UFC 112: Frankie Edgar vs BJ Penn likely for April 10 in Abu Dhabi
by Jesse Holland on Jan 12, 2010 10:11 AM EST
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If there was any question as to who BJ Penn was likely to face on April 10 at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, then Gray Maynard probably gave us "The Answer" during his main event against Nick Diaz at UFC Fight Night 20 in Fairfax.
"The Bully" was one fight away from emerging as the clear-cut number one contender; however, his performance against Diaz left a lot to be desired as the former TUF stars hacked and slashed their way to a sloppy split-decision that ultimately favored Maynard.
And the former All American out of Michigan State wasn't exactly calling for Penn's head after the victory.
Perhaps it has something to do with their history as training partners, or maybe he realizes he needs a bit more polish before challenging for the title. Whatever the case may be, the UFC brass will probably concur.
In the wake of "Maynard vs. Diaz," Frankie Edgar has now emerged as the division's front runner for the next crack at the Hawaiian's 155-pound strap.
The New Jersey native has been nearly perfect since his UFC debut in February 2007. In addition to key victories over Jim Miller, Tyson Griffin and Spencer Fisher, "The Answer" put his hands on display with a win over Sean Sherk at UFC 98 last May.
His only blip during that span was a high-altitude unanimous decision loss to Maynard himself, when the two wrestling standouts huffed and puffed their way to the judges scorecards at UFC Fight Night 13.
Edgar quickly bounced back and won three straight, including a submission win (rear naked choke) over the dangerous Matt Veach at last month's Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale.
Now it appears as though he's reached the mountaintop -- but as the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for.
You just might get it.
The reigning 155-pound champion has looked nearly invincible since returning to the lightweight division in June 2007. In fact, "The Prodigy" has violently finished all five of his opponents in his weight class, including a submission win (rear naked choke) over Kenny Florian at UFC 101 in August 2009.
For dessert he had two scoops of Diego Sanchez's face at UFC 107 last December.
If Edgar is indeed the chosen one, then he may be all that stands between BJ Penn and his return to the land of the welterweights. UFC President Dana White has ordered his former nemesis to "clean out the division" before making another change in weight.
A highlight reel finish over Edgar could potentially seal the deal.
UFC 112 will mark the promotion's debut in Abu Dhabi and is expected to feature a welterweight brawl between Matt Hughes and Renzo Gracie. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more information on this still-developing fight card.
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BJ is about as untouchable as a fighter can be at 155.
Let him have his way with Edgar then move on to bigger, better challenges.
What do you think the odds will be on this one?
-600?
This title-shot is comparable to a Silva-Cote, Silva-Leites, GSP-Serra. Heavy, heavy underdog.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
LOL
If beating Matt Veach can get you a title shot…I’d get in that line up…lol.
"I bet a funny thing about driving a car off a cliff is, while you're in midair, you still hit those brakes! Hey, better try the emergency brake!"
by Buster Bluth on Jan 12, 2010 11:26 AM EST up reply actions
And he didn't look good in that fight either
I was more impressed with Veach.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
Did you get your e-mails Bluth?
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
Yes I did
just haven’t had a chance to reply yet…I’ll do so tonight when I get home
"I bet a funny thing about driving a car off a cliff is, while you're in midair, you still hit those brakes! Hey, better try the emergency brake!"
by Buster Bluth on Jan 12, 2010 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
This is extremely unappealing
"Me and Michael are like Mozart...and Mozart's friend."
"No, I'm like Butch Cassidy..."
"You mess with Mozart, you're gonna get a bullet in your head. Courtesy of Butch Cassidy."
at least Anderson will be headlining...
Anderson will be fighting Belfort on this same card.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
me too...
i’ve been callin’ for this rematch lately. I really want to see it happen!
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
That’s not an interesting fight for Hughes at this point in his career. The only interesting fights left for him are one-dimensional BJJ guys named Gracie or a title fight if someone beats GSP.
The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful
True
I bet he gets the first shot against anyone that beats GSP
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
i don't see it happening...
as much special treatment Hughes gets, he’s not gonna get a title-shot if someone else beats GSP. There’s no way the UFC can pass this one on the fans. Who has Hughes fought? Serra? Gracie? Beat at least 1 top contender: Alves, Koscheck, Fitch, Daley.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
Settle down there fella, it was a joke in regards to Hughes’ unwillingness to fight anyone with a chance to beat him but his desire to get another title shot without fighting anyone above him.
The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful
Hughes would still get a crack at Hardy, if Hardy beat GSP
You’d better believe that.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
P-dub
i did get ur joke. it was a reply to Jay. We all know Hughes doesn’t deserve a title-shot…Jay thinks he’ll get it anyway, i dont.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
I think he'll get it if Hardy beats GSP
Who else is Dana going to give it to?
