BJ Penn: Rory, I accept your challenge

I don't think BJ will get beat up in this fight the way he did against Nick but I don't see it going his way. I think Rory will out work him and tire BJ out with his size, probably win via UD.

If this is a 3 round fight that may not be the case. If you look at GSP-Penn II, GSP's superior size began to make a difference only in the 3rd and 4th rounds as BJ began to tire from all the wrestling up against the fence. Against Rory in a 3 rounder, he certainly has a chance of winning the first 2 (or getting a finish) and thereby taking the fight. The fight will probably come down to whether Rory is able to get an early takedown.

Great assessment on the match - especially with regard to Rory's strength and cardio. Plus, to add the fact that Rory is the hungrier fighter; and of course who wouldn't be psyched to face (let alone)defeat a future hall of fame-r in BJ Penn.



As for Penn, his experience will certainly be an advantage and perhaps mental toughness, seeing as he has been in more Championship matches, than Rory has fights in the UFC.



And as every MMA enthusiast would say (and say it with me),



"The outcome of the fight depends on which BJ will show up on the night of the fight"

This is a bad fight for BJ to take, Rory will man handle him, he should of took the fight with Gil or someone else.

I agree its a bad fight for BJ to take, however, if you are fighting in the UFC you have to believe you are the best even if you have lost 4 of your last eight and are towards the end of your career.

Worse case scenario, Bj takes a beating and recieves a million dollar cheque for his trouble. Makes it easier to accept a fight when you are getting paid millions.

Damn, I like BJ ,he should have taken an easier fight. I ll root for him though

BJ needs to go to LW where he belongs. That said, the guys a legend. Has several losses on his CV now but show me a fighter that has had tougher overall competition. I wish he was at LW though mixing it with the likes of Cerrone, Henderson, Maynard, Guida etc. I doubt many will give BJ a chance in this one as Rory has looked ultra dominant but I think stylistically BJ matches up quite well with him.

Noooooooo... BJ will lose this one easy, not because he's not a good fighter, just because of one word : SIZE. Go back down to LW BJ, damn it ! You gotta respect his toughness though, the guy ain't scared at all. He's going up in weight AND to fight a guy who's considered the next GSP.

I would have loved to see Rory against a Hendrix or a Koscheck or Kampmann... Anyway it should be a good fight.

Rory is six foot tall, and ten years younger than BJ and has been on a complete tear winning his last three bouts.



Rory completely dominated Nate Diaz @ UFC 129 so a smaller guy like BJ is going to become a rag doll with his smaller stature.



Its a great opponent for Rory.....but for Bj Penn this fight is a huge risk.

bj has lots of wins in his career however he has only managed to win

four fights in his last eight. Two of those fights against Nick Diaz and St Pierre he got smashed and size has to count.

love BJ to death but the dude needs to be fighting at 155. Rory is much bigger and is probably in a lot better shape but if Penn comes in motivated then bad night for the future champ

Yeah surprised Rory even wants this one. Much to lose and nothing to gain given GSP and Diaz both beat BJ at WW.

I totally disagree, anyone with a win over bj penn has braggin rights, especially a young fighter such as rory. However saying that rory has to get past BJ, its not as easy as it sounds, if it goes past the 2nd round Rory will probably smash him, but BJ is better than any fighter in the world for the 1st round, p4p best fighter in the world during round 1. If BJ comes fired up and beats him up he could finish in the first round.

Like Machida? I don't see a WW beating a LW or a LHW beating a LW having much bragging rights. Yes it's BJ Penn but he came out of the Machida fight with a loss and more bragging rights than Machida who won.



It is about more than that though... Rory should be gearing his career towards a title shot such is his talent and record. How does fighting BJ do that? He wins does nothing to push him any nearer than he already is. A loss takes him backwards a big step.



Still looking forward to this fight anyway though. Just hope BJ has improved his cardio as against WWs he does seem to weaken after the first round.

