|
|
Post by The Mac on Jan 12, 2010 19:27:36 GMT -5
It appears Frankie Edgar (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is "The Answer" to which fighter is most qualified to face UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn (15-5-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC).
In an interview with MMAFighting.com, UFC president Dana White said he felt that Edgar was better prepared than undefeated 155-pounder Gray Maynard (9-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) for a crack at the dominant champion.
Official word from the UFC said Maynard's Monday bout with Nate Diaz carried title implications, but after "The Bully" won a split decision at UFC Fight Night 20, White said the lightweight wasn't "100 percent ready" for Penn.
In a recent video posted on his official website, bjpenn.com, Penn said he expected to fight at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi against an unnamed opponent.
White confirmed that the tentative plan was to match Penn against Edgar on the Apr. 10 event, but he added that it was not confirmed.
However, a source close to the promotion spoke to MMAjunkie.com (mmajunkie.com) on Tuesday and said the fight was far more than tentative and in the process of being finalized.
Edgar, a native of Toms River, N.J., is on a three-fight winning streak and most recently put his contendership on the line when he faced Matt Veach at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in December. In a "Fight of the Night" performance, he submitted Veach in the second round.
In seven UFC appearances, Maynard remains the only blemish on Edgar's record, a unanimous decision loss at UFC Fight Night 13 in April 2008.
Despite the head-to-head result, it is believed that the quality of Edgar's recent performances when compared to those of Maynard's are what earned him the nod.
Penn has torn through the 155-pound division since defeating Joe Stevenson for the lightweight belt at UFC 80 in January 2008 with title defenses against Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, and most recently, Diego Sanchez.
-The Mac
|
|
|
|
Post by Mr. Orange on Jan 12, 2010 19:31:37 GMT -5
Good Luck. He's going to need it. Edgar is very good, but BJ at 155 is just at another level.
|
|
PrideFcF
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 7, 2008 13:26:21 GMT -5
Posts: 3,807
|
Post by PrideFcF on Jan 12, 2010 19:33:51 GMT -5
I'll seriously be rooting for Frankie, but BJ is most definitely going to beat him right out of the 155lb weight class. Hopefully he can put up a good enough effort where he ends up looking good and gaining popularity, despite losing.
|
|
uvfan1
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Sept 6, 2007 17:02:05 GMT -5
Posts: 311
|
Post by uvfan1 on Jan 12, 2010 19:46:26 GMT -5
BJ should win this fight pretty easy. Maynard deserves the shot more. He's on a 7 fight winning streak and beat Edger. Either way BJ most likely would beat both of them.
|
|
Bob Sapp
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 22, 2008 13:35:03 GMT -5
Posts: 3,059
|
Post by Bob Sapp on Jan 12, 2010 19:50:21 GMT -5
hahaha. BJ is going to cut him like a hot knife through butter.
|
|
DWright
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 7, 2005 18:30:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,839
|
Post by DWright on Jan 12, 2010 19:52:43 GMT -5
R.I.P. Frankie Edgar's UFC career.
Better luck in WEC.
|
|
Adolf
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 12, 2005 20:19:55 GMT -5
Posts: 2,792
|
Post by Adolf on Jan 12, 2010 19:58:49 GMT -5
|
|
DWright
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 7, 2005 18:30:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,839
|
Post by DWright on Jan 12, 2010 20:36:58 GMT -5
A lot of people thought Edgar would be next in line -- it wasn't a hard thing to "call." |
|
Adolf
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 12, 2005 20:19:55 GMT -5
Posts: 2,792
|
Post by Adolf on Jan 12, 2010 23:05:37 GMT -5
A lot of people thought Edgar would be next in line -- it wasn't a hard thing to "call." I know, I worded that wrong. |
|
s13driver
Superstar
UFC ZoMBiE FrEaK!!
Joined on: Jan 19, 2009 20:17:30 GMT -5
Posts: 935
|
Post by s13driver on Jan 12, 2010 23:35:42 GMT -5
R.I.P. Frankie Edgar's UFC career. Better luck in WEC. I totally agree. I always thought that Frankie was too small for the 155 division anyways. I think he'll be better suited for WEC's 145 division. |
|
PdW2kX
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 8, 2007 23:34:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,551
|
Post by PdW2kX on Jan 13, 2010 1:03:48 GMT -5
I hate to dismiss Edgar's talents, but a rather large part of me feels like the UFC is really scraping the bottom of the barrel if Frankie Edgar gets a title shot. I honestly think the only elite-level fighter he's ever fought and beat has been Sherk. A few have come close to elite status, but the only one anywhere near Penn's level would be Sherk, and even if Edgar beat Sherk, Penn outright embarrassed Sherk in their match, and Penn has done nothing but get better since his fight with Sherk.
