attacks that he never saw a counter attack coming. GSP should fake an attack, wait for BJ to throw his jab and then immediately counter with his speed. Another thing that GSP needs to do, should BJ not find an answer to his takedowns, is to gain a dominant position on the ground and utilize a ground and pound attack. The judges may not be so kind this time around and award GSP a win by putting BJ on his back without capitalizing.

What BJ Penn needs to do in order to secure a victory is to first work on his sprawl. GSP took him down at will and even as a black belt; he could not catch GSP with a submission. He should continue to pick apart GSP with his jabs but this time follow up with a power shot. The jury is still out on whether or not BJ’s conditioning is improved however if it has, he should not only look for timed counter punches, but to also keep the pressure on and strike from inside the pocket.

Prediction: BJ Penn, Split Decision. Dana White, Headache. (But that is for another article.)