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
I know he doesn't deserve it.
But if he asks for it, and Hardy wins, he’ll probably get it.
I hope he doesn’t, but Dana gives unwarranted title shots to HOFers all the time.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
i dont think that'll happen
i dont think he’ll get a shot even if he asks for one in the octagon after demolishing Renzo. That would be disgusting.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
Will he be?
Future HOFer, better?
You know what I meant.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
No rematch, no point. Let hughes fight other relics
BJ vs Kos, BJ vs Fitch, BJ vs Alves, only fights that matter at WW. I think he trucks both Kos and Fitch. Alves beats him with leg kicks and general beast MT though.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Jan 12, 2010 3:05 PM EST up reply actions
do you think he deserves a shot? Or...
do you think the UFC will give it to him because of his name?
Hughes is done. He’s fighting Renzo?? C’mon.
How about the winner of Koschck Daley.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
Oh gawd no
He doesn’t deserve it and he couldn’t earn his way back to deserving it. He would get it because of his name.
I hope you didn’t think I thought he deserved a shot. He would get one if he asked for it.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
His name is past his prime...
Most fans know Hughes is done…his name hasn’t meant much in years, even to the “average” mma fan…the ones who can only name 3 fighters. I just don’t think Dana has the balls to pass this one on us, even if he wants to.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
Passing Randy off is worse. IMO
Hughes is still beating almost everyone. And he was a DOMINANT champ for a long time. Much easier sell than old Man Randy, IMO.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
Randy is a machine...
I will never doubt him. Hughes is totally outclassed in his division. I really don’t think he is anywhere close to the top 10 in the WW division. Give him Anthony Johnson.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
I think he could lay on Hardy for 25 minutes easy
And I like Hardy much more than I like Hughes. Hughes still has good wrestling-enough to hold Dan down for a boring win.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
i dont think so
He’s not gonna be able to set up his take-downs…he doesnt have the same explosiveness…fighters are evolving, and Hughes wrestling isn’t enough anymore.
Hughes’ striking is on the same level as big-baby.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
Nobody is as bad as big baby standing
LOL
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
If ‘Ardy lands a huge right hook to GSP’s ear before GSP has a chance to get the takedown and begin his, ahem, ground and pound, then you better believe Hughes will lobby for a title shot and use his beatings of Renzo Gracie, former UFC champ Royce Gracie and former UFC champ Matt Serra as justification.
The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful
Would actually like to see that
I wouldn’t mind if I saw the daley kos fight. I think it would be pretty interesting for a #1 contender type of match. But the hughes thing is gone. he is no longer able to compete with good fighters. lol
Tell that to Randy Couture
You know he’s getting another shot. Dana doesn’t care who you beat.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
I can't believe what Rogan said
The winner of Couture-Coleman is in line for a title shot?? Coleman?? I can see Couture if he beats a top contender after Coleman. But not right after Coleman.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
If Randy wins, he'll get a title shot.
Dana gives them out to all his buddies. It’s crap.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
If Chuck beats Tito
You gotta believe he is one fight away from a title shot as well.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
They'll both retire after that fight...
I’m hoping Chuck murders him, literally.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
Tito isn't going anywhere yet, win or lose.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
you know what?
I really hope Tito sticks around! As much as I hate that douche, and dont want him to make anymore money…I just his soundbites.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
"love his sound bites"
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
I'm all for a Hughes/Penn 3
But I would like him to stay at light weight. Go up to ww for a few fights here and there but stay at lw were he dominates.
Frankie Edgar is good
but BJ etc. win etc. ambulance etc.
"OH GOD THAT'S DISGUSTING! HE BROKE HIS FREAKIN' ARM"
"hey man that's the business, we're not figure skating"
I underestimated the deadly skills of one of the greatest HWs in the world, Frank Mir. I wrote that because I lost a bet but honestly, he really did impress me. I'm well on the Frank wagon
by Spinning Fat Kick on Jan 12, 2010 10:22 AM EST reply actions
If this was a SF match up you all would be loving this (e.g Fedor Vs Rogers, we all knew it was going to be murder) . But because you all have got so use to UFC putting on great cards a fight like this gets slated. I once again say the more active a fighter is and the more fights that can be put on the better, nothing is set in stone.
Anyway at the end of the day BJ is LW King, he has to fight next in line (Maynard or Edgar) whether its a bad match up or not. Otherwise it makes a joke out of the LW division because there would be no end goal. Edgar is a talented fighter and we all know upsets can happen (unlikely though)
But i do agree with PRZ that match up would be brilliant, i do want to see Hughes Vs Gracie though.
by MMA changed the world on Jan 12, 2010 10:37 AM EST reply actions
Rogers had a chance to KO Fedor
Frankie has zero chance. Difference. Also most people said Fedor/Rogers was stupid. I don’t know who you are talking about, but nobody thought Fedor/Rogers was a good match up either.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
Decent looking fight
I think Frankies standup is getting better and better. Obviously BJ is a freak, but if Edgar can keep up with him boxing, it could be interesting
Frankie can't outbox BJ.
