As the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder battle it out for the ultimate prize in the NBA, the spotlight—as it always is in the NBA—is on the superstars on the court. For the Thunder, Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook are the two big name…
As the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder battle it out for the ultimate prize in the NBA, the spotlight—as it always is in the NBA—is on the superstars on the court.
For the Thunder, Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook are the two big names. Although Dwyane Wade remains the heart and soul of the team, it is clear LeBron James is the biggest star on the team.
Not only the team but James is also likely the biggest star in the NBA. Hearing that line would lead one to believe James has a bevy of fans, but this is not the case, as he is one of the most hated sports figures in recent memory, even possibly of all time.
“The Decision” will forever be etched in the minds of sports fans for years to come. Despite being one of the most talented players to ever step onto the court, James simply can’t shake the negative image that follows the superstar wherever he goes.
The same could be said of a number of fighters competing inside the Octagon. They are some of the most talented fighters in the sport today yet seem to hear more boo’s than cheers when entering an arena.
Which UFC star would you consider to be the LeBron James of the UFC?
When BJ Penn announced he was stepping away from fighting, he did so as a beaten and bruised man. It seemed fitting, as the once mighty Penn was completely dismantled by Nick Diaz. No other fighter made Penn’s face look that way after a fight. It was o…
When BJ Penn announced he was stepping away from fighting, he did so as a beaten and bruised man. It seemed fitting, as the once mighty Penn was completely dismantled by Nick Diaz. No other fighter made Penn’s face look that way after a fight.
It was obvious Penn just wasn’t the same fighter we remember. Yet his name still resonates as one of the most talented and well-known fighters in the game today. It is the latter that led rising contender Rory MacDonald to call out the MMA legend recently.
Penn, no stranger to a fight, quickly accepted the challenge and thus the UFC began the process of another great match up. The bout makes sense on a number of fronts: for the fans, for the fighters, but most of all for the UFC itself.
For the fans, they get to see one of the biggest stars in the UFC return to the Octagon. Hopefully the time off for Penn has given him some mental rest and we will see a rededicated Penn fight to the best of his abilities.
Fans also get to see MacDonald compete against a worthy challenger and be given a great barometer of where the Canadian ranks. Also, MacDonald appears to be one of the most popular prospects in MMA these days.
The fight also makes sense for both fighters involved as well. A few weeks ago there were rumors of a fight with Josh Koscheck being the one to draw Penn back. While Koscheck likely could talk enough trash to light a fire under Penn’s behind, it is ultimately nothing more than a novelty fight, something Penn hasn’t seemed interested in during his career.
Fighting a legend like Penn makes a lot of sense for MacDonald as well. The maxim, “to become a legend, you must beat a legend” is very much present in this matchup. MacDonald knows Penn isn’t the dominant fighter at 170 pounds. Penn’s name carries a lot of weight with fans and a victory over him would be a turning point for MacDonald’s career.
Perhaps the best manner in which this fight makes sense is for the UFC itself. Penn is a big name they can trot out to face a dangerous prospect in MacDonald. If Penn can somehow overcome the powerful MacDonald, the UFC will immediately have a proven name to be put “in the mix.”
If MacDonald wins, as many fight fans are predicting, it will validate his place in the welterweight rankings. It will also propel MacDonald from prospect to title contender. MacDonald nearly defeated interim champion Carlos Condit in 2010 and a rematch would surely be an exciting bout to headline a card.
The immediate response about Penn facing MacDonald has been fairly negative given the fact that it seems Penn is merely a name for MacDonald to build his own off of. Whether Penn makes a miraculous comeback or loses to the young MacDonald makes little difference to the UFC.
They will win no matter who has their hand raised at the end of the contest.
If MMA bouts were five minutes long, BJ Penn could be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.The former two-division UFC champion is already regarded as one of the most talented fighters to ever step foot in the Octagon, but even so, fans are le…
If MMA bouts were five minutes long, BJ Penn could be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
The former two-division UFC champion is already regarded as one of the most talented fighters to ever step foot in the Octagon, but even so, fans are left with the impression that Penn never quite lived up to his full potential.
Cardio issues have plagued Penn throughout his career, which has caused outsiders to question his overall work ethic and motivation.
In the first five minutes of a fight, Penn is easily one of the most dangerous fighters in the world. Unfortunately, longtime fans have become accustomed to seeing him open up strong and wilt as the bout drags into deeper waters.
It’s easy to forget how sharp Penn can be in the first round of a fight. His loss to Nick Diaz serves as a great example. From the looks of Penn’s face and the final two rounds, it’s hard to fathom the fact that he actually won the first round of that fight.
What about the draw with Jon Fitch?
Penn surprised the perennial welterweight contender with takedowns and suffocating top control to steal the first round of their fight.
The conditioning woes for Penn go as far back as 2006, when he suffered back to back losses to Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes. Penn won the first round of both of those bouts fairly handily, but his momentum began to taper in the later rounds.
