There are those guys, Tyson Griffin, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, at 155 that are pretty dominant.
Everyone talks about how dominant these guys are and how they would whip all the lightweights from japan.
But no one seems to talk about any of them fighting BJ Penn.
Who should BJ fight next?
I'm thinking a Frankie Edgar fight looks good(though he might be a tad small for BJ).
Of course BJ destroyed Sherk, but that doens't mean the others would go EXACTLY the same.
The thing is everyone at 155 will try to do what GSP did to penn at 170. thing is they can't. once they get hit by penn their whole game plan(stevenson,sherk,florian aand now diego) went out the window!! all the skill in the world doesn't prepare you to take a punch from bj penn.
The UFC has failed at getting Penn a challenge at 155
The only way to "wrestle" BJ at 155 is to pummel him against the cage or take him down in the center of the ring straight up. I think we've seen that you can't get him down with a single against the fence.
wopyojah - The thing is everyone at 155 will try to do what GSP did to penn at 170. thing is they can't. once they get hit by penn their whole game plan(stevenson,sherk,florian aand now diego) went out the window!! all the skill in the world doesn't prepare you to take a punch from bj penn.
I think it's more that he's hard to take down, rather than the fact that BJ hits so hard.
Edgar and Manyward are great wrestlers like Sherk, but each are 100x better boxers.
If only Maynard had Edgar's stand up, and Edgar had Maynard size, strength, and GnP. Then we would have someone truly ready to test BJ at 155.
Personally I'd love to see BJ fight some of the WEC 145ers like Faber, Brown, or Aldo. Those guys probably pose more of a challenge to him right now then anyone at 155 in the UFC.
a great WW wrestler can beat BJ but a LW wrestler? uhmm??nah Maynard,Edgar and Florian should just drop to FW and challenge Aldo
wow.. maynards got great boxing? ... can't wait to see a 5'8 wrestler box with a 6-1 nate diaz
BJ is no slouch on the ground either.
BJ's boxing is light years beyond Griffin and Maynard and they'd struggle trying to get him to the mat where they'd be just as ineffective. There's always the chance for a lucky punch or a takedown that leads to injury but that's it.
Those guys aren't significantly better than Diego at much and if anything he's probably better on the ground than they are.
If anything - BJ's biggest threat would be someone like Melvin Guillard in the first minute of a fight. Someone who is explosive as hell and has 1-shot KO power. BJ's going to have to be beaten on the feet at 155. There are no GSP's at that weight.
I hope penn just stays at 155..... No reason for him to up and fight bigger guys......
BJ vs Aldo 150 catchweight, Zuffa make it happen!
wopyojah - The thing is everyone at 155 will try to do what GSP did to penn at 170. thing is they can't. once they get hit by penn their whole game plan(stevenson,sherk,florian aand now diego) went out the window!! all the skill in the world doesn't prepare you to take a punch from bj penn.
I don't think Sherk changed his plan once he got hit. He never really tried to take BJ down much at all. Also, he actually was doing okay in the stand up. He wasn't winning the rounds but he wasn't getting owned the way Diego was either until the very end.
I think if Sherk had come in with the GSP gameplan he MAY have had success although it would have been harder for Sherk to do and AT BEST a decision win instead of a TKO win for Sherk.
I'd still bet on BJ though.
I would pick Diego against any of those guys and look what happened to him.
I thought Edgar was an all-american....either way...I think him and BJ is the only 155 matchup I like right now. I really think that would be 2 really skilled guys fighting.
pigpen - There are those guys, Tyson Griffin, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, at 155 that are pretty dominant.Don't forget that Diego was a pretty accomplished wrestler as well...Sure not on the level of Maynard but he was first known for his wrestling before he was known for his BJJ.
Everyone talks about how dominant these guys are and how they would whip all the lightweights from japan.
But no one seems to talk about any of them fighting BJ Penn.
Who should BJ fight next?
I'm thinking a Frankie Edgar fight looks good(though he might be a tad small for BJ).
Of course BJ destroyed Sherk, but that doens't mean the others would go EXACTLY the same.
Maynard would pwn Diego hard in a rasslin match
Gray Maynard is the only one that could have a chance. He has the strength and skill to possibly get a takedown.
I don't see anyone else being able to beat BJ.
GRAY IS EASILY THE BEST WRESTLER IN THAT DIVISION. AND HE IS BIG FOR THAT DIVISION. HE MAY GET A TAKEDOWN, BUT HE COULDN'T BEAT BJ....IN FACT BJ, IS GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE GUYS ARE GOING TO NOT WANT TO FIGHT HIM. HE IS THAT DOMINANT.