Author: Mike Hodges

Why BJ Penn Should Accept the Fight With Josh Koscheck

Josh Koscheck would be the perfect opponent for BJ Penn to face in his return to the octagon.Koscheck revealed on his Twitter account that he had been offered to face the Hawaiian. Unfortunately, Penn turned it down and will continue to focus on his li…

Josh Koscheck would be the perfect opponent for BJ Penn to face in his return to the octagon.

Koscheck revealed on his Twitter account that he had been offered to face the Hawaiian. Unfortunately, Penn turned it down and will continue to focus on his life outside of the UFC, according to the Cagewriter blog.

In mixed martial arts, styles make fights and this would of been one of the more enjoyable matchups to look forward to.

First of all, Koscheck’s trash talk to help sell the fight would certainly motivate Penn to perform at his best, and the former UFC lightweight champion is most dangerous when he is motivated. It’s evident from some of his past bouts that his most dominant victories were fueled by trash-talk coming from opponents like Kenny Florian, Sean Sherk and Matt Hughes.

Stylistically, this bout would favour Penn in nearly all aspects of the fight.

While Koscheck does possess one of the best wrestling pedigrees at 170 pounds, Penn is one of the most flexible and durable fighters, and he has shown an excellent ability to stay on his feet against some of the sport’s elite wrestlers, including Sherk and Georges St-Pierre. 

Penn also displays arguably the best boxing in MMA and is very good at avoiding his opponents’ attack with well-timed head movement, especially when he utilizes his jab. Koscheck’s stand-up has progressed recently, but he tends to get sloppy when he attempts to land a cross or a overhand right, leaving his guard wide open.

Although this bout appears to be anything but finalized, there is still time for Penn to reconsider and try to make a comeback. It’s understandable if he wants to reevaluate his options momentarily, however, Penn is still relatively young at just 31 years old and would likely be only one or two wins away from a title shot. 

Penn should accept a fight against Koscheck. It would help him add another quality opponent to his resume, and it would affirm his stance in the welterweight division.

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Anthony Pettis Won’t Rule out Fight with Donald Cerrone, Wants Nate Diaz First

Donald Cerrone isn’t likely going to get the opportunity to fight Anthony Pettis anytime soon.After suffering a shoulder injury following his win over Joe Lauzon at UFC 144, it was learned that Pettis would require surgery and would be out of action un…

Donald Cerrone isn’t likely going to get the opportunity to fight Anthony Pettis anytime soon.

After suffering a shoulder injury following his win over Joe Lauzon at UFC 144, it was learned that Pettis would require surgery and would be out of action until late summer.

Cerrone earned a huge win over Jeremy Stephens at UFC on Fuel 3 and he proceeded to call out the former WEC lightweight champion during his post-fight interview.

But Pettis’ manager, Mike Roberts, dismissed the possibility of seeing a return for “Showtime,” at least until September. 

Roberts said Pettis would be interested in the idea to face Cerrone in the future. However, he said his client is hoping to meet newly-crowned No. 1 contender Nate Diaz later this year, for a chance to challenge for the UFC Lightweight title.

“Diaz is his first choice,” Roberts told MMAFighting.com.

As for Cerrone, he has expressed his desire to compete at UFC 150 in his hometown of Denver. While the likelihood of being matched up against Pettis is slim, Cerrone is still hoping to appear on the main card.

“Whoever they want,” Cerrone said. “Denver is what I want, though.”

Cerrone’s win over Stephens extended his UFC record to 5-1, while Pettis has rebounded with two consecutive victories following his loss to Clay Guida at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale last year.

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Fedor Emelianenko Considering Retirement Following Bout with Pedro Rizzo

Having fought in multiple organizations throughout the world, mixed martial arts veteran and former pound-for-pound great Fedor Emelianenko may be calling it a career following his next bout.The former Pride FC heavyweight champion told Russian website…

Having fought in multiple organizations throughout the world, mixed martial arts veteran and former pound-for-pound great Fedor Emelianenko may be calling it a career following his next bout.

The former Pride FC heavyweight champion told Russian website RIA Novosti earlier this week that he may consider retiring after facing former UFC heavyweight Pedro Rizzo in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 21.

Despite being 38 years old, Emelianenko still considers the Brazilian to be one of the top heavyweights in the sport today.

“I think it’s time to call it a day. This fight may be my last one,” Emelianenko said.

Widely considered the greatest heavyweight fighter in MMA history, the Russian has established a legacy of being a durable and well-rounded fighter, going undefeated for nearly a decade.

However, after going 1-3 in Strikeforce, Emelianenko was released from his contract and has since gone on to defeat veterans such as Jeff Monson and Satoshi Ishii.

Meanwhile, Rizzo has won his last three bouts, earning victories over Monson, Gary Goodridge and Ken Shamrock.

If Emelianenko does indeed retire, his legacy will be intact, but fans may never know how “The Last Emperor” would have fared against some of the top contenders in the UFC.

