UFC 101

[Disgruntled70sHab]

BJ Penn's first fight since he was defeated by Georges St-Pierre in UFC 94.

I saw a recent interview with Penn the other night and he looks to be a changed man in some ways. He seems to have a lot more humility and for Penn that's a good thing. He was talking about his fight with GSP and here's a few paraphrases:

"... I was out of it after the second round. If you had told me what happened in the third round, you would have had to show me a tape ... I don't remember."

"... I got beat up pretty bad. If it had gone into the fifth round it might have been career-ending."

"... I said (to my corner) thanks for stopping the fight."

These statements here tell me that Penn came out of the GSP fight with something he'd lacked before; humility. And there couldn't have been a better person to teach him that trait than GSP.

He mentioned the 'vaseline' incident from UFC 94, but he didn't dwell on it a heck of a lot. I'm hoping he's better prepared both physically and mentally. Yet, that said I'm hoping Kenny Florian wins the fight. Not that I like Florian that much better, but he trains out of the GSP camp and I'd like to see that camp with another belt.

Might be heading out to Boston Pizza to watch this one.

Cheers.

[Tankdriver]

Funny....I just read an article on Yahoo yesterday saying he think GSP is taking steriods, but he has no proof, just a feeling...I think that's the feeling of getting the sh*t kicked out of him by GSP and wanting a rematch... I'll try to find the article.

[Tankdriver]

ca.sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-penn080509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

More specifically:

Penn said he believes St. Pierre uses steroids, though he concedes he has no proof. St. Pierre is arguably the sport’s most popular fighter and Penn knows that making such allegations isn’t going to win him any friends.

Penn, though, isn’t the type to be shy about offering his opinion though it may be unpopular.

“It’s just my opinion that he uses steroids,” Penn said. “That’s it. My opinion. I do believe it. I can’t hand you any proof, but that’s my opinion.”

In an earlier conversation on the topic, Penn said, “In my opinion, he doesn’t play by the rules when it comes to steroids and growth hormones and that stuff. Look at him. He’s the worst. He looks like that every day. That’s cheating. There is a reason why there are rules against using steroids. The rest of us, we get fat, then we train and get skinny and the cycle goes over and over again. He looks the same way all the time. Come on.”

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Aug 7, 2009 13:46:28 GMT -5 Tankdriver said:

ca.sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-penn080509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

More specifically:

Penn said he believes St. Pierre uses steroids, though he concedes he has no proof. St. Pierre is arguably the sport’s most popular fighter and Penn knows that making such allegations isn’t going to win him any friends.

Penn, though, isn’t the type to be shy about offering his opinion though it may be unpopular.

“It’s just my opinion that he uses steroids,” Penn said. “That’s it. My opinion. I do believe it. I can’t hand you any proof, but that’s my opinion.”

In an earlier conversation on the topic, Penn said, “In my opinion, he doesn’t play by the rules when it comes to steroids and growth hormones and that stuff. Look at him. He’s the worst. He looks like that every day. That’s cheating. There is a reason why there are rules against using steroids. The rest of us, we get fat, then we train and get skinny and the cycle goes over and over again. He looks the same way all the time. Come on.”

Never heard this one, TD, but thanks for posting it. Odd thing about BJ Penn; he just can't lose to a better fighter. He's always been wronged in some way.

As for GSP's conditioning, maybe he's like a lot of people who are into fitness and he keeps himself in top shape all of the time. That said, I think his comments are more about luring GSP into a rematch. Maybe in his mind he simply can't accept defeat and until GSP shows some kind of body fat.

I'm very interested in seeing how he fairs against Floria. He's got some damage control to do on his own reputation and this fight provides that opportunity (unless he starts licking his gloves again). However, a part of me want him to lose badly.

Some aren't giving Floria a chance, though. Have to wait and see.

Cheers.

[Tankdriver]

Aug 7, 2009 14:03:33 GMT -5 Disgruntled70sHab said:

Aug 7, 2009 13:46:28 GMT -5 Tankdriver said:

ca.sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-penn080509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

More specifically:

Penn said he believes St. Pierre uses steroids, though he concedes he has no proof. St. Pierre is arguably the sport’s most popular fighter and Penn knows that making such allegations isn’t going to win him any friends.

Penn, though, isn’t the type to be shy about offering his opinion though it may be unpopular.

“It’s just my opinion that he uses steroids,” Penn said. “That’s it. My opinion. I do believe it. I can’t hand you any proof, but that’s my opinion.”

In an earlier conversation on the topic, Penn said, “In my opinion, he doesn’t play by the rules when it comes to steroids and growth hormones and that stuff. Look at him. He’s the worst. He looks like that every day. That’s cheating. There is a reason why there are rules against using steroids. The rest of us, we get fat, then we train and get skinny and the cycle goes over and over again. He looks the same way all the time. Come on.”

Never heard this one, TD, but thanks for posting it. Odd thing about BJ Penn; he just can't lose to a better fighter. He's always been wronged in some way.