As fans of the sport, it’s easy to become disillusioned by the outcome and propose misguided solutions. Penn isn’t some washed up scrub hanging on well past his prime.
At 33 years old, he still has one of the best chins in all of MMA, and his skill set remains world class across the board.
Whether or not you believe he’s the best first-round fighter in MMA history, it doesn’t take a trained eye to see the untapped potential lying within Penn.
What if he could sustain his first-round pace over the course of an entire fight?
If that were the case, “The Prodigy” would be sitting in a much better place than he is now.
Georges St-Pierre and Tristar Gym may have won the battle, but if B.J. Penn has things his way, they won’t win the war.The former two-division champion is set to come out of retirement at UFC 152 to take on rising welterweight star and Tristar standout…
Georges St-Pierre and Tristar Gym may have won the battle, but if B.J. Penn has things his way, they won’t win the war.
The former two-division champion is set to come out of retirement at UFC 152 to take on rising welterweight star and Tristar standout Rory MacDonald.
There is plenty of history between Penn and MacDonald’s mentor, St-Pierre. The two first met in a closely contested No. 1 contender’s bout at UFC 58, where St-Pierre walked away with a split decision and a trip to the hospital.
The stakes were higher the second time the two legends crossed paths.
At UFC 94, it was a champion vs. champion matchup as St-Pierre defended his welterweight title against Penn, who was the reigning lightweight champ at the time.
St-Pierre stomped out past cries of controversy in a lopsided beating that ended with Penn’s corner throwing in the towel before the fifth round.
“I’m trying to find myself a little bit––not as a fighter trying to come back to the sport, but just as a person. I just honestly sit back and reflect and look at how it went. I really do feel I could have done a lot better in a lot of different situations. I’m heartbroken with the way some of the fights went. The way my UFC 94 fight [against Georges St-Pierre] and my fights with Frankie Edgar went. I’m heartbroken about those fights.”
Penn now sees a small opportunity for payback against MacDonald. Sure, this isn’t a world title bout against St-Pierre, but a win over a budding contender like MacDonald would be huge for Penn at this point of his career.
Is this all about vengeance? If not, what is “The Prodigy” really looking to prove against a young lion in MacDonald?
“The past is the past. There’s nothing for me to talk about on that end. That is definitely left in the past.
It would be nice to let them know [the loss to GSP] was a fluke. The fight is not going to go down the same way. Rory is not going to just walk in there and take me out and beat me up for four rounds straight and end up putting me away. I really believe that the fight is going to go different, and they are going to realize that when we start fighting. This isn’t the same guy they fought that night, and this is going to be a whole different thing.”
Despite continued attempts by fans and media to paint Penn and St-Pierre as adversaries, “The Prodigy” says he doesn’t have any personal issues with St-Pierre or Tristar Gym.
His bout against MacDonald is just business.
“There is no bad blood. I see Firas [Zahabi] all the time. I see Georges. Everything is in the past. I’d like to get out there and show Tristar Gym and their fans – I’m a worthy opponent. I’m not just a guy that’s going to walk in the ring and somebody’s just gonna walk across the other side and walk across and crush me. That’s not gonna be the story.”
The long speculated return of B.J. Penn is finally official. After the UFC unsuccessfully tried to use Josh Koscheck to draw the “Prodigy” out of retirement, the young lion in the UFC’s welterweight division, Rory MacDonald, took a crack at it. Pe…
The long speculated return of B.J. Penn is finally official.
Penn was a guest on Tuesday’s UFC Tonight and was interviewed by hosts Kenny Florian and Todd Harris. Responding to Harris, Penn explained why he came back for a fight with MacDonald:
Rory’s a guy with a lot of hype around him and it’s a lot of good hype. That hype is justified. He’s been doing very well. I wanted to go up against him, Firas, the whole TriStar team. They got a real good thing going on up there and I want to take a crack at it.
Penn has the scars from his last fight with Georges St. Pierre at UFC 94, where he said many incendiary things about the welterweight champion. While I’m certain that Penn is intrigued by the unique stylistic matchup that MacDonald presents, it’s very likely that he wants to prove he can beat Firas Zahabi’s young lion.
Penn is a naturally competitive person. Knowing his personality, he didn’t want to retire from MMA on a loss to Nick Diaz. He’s young enough that he could still hypothetically make another run at a UFC belt and get a potential third fight with St. Pierre.
Usually I’d expect the crowd to favor the Canadian fighter, but with Penn being such a fan favorite and coming out of retirement, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s showered with adulation.
The fight with MacDonald is tentatively scheduled for UFC 152 in Toronto this September. The main event is expected to be Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez II.
(“I’ve never been knocked out in a fight and I’ve never been knocked out in training. But I’ve never been hurt the way that [Penn] hurt me.” / Photo via Las Vegas Sun)
Florian cited a November 2011 back injury and eventual numbness and tingling in his limbs as the impetus for closing the chapter of his life that’s been defined by five UFC Fight Night appearances, four weight classes, three UFC championship fights, two vicious elbows, and — lest we forget — one samurai costume.
