(“Why must we have to wait until February for the next episode of The Walking Dead? WHY?!”)
If their backstories are any indication of how they will perform, then Rory MacDonald best prepare himself for hell against B.J. Penn come Saturday night. Not only is BJ looking to be in the best shape of his (welterweight) career, but the manner in which “The Prodigy” was portrayed in the UFC’s recent UFC on FOX 5 “Road to the Octagon” featurette has all but set him up for an epic career comeback. The “champion hoping to reignite legacy for family’s honor” angle has been played up plenty of times by similar countdowns, fight previews, or whathaveyous in the past, but very few cases have been as emotionally gut-wrenching as Penn’s.
The normally stoic Penn, whose daughter turned 4 around the time of the filming, revealed a completely unseen side of himself as he broke down in front of the cameras while describing how hard it has been to see his children grow up while he has been away fighting to secure their future (14:25). Credit is due to the editing department for brilliantly juxtaposing Penn’s fatherly plight (but did they have to have impose BJ’s breakdown over the Happy Birthday song for his daughter? TOO MUCH EMOTIONS DAMN YOU) with that of MacDonald’s, who admits that his own father wasn’t around much during his childhood. Nice try, Rory, but you are now the Max Bear to Penn’s James Braddock and we will root against you until Penn breathes his final breath. ATTICA! ATTICA!!
Anyway, a full replay of the special is after the jump, and it features an equally compelling handling of the Gustafsson/Rua and Henderson/Diaz fights, so check it out, won’t you?
(“Why must we have to wait until February for the next episode of The Walking Dead? WHY?!”)
If their backstories are any indication of how they will perform, then Rory MacDonald best prepare himself for hell against B.J. Penn come Saturday night. Not only is BJ looking to be in the best shape of his (welterweight) career, but the manner in which “The Prodigy” was portrayed in the UFC’s recent UFC on FOX 5 “Road to the Octagon” featurette has all but set him up for an epic career comeback. The “champion hoping to reignite legacy for family’s honor” angle has been played up plenty of times by similar countdowns, fight previews, or whathaveyous in the past, but very few cases have been as emotionally gut-wrenching as Penn’s.
The normally stoic Penn, whose daughter turned 4 around the time of the filming, revealed a completely unseen side of himself as he broke down in front of the cameras while describing how hard it has been to see his children grow up while he has been away fighting to secure their future (14:25). Credit is due to the editing department for brilliantly juxtaposing Penn’s fatherly plight (but did they have to have impose BJ’s breakdown over the Happy Birthday song for his daughter? TOO MUCH EMOTIONS DAMN YOU) with that of MacDonald’s, who admits that his own father wasn’t around much during his childhood. Nice try, Rory, but you are now the Max Bear to Penn’s James Braddock and we will root against you until Penn breathes his final breath. ATTICA! ATTICA!!
Anyway, a full replay of the special is after the jump, and it features an equally compelling handling of the Gustafsson/Rua and Henderson/Diaz fights, so check it out, won’t you?
BJ Penn’s story, in many ways, is the story of modern MMA. His debut back in 2001 was on the undercard of the first UFC event completely masterminded by Zuffa and UFC president Dana White. His fall, such as it was, came when the company, too, face…
BJ Penn‘s story, in many ways, is the story of modern MMA. His debut back in 2001 was on the undercard of the first UFC event completely masterminded by Zuffa and UFC president Dana White.
His fall, such as it was, came when the company, too, faced dark days. His phoenix-like rise also coincided with the MMA boom, with Penn dominating the lightweight division just as the sport exploded in popularity.
But man, alas, is mortal. While the UFC can last until the end of time, Penn’s career cannot. As the end nears—and this Saturday’s showdown with Rory MacDonald may end up being the final significant fight of his illustrious career—it’s time to take a look back at the moments that made the “Prodigy” one of the most memorable fighters in MMA history.
The following snapshots of a fighting life, in chronological order, are the moments we’ll always remember. Click with me for the best of BJ Penn.
Mixed martial arts is a sport filled with interesting paradoxes. Many consider MMA to be a young man’s game, but at the same time, experience inside the cage is regarded as one of the most valuable assets a fighter can possess. It is an ever-evolving c…
Mixed martial arts is a sport filled with interesting paradoxes. Many consider MMA to be a young man’s game, but at the same time, experience inside the cage is regarded as one of the most valuable assets a fighter can possess. It is an ever-evolving craft where the the expansion of skill is crucial, and while fighters must progress in order to keep pace, they must also stay true to the core discipline which set their career motion.