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UFC on Fuel 3 Results: Is Chan Sung Jung Ready for a Shot at Jose Aldo?

The UFC featherweight division has found its next contender and a potential star in Chan Sung Jung.Jung put on an impressive performance in the main event on UFC on Fuel 3 as he battered Dustin Poirier for the majority of the fight before submitting hi…

The UFC featherweight division has found its next contender and a potential star in Chan Sung Jung.

Jung put on an impressive performance in the main event on UFC on Fuel 3 as he battered Dustin Poirier for the majority of the fight before submitting him in the fourth round, in what will likely be a candidate for Fight of the Year.

“The Korean Zombie” is currently riding a three-fight win streak and his victory over Poirier was enough to convince UFC president Dana White that he is next in line to challenge for the UFC featherweight title.

Having sported an 0-2 record in the WEC, Jung has proved himself to be a worthy contender at 145 pounds. Victories over Mark Hominick, Leonard Garcia and now Poirier have not only helped his case with UFC management, but also with the fans; Jung’s performances have made him an instant fan favourite.

Should Jose Aldo get past Erik Koch at UFC 149, it would set up one of the more intriguing bouts at 145 pounds and it would add some recognition to the division.

Out of the three opponents the Brazilian has faced, only Kenny Florian has the most notoriety, which didn’t necessarily boost Aldo’s stock as a huge draw with the company.

But given Jung’s sudden rise in popularity and Aldo’s dominance, this fight can be easily sold and bring in a lot of revenue for the UFC. Although Aldo is considered as one the top pound-for-pound fighters, he still isn’t a major pay-per-view draw to attract fans. Therefore, it would be logical to schedule a title bout between Aldo and Jung for the next UFC on Fox card sometime this fall.

With Jung’s inclusion in the 145-pound title picture and former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar possibly moving down, the featherweight division might not be so weak after all.

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UFC on Fuel 3 Results: Did Donald Cerrone Erase the Loss to Nate Diaz?

Donald Cerrone made an emphatic statement in his return to the Octagon.The “Cowboy” squared off against Jeremy Stephens on UFC on Fuel 3 and showcased a dominant display of superior striking and improved footwork.Cerrone would continue the onslaught an…

Donald Cerrone made an emphatic statement in his return to the Octagon.

The “Cowboy” squared off against Jeremy Stephens on UFC on Fuel 3 and showcased a dominant display of superior striking and improved footwork.

Cerrone would continue the onslaught and pick apart his opponent to eventually pick up the unanimous decision.

The victory was well-deserved for the Greg Jackson pupil, as Cerrone earned his fifth win in his last six UFC appearances. Cerrone could find himself against a credible opponent in his next bout, where he hopes to compete in his hometown of Denver at UFC 150, but it did more than just enter him back into the 155-pound title picture.

Cerrone’s performance against Stephens proved that he has evolved and improved since his last bout against Nate Diaz at UFC 141, easily the worst showing of his UFC tenure thus far. Throughout the entire contest, Cerrone’s kickboxing was unsuccessful against the Stockton, Calif. native’s boxing skills and reach, picking apart the former WEC standout at will, utilizing angles and effective counter-striking.

But Cerrone’s win not only erased any doubts regarding his loss to Diaz, but it erased any doubts of the 29-year-old’s future in the lightweight division.

Cerrone needed a victory to remain among the elite fighters at 155 pounds, but he also needed a bout to prove he is still a threat to the UFC lightweight title, and he did just that against Stephens.

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UFC on Fuel 3 Results: Have We Seen the Last of Jason MacDonald in the UFC?

Jason MacDonald’s days as a UFC fighter appear to be numbered.In an attempt to redeem himself, “The Athlete” was put up against Tom Lawlor in a middleweight matchup, but he suffered a brutal knockout just 50 seconds into the opening round.The loss to L…

Jason MacDonald‘s days as a UFC fighter appear to be numbered.

In an attempt to redeem himself, “The Athlete” was put up against Tom Lawlor in a middleweight matchup, but he suffered a brutal knockout just 50 seconds into the opening round.

The loss to Lawlor has now seen MacDonald drop his second consecutive fight and his 16th professional loss.

MacDonald will likely get one more appearance inside the Octagon, likely in his hometown of Alberta, at UFC 149, before the 36-year-old calls it a career.

While the Canadian was never truly seen as a legitimate threat to the UFC middleweight title, he did add some valuable experience to the division.

MacDonald’s loss proves that he no longer can contend with some of the more prominent fighters at 185 pounds, but also, he is unable to endure much punishment at this stage of his career.

It is unsure who he will be matched up against, should he decide to compete once more, but MacDonald has always been a professional and a respectable employee to the company.

Should MacDonald fight one more time, he will be deserving of a hero’s welcome in his hometown, and be praised for his toughness, skill and dedication that he brought to the sport. 

As for Lawlor, he is likely to continue to climb up the rankings and receive another formidable opponent in his next appearance.

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