Not even close. BJ needs to leave the LW division, there’s nothing left for him there.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
huh?
welcome to MMA HighNoon. BJ probably has the best takedown defence in the game.
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
Nope
Not as dangerous as KenFlo or Diego… not even close actually. He lost to Maynard, how is he gonna beat BJ?
by PHISH NATION on Jan 12, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
Give Frankie some Credit
I will admit I am very doubtfull he will be BJ. However maybe its my blind hatred for BJ, or the fact that Frankie can hang with just about anyone in LW lately. His dominate wrestling allows him to control where the fight takes place. His Striking especially his boxing looks great, and he is working on his BJJ as he is only a Purple Belt.
Does he have BJ’s shear aggression in the cage, no. However I still think he has a chance if he can keep it standing…… as scary as that sounds after what BJ just did to Diego,
Why should I?
Why give Edgar credit? Hwo has he beaten? Top contenders like Matt Veach? Hermes Franca? Mark Bocek? Talk to me after he beats Diego or Florian!!
by PHISH NATION on Jan 12, 2010 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
he beat tyson griffin and has beaten everybody else put in front of him other then a way bigger gray maynard who laid on him for 3 rounds.
if he thought maynard is big...
wait until he fights penn!!
by PHISH NATION on Jan 12, 2010 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
his wrestling is not dominant
please see maynard/frankie
Well i think you need to look back over the blogs regarding the Fedor Vs Rogers match. Too many people were GREAT SF CARD can’t wait for Fedor to fight a guy that he will smash. Also Rogers was never next in line either, whereas Edgar is
Plus Rogers KO power was only really tested against AA (Top tier fighter) and lets be fair AA chin has lost alot. Plus has Fedor ever been KO’ed No so i think my point still stands plus skill wise Edgar sh!ts on Rogers.
by MMA changed the world on Jan 12, 2010 11:09 AM EST reply actions
Edgar lost to Maynard not too long ago.
Why would he be next? It’s Maynards turn.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
Rogers had a chance in one aspect of the fight. He could knock Fedor out.
What shot does Edgar have? Do you think he could knock BJ out? Even if BJ had his hands tied behind his back, Frank would gas himself before he knocked BJ off his feet.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
i guess b/c maynard can't finish anyone?
and is considered a “boring” fighter? i agree tho, i don’t understand why edgar gets the nod
me neither
now is the perfect time to let BJ face a top ten WW
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
Bad match up
Edgar is very small for 155, and BJ just shrugged off a pretty big Diego Sanchez.. I like to watch both fighters but BJ will dominate every aspect of the fight.
Fuck you! I'm an ANTEATER!
You're right about Diego's size.
He looked like he was 170 on fight day.
How about?
Kenflo and Frankie against BJ?
Tito interviewing Babalu: "I want to tell me what you see, let's go ahead and see by the fight, what you saw, in the ring."
Tito interviewing Fedor: "Let me tell you how you feeling right now?"
nice
"Me and Michael are like Mozart...and Mozart's friend."
"No, I'm like Butch Cassidy..."
"You mess with Mozart, you're gonna get a bullet in your head. Courtesy of Butch Cassidy."
by McArthur... on Jan 12, 2010 12:34 PM EST up reply actions
Frankie goes to Intensive Care could be accurate as well.
"He#s the WWE champ and with out a doubt should be ranked higher than any other man in the UFC. "-Puck Head, LOL.
Relax, don't do it
Oh my god, they’re breakdance fighting!
The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful
Penn vs Edgar
This is the best possible LW match up. After last nights Split Decision Win for Gray there was no way he was going to fight BJ. The way he whipped over hands at Nate was a brief opportunity to imagine the Penn fight. Penn would pick him off worse then Penn did Diego.
The UFC has no win win situation. BJ wants to fight in Abu Dhabi. BJ wants to defend his strap. This is the motivated BJ we have always wanted and it comes with no clear LW challengers. They brought in Gomi which if he beats Florian would be pushed up to the top of the ladder.
Edgar is a tough kid. And without BJ he may be on top of this division with Gray, Diego and kenny. However, this fight is a squash match for BJ. I would love BJ to take some time to gain some muscle and fight Jon Fitch.
i know this will never happen
but it’d be nice to see him go over and bust up aoki and melendez
Edgar and Maynard?..... haaaa haaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Not a chance against BJ Penn. Not now, not ever, he’ll murder them both. He could do a 2 fights in 1 night show and still own them.
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