A decade ago, fighters who were able to branch off from their original strengths quickly rose to the top of the sport. Things are much different in today’s game, as a well-rounded skill set is a necessity for fighters looking to be competitive. The changing tides have opened the doors for a new breed of fighter to emerge, and surging welterweight Rory MacDonald is leading the charge.
The 23-year-old British Columbia native has used a unique blend of wrestling and brutal ground and pound to become one of the UFC’s most touted prospects. With victories in four of his five Octagon showings and impressive performances against Nate Diaz, Mike Pyle and Che Mills, “Ares” has positioned himself on the doorstep of the welterweight division’s upper tier.
In order for the Tri-Star product to cross over from prospect to contender, he will need a definitive win against a high-profile opponent. It is a step MacDonald has been longing to take, and that opportunity will come front and center next Saturday night when he faces former two-divisional champion B.J. Penn at UFC on Fox 5 in Seattle WA,.
“The Prodigy” represents the young Canadian’s biggest challenge to date. Should he find success against the MMA legend, MacDonald will firmly plant himself amongst the best in the weight class.
Early Success and Lessons Learned
After earning nine consecutive victories on the regional scene, complete with a King of the Cage title, MacDonald made his UFC debut in January of 2010. In his initial showing inside the Octagon, he squared off with veteran Mike Guymon. After getting dropped in the early goings of the bout, MacDonald was able to regain his footing and submitted “Joker” with an armbar late in the first round.
Earning a victory on the sport’s biggest stage provided a boost of confidence as MacDonald made a proper introduction to the UFC fanbase.
The next challenge would take place on his home turf of Vancouver, British Columbia, as he stepped in against former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit at UFC 115. From the opening bell MacDonald jumped out to an impressive start as he imposed his will on “The Natural Born Killer,” using his wrestling advantage to put Condit on the canvas.
After two rounds MacDonald found himself in control of the fight, but the Albuquerque native cranked up the intensity in the final frame. Condit‘s attack eventually overwhelmed a fading MacDonald as he pounded out the stoppage victory in the final seconds of the bout.
Despite both men earning “Fight of the Night” honors and the battle being one of the year’s best, the loss was a tough pill for the Canadian to swallow. It was the first setback of MacDonald’s career, and it provided added motivation for him to get back on track in his next outing. That opportunity would come against Stockton “badboy” Nate Diaz at UFC 129, and MacDonald was eager to find redemption.
The Waterboy No More; Enter the God of War
While there was a buzz building around MacDonald for his performance in the Condit fight, the loss ultimately left a bad taste in his mouth. In order to get things back on track, he would need a strong showing against Diaz in Toronto, and MacDonald wasted no time getting down to business.
Over three rounds he out-worked, out-muscled, and simply out-classed the Season 5 The Ultimate Fighter winner in route to a lopsided decision victory. It wasn’t the first time the younger Diaz had been defeated inside the Octagon, but the fashion in which the Caesar Gracie-trained fighter was dominated, cemented MacDonald as a fighter to watch in the welterweight ranks.
His performance created a sense that change was coming to the 170-pound weight class. For his next bout with veteran Mike Pyle, MacDonald instituted some change of his own.
Up until that point of his mixed martial arts career, MacDonald had carried a nickname he wasn’t all too fond of. With his game rapidly developing and his career switching gears, he decided to drop “The Waterboy” tag and took up a moniker he felt was better suited for his fighting style.
When MacDonald stepped in against Pyle at UFC 133, he did so as “Ares,” and the performance which followed bolstered the decision. MacDonald landed a huge shot with Pyle on the canvas and proceeded to pound out the Xtreme Couture fighter in route to a TKO victory.
Following his win over Pyle, MacDonald suffered an injury that would put him on the shelf for the next eight months. When he was cleared to return, he did so against Che Mills in the co-main event of UFC 145 in Atlanta, and it didn’t take long for MacDonald to return to form.
After taking a handful of shots in the opening exchanges, MacDonald was able to put Mills on his back and wasted no time getting to work. With a brutal form of ground and pound that has become his signature, MacDonald thrashed Mills from top position as he bloodied the British striker for the rest of the opening round.
When the second frame got underway, it was more of the same as MacDonald once again put Mills on the deck and dropped hammers from the top. With each shot doing heavy damage, Mills eventually folded in the middle of the round, and MacDonald earned his third consecutive victory.