As an undersized middleweight, Florian first appeared on our radars as the TUF 1 runner-up to Diego Sanchez in 2005, and after two victories at welterweight, Florian transformed his body and game, and established himself as one of the best lightweights in the world. Florian then made a brief run at featherweight in 2011, defeating Diego Nunes and losing to champion Jose Aldo, before announcing his retirement at the age of 36.
In a recent conversation with CagePotato.com — and in loving tribute to Ring Magazine’s “The Best I’ve Faced” feature — Ken-Flo looked back on his MMA career and remembered the opponents who stood out across a number of categories…
Fastest on his feet: I’d say Jose Aldo. He was the quickest. His explosiveness in general, his footwork, and his ability to move definitely are impressive.
Toughest chin: I remember hitting Sam Stout with hard shots. I hit him on the ground with a big bomb that connected real well, right on his chin, and he just ate it. And from seeing the rest of his fights, I see why. He’s got a real good chin.
(“I’ve never been knocked out in a fight and I’ve never been knocked out in training. But I’ve never been hurt the way that [Penn] hurt me.” / Photo via Las Vegas Sun)
Florian cited a November 2011 back injury and eventual numbness and tingling in his limbs as the impetus for closing the chapter of his life that’s been defined by five UFC Fight Night appearances, four weight classes, three UFC championship fights, two vicious elbows, and — lest we forget — one samurai costume.
As an undersized middleweight, Florian first appeared on our radars as the TUF 1 runner-up to Diego Sanchez in 2005, and after two victories at welterweight, Florian transformed his body and game, and established himself as one of the best lightweights in the world. Florian then made a brief run at featherweight in 2011, defeating Diego Nunes and losing to champion Jose Aldo, before announcing his retirement at the age of 36.
In a recent conversation with CagePotato.com — and in loving tribute to Ring Magazine’s “The Best I’ve Faced” feature — Ken-Flo looked back on his MMA career and remembered the opponents who stood out across a number of categories…
Fastest on his feet: I’d say Jose Aldo. He was the quickest. His explosiveness in general, his footwork, and his ability to move definitely are impressive.
Toughest chin: I remember hitting Sam Stout with hard shots. I hit him on the ground with a big bomb that connected real well, right on his chin, and he just ate it. And from seeing the rest of his fights, I see why. He’s got a real good chin.
Hardest to hit: Let’s see. From the outside, it’s probably BJ Penn. Excellent head movement.
Heaviest hands:BJ Penn, by far. I’ve never been knocked out in a fight and I’ve never been knocked out in training. But I’ve never been hurt the way that he hurt me. He hit me harder than anyone I fought or sparred or trained with.
Best wrestler:Gray Maynard. When he was in on my leg, I felt like he was the strongest. And I was doing a decent amount of wrestling when we fought.
Most intelligent: I guess with overall MMA intelligence and skills, Jose Aldo is probably overall the most intelligent. He didn’t allow himself to get caught off guard, you know?
Most powerful:Gray Maynard. He’s the only guy who afterward I said, “Wow, that guy’s really strong.”
Most threatening ground game:BJ Penn. I don’t know about submission-wise — and he caught me in a submission — but offensively, technically, the way he attacks, especially from the top, that’s his bread and butter. It’s real good.
Most surprising opponent:Gray Maynard, for sure. That was one of the fights where I thought he would strike a little bit more with me. I felt like I’d be able to keep him on the outside and stop his wrestling attempts when he would try because, before that fight, he did use his wrestling later [in the fight] against guys like Nate Diaz, but it was crazy to me that he was going out there and really wasn’t using his wrestling so much. I was working a lot on my wrestling at the time and thought it would be enough, but the way he was executing it — he would get the takedown at the end of the round and get each round and control — was just a very smart game plan.
Sweetest victory: This is always hard to come up with. It was pretty cool being able to fight Takanori Gomi and win like I did, dominating a guy I looked up to for so long for his striking and for his knockout power. To go out there and strike with him for the 12 or 13 minutes of that match and outstrike him was cool. That one sticks out.
Most bitter loss: The Diego Sanchez fight, just because it was one of those fights where maybe he would have won anyway because he had a lot of experience over me, but I didn’t even get a chance to compete. I’ve talked about this before: I just choked. The only fight I’ve ever choked in was the Diego Sanchez fight. I was just not ready for that mentally, and by the time he was mounted on me, I was bleeding all over myself and was, like, “Alright, Kenny, let’s get out of here. Let’s do this.” I felt that I didn’t even get a chance to really compete or show my skills.
Best overall fighter: The person who matched up the best to me was the toughest challenge, and in my career, that was BJ Penn. Going into the fight, I felt like he would be the toughest match-up based on where my skills were at and where his skills were at. And he was the toughest.
When 
