UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez

[Steel Mamba]

how?

What do Griffin and Edgar have that can give Penn problems? It will be another fight with Penn picking them a part and failed TD attempts against the cage

What chance do guys like Thompson and Melendez have against him? BJ Penn is by far and away the top LW in the world and talent wise is one of the most elite in the sport, so whoever he faces is going to be the underdog. Still there are some small windows of opportunity against Penn as there is with any top fighter.

With Griffin you have a big LW with explosive takedowns and he's pretty technical in his standup ability. Those are the only two assets in a fighter’s game that's going to present Penn with any sort of problems, size & ability to utilize that size with wrestling + technical standup. Griffin has that and could execute a game plan similar to what GSP did against Penn. So he matches up pretty well. Edgar and Maynard would make for interesting fights as well, but don’t exactly have the size.

Yeah, Penn is still hard to get to the ground (the toughest in that division), but you know those three are not Ken Flo and Diego, their wrestling is on a much higher level. Penn has been taken down by the elite wrestlers he fought (aside from Sherk who didn’t even attempt any TD’s), so he can be put on his back against the right fighter.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Read a stat that the last time someone in a lightweight fight successfully took Penn down, it was Gomi in their fight years ago.

Not one man since then (lightweights) could take Penn down.

Hes fought 1 elite wrestler at LW since then, and that wrestler never really went for the TD.

 

[Liquidrob]

What chance do guys like Thompson and Melendez have against him? BJ Penn is by far and away the top LW in the world and talent wise is one of the most elite in the sport, so whoever he faces is going to be the underdog. Still there are some small windows of opportunity against Penn as there is with any top fighter.

With Griffin you have a big LW with explosive takedowns and he's pretty technical in his standup ability. Those are the only two assets in a fighter’s game that's going to present Penn with any sort of problems, size & ability to utilize that size with wrestling + technical standup. Griffin has that and could execute a game plan similar to what GSP did against Penn. So he matches up pretty well. Edgar and Maynard would make for interesting fights as well, but don’t exactly have the size.

Yeah, Penn is still hard to get to the ground (the toughest in that division), but you know those three are not Ken Flo and Diego, their wrestling is on a much higher level. Penn has been taken down by the elite wrestlers he fought (aside from Sherk who didn’t even attempt any TD’s), so he can be put on his back against the right fighter.

Melendez wouldnt do much, I think I already said that, he is like the other 155 LW wrestlers the UFC has and would be the same outcome

Thomson atleast has better stand up, kicking and movement than the guys you have listed, he has been training kickboxing for a long time

If you are going to beat BJ with wrestling you would have to be 170 and a hell of a wrestler like GSP and Hughes

 

[Liquidrob]

Mamba, for a guy who always talks about 'technical' striking and downgrades guys like Cro Cop, etc.. you really overrated guys who look pretty throwing jab/crosses over and over in the air

 

[CrimsonGhost56]

i think its between diaz/maynard/griffin/edgar as to who gets the next title shot. and i think if penn dominates once again its up to 170 for a while.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Mamba, for a guy who always talks about 'technical' striking and downgrades guys like Cro Cop, etc.. you really overrated guys who look pretty throwing jab/crosses over and over in the air

Those guys aren't good strikers? I don't think I'm over-rating them though, their striking still doesn't touch Penn's, but it's at a level where they wouldn't get picked apart like Diego did and could actually do some damage.

 

[Point Blank]

That Penn fight was awesome.

 

[EmpireWF]

Hes fought 1 elite wrestler at LW since then, and that wrestler never really went for the TD.

Penn has fought Pulver, Sherk, Stevenson, Florian and Sanchez.

Sherk and Stevenson are wrestlers. Neither could take Penn down.

Sanchez is known for his ground and pound and tried for 5 rounds to take him down and failed every time out.

The point is, there is nobody at lightweight who can handle Penn on the ground. GSP could do it easily because he had the size/power advantage.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Penn has fought Pulver, Sherk, Stevenson, Florian and Sanchez.

Sherk and Stevenson are wrestlers. Neither could take Penn down.

Sanchez is known for his ground and pound and tried for 5 rounds to take him down and failed every time out.

The point is, there is nobody at lightweight who can handle Penn on the ground. GSP could do it easily because he had the size/power advantage.

Sherk didn't even try to take Penn down and neither Stevenson or Diego are on the level of Griffin, Edgar, and Maynard in terms of wrestling. I agree about GSP, which is why I think Griffin would be an interesting match, he too would have a size/power adv over Penn.

 

[Liquidrob]

Paul doing street fighter type moves

 

[Liquidrob]

Sherk didn't even try to take Penn down and neither Stevenson or Diego are on the level of Griffin, Edgar, and Maynard in terms of wrestling. I agree about GSP, which is why I think Griffin would be an interesting match, he too would have a size/power adv over Penn.

BJ is not a small LW, even GSP and Hughes at 170 have had trouble getting BJ down in the early rounds and these are 2 of the best wrestlers in MMA, unless its a monster sized 155 with elite TDs they will have a brutal time taking BJ down and take a ton of fists to the face doing so

 

[SHOGUN]

Sherk didn't even try to take Penn down and neither Stevenson or Diego are on the level of Griffin, Edgar, and Maynard in terms of wrestling. I agree about GSP, which is why I think Griffin would be an interesting match, he too would have a size/power adv over Penn.

Griffin is 5'6". While you have merit with a power advantage, size? Not so much.

 

[Bigpapa42]

Paul doing street fighter type moves

Mantis Boy has fast become one of my favorite UFC fighters. Simply because there are few more awkward looking fighters around.

 

[CrimsonGhost56]

dammmmnnnnn

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Diego looks like he had a really bad allergic reaction and then the allergic reaction kicked his face in afterwards.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Bootleg...but funny.

 

[Liquidrob]

Poor Diego, I think that was the first head kick BJ ever threw, I dont even remember when he has thrown leg kicks

 

[Bigpapa42]

Poor Diego, I think that was the first head kick BJ ever threw, I dont even remember when he has thrown leg kicks

Yeah, my buddy mentioned that today... Don't recall BJ ever throwing one before. Effective...