Creating His Own Path
Over the past two years, MacDonald’s stock has steadily risen in the UFC. With each victory comes more acclaim, and the manner in which he’s handled the increase in popularity has been an interesting study.
The current trend of endless self-promotion and constant trash-talking blazing through mixed martial arts appears to be something MacDonald chooses to avoid at every turn. Even when he does get involved in the occasional Twitter feud, he does so in a minimalist fashion that leads you to believe he could truly care less.
When asked about the rankings and things of that nature, MacDonald speaks in a tone that reveals his annoyance with the idea a fighter would have to verbally sell you on his skills rather than prove his talents inside of the cage. It is a refreshing perspective from a fighter who could easily be singing his own praises any time a mic or recorder is placed before him.
Fighting is what matters to MacDonald and everything outside of that subject is simple “everything else.”
This is also a category where he places all the talk about Tri-Star teammate and welterweight king Georges St. Pierre. If MacDonald is not being asked about a potential show down with GSP further down the road, he is being asked about St. Pierre’s influence on his training for the upcoming Penn fight. When the questions arise, MacDonald’s already stoic demeanor hardens, and he passes through the inquiry without providing any specific details.
If there is anything obvious about MacDonald outside of his talent, it is desire to create his own path through the sport. There has never been a lack of respect or appreciation on his behalf towards his team at Tri-Star, but MacDonald is intent on forging ahead on his own unique journey.
While his performance against Penn will undoubtedly be compared to St. Pierre’s two dust-ups with the Hawaiian, the fight next Saturday night is a necessary step in the right direction.
MacDonald is still working his way through the rankings and defining who he is as a fighter. It is his goal to become the best welterweight in the world. While that destination may rest further out on the horizon, defeating Penn brings him that much closer to everything he wants to be.
It’s no secret that B.J. Penn might have bitten off a lot more than he can chew by taking this upcoming fight with Rory MacDonald. A lot of people don’t think he can win because Rory is stronger, more athletic, and, oh yeah, a welterweight. Imagine if …
It’s no secret that B.J. Penn might have bitten off a lot more than he can chew by taking this upcoming fight with Rory MacDonald. A lot of people don’t think he can win because Rory is stronger, more athletic, and, oh yeah, a welterweight. Imagine if B.J.’s big comeback was a lightweight fight. There would be nowhere near as much criticism regarding him not being able to measure up to the physical ability and overall skill of his competition.
B.J. Penn competes at welterweight for two reasons.
First, the guy is lazier than the average top contender. He has a hard time keeping his weight down, and, judging by his newly toned physique, enjoys putting on muscle a hell of a lot more than strenuous conditioning.
The second reason lies within one of the biggest upsets in UFC history when he beat Matt Hughes in his welterweight debut to become the new champion. To this day, Matt Hughes still does not understand how he let B.J. overwhelm him on the ground like he did that night.
To those who can’t vividly remember how B.J. was able to take Hughes’ back and slip in a rear naked choke, watch this fight again to see a master wrestler make some of the most rookie mistakes in the world of grappling starting from the first time the two tie up in round one.
In other words, this fight was one of many freak accidents in MMA. Why is this win such a mystery? Because the only other big win B.J. has earned at welterweight was over a washed-up version of the same guy he beat to first win the title back in 2004!
That’s right, aside from his knockout of Matt Hughes at UFC 123, the last time B.J. Penn looked truly impressive at welterweight was about eight years ago. Since he entered the 170 lb. division with his win over Hughes, Penn’s most notable matches at this weight feature him being dominated by Georges St-Pierre, Nick Diaz, Jon Fitch and, funny enough, Matt Hughes.
Yet somehow, Penn still believes he is a force to be reckoned with in the welterweight division. A little odd, right?
Now, let’s look at his record as a lightweight. He defended the championship more times than anyone else to hold the belt (finishing all three opponents) and has only lost to two people, one of which he avenged while in his prime in 2007.
Many saw his losses to Frankie Edgar as a sign that Penn could no longer keep up with the speed and cardio of the new era of lightweights. However, it’s safe to say that Edgar can be looked at as an exception to this theory, considering he had no problem moving down a weight class to compete with people more like him in terms of size and power.
Penn’s losses to Edgar do not mean that he can’t compete at lightweight anymore. This is the division where he has unquestionably found the most success, as many have referred to him as the greatest lightweight champion of all time.
B.J. has recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that he isn’t being mentioned in the same light as Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre. If he wants to achieve the same legendary status as these two fighters, he should get back to lightweight and remind people why he IS one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters ever to set foot inside the octagon.