BJ Penn by whateverthehellhewants wheneverthehellhewants.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bartman on Jan 13, 2010 1:47:53 GMT -5
I'd love to say I'm looking forward to this fight, but I mean, Edgar doesn't stand a chance against Penn.
|
|
PrideFcF
Main Eventer
Joined on: May 7, 2008 13:26:21 GMT -5
Posts: 3,807
|
Post by PrideFcF on Jan 13, 2010 1:49:50 GMT -5
Like I've said before, the only thing that will beat BJ right now is himself. The only way Edgar is going to win is if he fights a cocky, uninspired, ill-prepared (condition wise) BJ Penn.
|
|
|
|
Post by tml on Jan 13, 2010 1:59:39 GMT -5
well il go against the grain and say that even though i think bj will win i also think edgar will put up a great fight
|
|
|
|
Post by chrispage on Jan 13, 2010 8:31:34 GMT -5
Edgar is going to get destroyed.
Personally I think the only interesting fights for BJ in the entire LW division are against Gilbert Melendez or Shinya Aoki.
|
|
|
|
Post by edhardy on Jan 13, 2010 18:52:13 GMT -5
Edgar is going to get destroyed. Personally I think the only interesting fights for BJ in the entire LW division are against Gilbert Melendez or Shinya Aoki. No the only person interesting for BJ would be Alvarez PERIOD It would be a mistake if he thinks he should try to grapple with penn. it would also be a mistake to stand with penn. it would also be a mistake to get to the ground with penn. It's a mistake to even put Edgar in there with Penn, but since hes rumored to co-mainevent UFC 112 with silva vs vitor it'll be worth the money. |
|
|
|
Post by chrispage on Jan 13, 2010 19:16:37 GMT -5
Edgar is going to get destroyed. Personally I think the only interesting fights for BJ in the entire LW division are against Gilbert Melendez or Shinya Aoki. No the only person interesting for BJ would be Alvarez PERIOD It would be a mistake if he thinks he should try to grapple with penn. it would also be a mistake to stand with penn. it would also be a mistake to get to the ground with penn. It's a mistake to even put Edgar in there with Penn, but since hes rumored to co-mainevent UFC 112 with silva vs vitor it'll be worth the money. I don't know... Eddie is a really really good fighter (from what I hear, I have only seen the Imada fight) but I'd definitely love to see BJ against Aoki. Who knows... UFC may notice how thin their LW division is after BJ brutalises Edgar and tries to get some of these guys in. |
|
Adolf
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jun 12, 2005 20:19:55 GMT -5
Posts: 2,792
|
Post by Adolf on Jan 13, 2010 19:46:28 GMT -5
As mentioned above, I too would love to see Penn get in either the Octagon or ring with Aoki.
|
|
|
|
Post by edhardy on Jan 13, 2010 19:51:08 GMT -5
Aoki has no stand up dude. Once penn hits him he'll be out. His chin sucks too.
|
|
DWright
Main Eventer
Joined on: Jan 7, 2005 18:30:58 GMT -5
Posts: 3,839
|
Post by DWright on Jan 13, 2010 23:59:30 GMT -5
Edgar is going to get destroyed. Personally I think the only interesting fights for BJ in the entire LW division are against Gilbert Melendez or Shinya Aoki. No the only person interesting for BJ would be Alvarez PERIOD It would be a mistake if he thinks he should try to grapple with penn. it would also be a mistake to stand with penn. it would also be a mistake to get to the ground with penn. It's a mistake to even put Edgar in there with Penn, but since hes rumored to co-mainevent UFC 112 with silva vs vitor it'll be worth the money. Eddie Alvarez is a good fighter, but could you possibly over hype him a bit more? He's beat 2 fighters. Kawijiri and Hellboy, that's it. Since his loss to Aoki, he's beaten absolutely no one. Alvarez would get smashed by BJ Penn. Penn's stand up is better, his ground game is better, his chin is better, his ground defense is better...every facet of BJ's game, is better than Alvarez's. I don't see where you're getting this "The only guy that could stick with BJ is Alvarez" theory. What are you basing it off? I would put Alvarez in the same class as a Florian if he was under a Zuffa contract. In fact, I honestly believe Florian would be a better fight for Alvarez, and Florian would beat him. |
|
+nod+of+approval.gif)