As for GSP's conditioning, maybe he's like a lot of people who are into fitness and he keeps himself in top shape all of the time. That said, I think his comments are more about luring GSP into a rematch. Maybe in his mind he simply can't accept defeat and until GSP shows some kind of body fat.

I'm very interested in seeing how he fairs against Floria. He's got some damage control to do on his own reputation and this fight provides that opportunity (unless he starts licking his gloves again). However, a part of me want him to lose badly.

Some aren't giving Floria a chance, though. Have to wait and see.

Cheers.

I heard that too, but a few have suggested that Penn isn't focasted on Floria and is susceptible to getting beat due to lack of focus. But yes I agree, I think he wants GSP for a 3rd bout.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Here's a clip I came by on You Tube earlier.



Cheers.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Got to Boston Pizza just after the first fight.

Silva/Griffin

Disappointing. Thought Griffin was a step behind or Anderson was a step ahead for the duration of the fight. There were two very distinct talent levels in the octagone for this one. Griffin simply couldn't compete. Don't know why he hightailed it out of the octagone so quickly. Silva was hotdogging it in the ring, but he was also a pretty gracious winner afterwards I thought.

Floria/Penn

Vintage Penn. BJ looked in a lot better shape then when he fought GSP last February. Penn seemed to be in control right from the start. Floria couldn't figure out Penn and when they went to the mat in the fourth round I figured it was pretty much over. Good to see Penn pick himself up after the beating he took from GSP. Still wanted Florian to win the fight ... or at least give it a good go.

Cheers.

[habernac]

Penn is such a punk.

"The rest of us, we get fat, then we train and get skinny and the cycle goes over and over again. He looks the same way all the time. Come on.”


LOL! Yes, and some athletes actually take their jobs seriously enough to be in great shape all the time.

I know several people like GSP. Obviously, there are more like Penn out there who get a little spongier around the middle, but that's a personal choice.

I wish Florian would have beaten him.

I didn't get this PPV as none of the fights really interested me. Griffin is a great character, but can't hold Silva's jockstrap in the ring. Griffin suffered a dislocated jaw from that punch. Ouch.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

Aug 10, 2009 14:55:28 GMT -5 habernac said:

Penn is such a punk.

"The rest of us, we get fat, then we train and get skinny and the cycle goes over and over again. He looks the same way all the time. Come on.”


LOL! Yes, and some athletes actually take their jobs seriously enough to be in great shape all the time.

I know several people like GSP. Obviously, there are more like Penn out there who get a little spongier around the middle, but that's a personal choice.

Yeah ... I think they're referred to as professionals ... however, there are professionals who have different standards, granted.

Found something interesting on Wikipedia about Penn. It's changed my opinion of him. Here's a cut and paste:

Legal troubles

B.J. Penn was arrested on May 8, 2005 outside a nightclub in Waikiki, Honolulu after he allegedly hit a police officer. Penn was among a crowd outside the club when he grabbed the officer and struck his face.[47] According to his lawyer, Penn was trying to retrieve his brother from the fracas and shoved someone to his side to get into the crowd, who turned out to be the policeman.[48] Penn pled no contest to the charges in August 2007, and received one year of probation on December 11, 2007.[49]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.J._Penn#Legal_troubles (link)

Interesting outcome. He offered the excuse that he was trying to retrieve his brother, but offered no contest.

I wish Florian would have beaten him.

I didn't get this PPV as none of the fights really interested me. Griffin is a great character, but can't hold Silva's jockstrap in the ring. Griffin suffered a dislocated jaw from that punch. Ouch.

Didn't know about the dislocated jaw but it wouldn't surprise me, habernac. Silva was clearly confident and in control. I got the impression he could have won the fight in the first 20 seconds had he wanted to. Griffin simply wasn't in Silva's class and that's with Silva moving up a classification in order to take him on.

I was sitting in Boston Pizza with a 3rd-dan karate dude and it was interesting to hear his perspective on the fights. He also told me that he read somewhere that Silva will not take on Lyoto Machida for a title fight because he and Machida are close friends outside the ring. If so, that's too bad because I think it would be one heck of a tilt. I think the only one who might have a chance against Machida would be Silva. Machida is that good but then again, so is Silva.

As for Penn, he had a lot to prove to a lot of people including himself. I wasn't happy about the outcome, but I was rather happy not seeing him lick his gloves after the fight. Maybe he did learn a bit from GSP after all.

Cheers.

[habernac]

I'll have to correct myself. It appears that Griffin wasn't hurt badly on the punch at all, he fled the ring due to embarrasment again maybe?

Agreed with Penn, he knew he had to be in top shape for this fight. Anything after two rounds in previous bouts and you can really see him struggle. I'm just tired of his endless excuses. This was a good way to erase those excuses. I wonder who's next for him (he won't get another shot at GSP).

[habernac]

I read the same thing about Silva and Machida today. Good friends and training partners. Dana White thinks he can talk them into it, we'll see.