Penn is a lightweight. Yes, he somehow was able to submit Matt Hughes at welterweight and knock him out again right before retirement, but nobody has ever reigned with the same supremacy over the lightweight division as B.J. Penn.
Quit this welterweight nonsense and get that lightweight title back.
There’s a running joke among members of the MMA media that pokes some gentle fun at UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. The champ may be arguably the greatest fighter of all time, but he’s not the most creative interview. And that’s being char…
There’s a running joke among members of the MMA media that pokes some gentle fun at UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre. The champ may be arguably the greatest fighter of all time, but he’s not the most creative interview. And that’s being charitable.
Without fail, rain or shine, in the midst of nuclear Armageddon, St-Pierre has the same exact soundbites before every bout.
“(Fill in opponent’s name) is my most dangerous opponent yet. I am in the best shape of my life. I will have to be the best Georges St-Pierre I can possibly be to win.”
A similar conversation happens every time the legendary BJ Penn fights as well. With Penn, a gifted fighter with an incredible skill set and warrior’s heart, it always seems to come down to effort and interest. The challenge never seems to be external. It’s the internal battle, the struggle with himself, his weight, his desire, that decides the outcome of most every Penn fight.
Does the opponent interest him?
Can his team keep him away from food?
Will he be willing to train hard for eight weeks?
If the answer to each is an affirmative, it’s going to be a very long night for his opponent. And, from what I can tell, it may be a very long night indeed for UFC on Fox 5 opponent Rory MacDonald, a man who has no one to blame but himself for his motivated opponent.
According to Penn, it was MacDona’d’s jabs at his weight that led the former champion into the gym each and every day, training with a hand-picked selection of all-stars like Bellator star Ben Askren and Strikeforce fighters TyronWoodley and Pat Healy. His body fat has dropped down to under 10 percent, all in an effort to better punch MacDonald in the face.
“Fighting is still not a sport for me,” Penn said on a media conference call. “..Fighting is still a fight for me. It always has been. I’m not a great athlete that can play any sport. But one thing I could always do is fight back.
“This is a fight. This isn’t putting a ball in a hole. This has always been a fight for me, and I just love it when it’s that way. I love it when my opponent says ‘He’s fat.’ ‘I’ll end up killing him.’ ‘He’s nothing.’ This and that. It’s all wonderful. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
For the 33-year-old Penn, an 11-year pro, the clock is ticking on his time as an upper echelon fighter. He’s won just one of his last five fights and realizes that he won’t be able to compete with young guns like MacDonald forever. That’s why he wanted this fight so badly—not just to silence a disrespectful foe, but to reestablish his place in the pecking order.
“I texted Dana a couple months ago saying I watch all these interviews and no one says my name when they are talking about the greatest fighters anymore and I really don’t like that,” Penn said. “It really bothers me. I know it’s my fault and I’m the reason why people talk about me when they talk about GSP or Anderson Silva. My name was always in the mix. It’s never in the mix any more.
“Everything is current…I don’t want to be known as ‘he was good back in the day.’ I want to be known as one of the best…I still think I have some left to accomplish.”
Penn and MacDonald is one of several top-tier fights free on Fox at 8 P.M. ET on Dec. 8, broadcast live from the Key Arena in Seattle.
As fans of the fight game, we are always ready—at least in the back of our minds—for a moment in the fight that could make time stand still or make our jaws drop in shock, awe or revulsion (or perhaps all three). When two men (or women) ent…
As fans of the fight game, we are always ready—at least in the back of our minds—for a moment in the fight that could make time stand still or make our jaws drop in shock, awe or revulsion (or perhaps all three).
When two men (or women) enter into a physical contest, often times the predictable is shockingly unpredictable; we fully accept that a limb could be snapped by a submission, but we don’t know what it is going to look like when it happens until it happens.
Sure, some of us are screaming “Break it!” at the top of our lungs, but most are arrested by the moment unfolding before our eyes. We are witnesses to the harsh taskmaster those fighters serve, wondering just how deep their commitment to the fight and personal honor really is.
These are highly trained men and women, and still there are times when a situation or circumstance—perhaps unseen until that very moment—brings a horrible possibility to our attention.
And during those times, we cringe.
So, in that spirit, here are 20 of some of (but not all) the most cringe worthy moments in MMA history, and a tip of the hat to those who shrugged it off and went back into training as soon as they could.
Mixed martial arts is a sport filled with interesting paradoxes. Many consider