Your point about machida is pretty valid, although it was basically the same scenrio that you have placed rory in, Bj had nothing to loose and everything to gain, i honestly think rory has a huge amount to gain, firstly he will be beating a legend, to become a legend you also have to beat a couple, so in regards to gearing his career he is taking on a good fight. Lets not forget that penn held his own against the then number 2 WW in the world jon fitch, who many have the same opinion as me is still number 3 in the world. Besides who is their in the top 5 for rory to go after? They are all tied up, the division is a mess so if he has a win over a legend such as BJ it will certainly propel him into some top fights, and atleast he is keeping active. But yeh a loss would reallty knock him back in terms of ranking but loosing to any of the top 5 or 7 would do the same thing. Even if BJ wins this fight i would like so he him drop back to LW with some fire in his belly i truly believe he could once again terrorise that division

I knew Penn was far from finished inside the octagon, the fight against Nick he just had a bad night which happens to every fighter from time to time, that, and the fact that Nick is one hell of a fighter. Bj is definately a LOT more talented than Rory without the slightest bit of doubt, Bj's striking should be superior, even though Rory can strike quite well he's not on the same level as Penn. On the ground it's a no brainer as to who poses the worse threat. My only concern is that Rory will toss Bj around the octagon, the way we've seen him do to various fighters inside the octagon, he seems to like doing that a lot. Penn knows the score though and he'll be wise to Rorys strengths for sure, should make a great fight....new skool vs old skool......lol......Penn all the way man!!!! :)

So after you lose again I suppose you'll go right back to retirement BJ?

He's probably taking the fight for the money so he'll be even less prepared then if he was seriously coming back. It would be great if the odds were somehow in BJs favour so I could make some easy money.

As the Irish would say, "What are ye thinking for fook's sake?'



On the other hand, if BJ pulls off a win, he's definitely back.

Awesome awesome !!! but to be honest I would prefer BJ faced someone he can win, Rory is the future of the division (with Eric Silva - remember that name) - BJ is the man...

IMO the outcome of this fight may rest on if this main event or not. If this is main event, a 5 rounder, unless BJ finishes him in the first or maybe second then he will almost guaranteed lose.



WW Penn has bad cardio as the bigger guys either lay on him or press the action (BJ has great cardio coming forward but not back).

I will probbaly take Penn in a 3 rounder as Rory will have to come forward and push the pace, even though he has a solid chin he has been dropped and rocked before so Penn could do it.



In a 5 rounder I'll take Rorry as BJ has more time to gas and Rory will pace himself, outlasting BJ a lot easier.



Basically Im saying BJ wins the sprint (3round) but Rory wins the Marathon (5round).

I want to see BJ fight at lightweight again he is to small for Rory.

As much as I hate that c*cky punk Rory, BJ will lose this fight.

I dont find Rory c*ocky at all, is this just some humor at the backlash for all the Jones c*cky taks

I don't see why he would take this fight, instead of Koscheck.

Its personal, BJ wants to beat GSP's training partner/buddy.

makes more sense

I love BJ but it's the same old story with him, he can't fight at a high pace and his cardio wasn't great when he was active. I'd love to believe thing could be different now but I've lied to myself too many times when it comes to BJ.

Crazy. I guess after this Fight he will want to retire again

One thing is for sure....If he wins he is back in the picture.

It seems to me like BJ has calmed down and matured for the most part, but then every once in awhile, he goes a bit crazy and does something increasingly bizarre. Thinking about calling Diaz out for being a coward months after they fought.



And this is just like that. I could see BJ still being in the mix at 155, but only if he showed up in shape.



MMA has changed and so has BJ, but in opposite directions. At 170, any one of the top 7 or 8 fighters would put BJ away.



One of the hardest decisions for elite athletes is when to hang 'em up. BJ is now heading for Tito Ortiz country.

yeah cuz BJ has lost all of his fights for the past six years right??

I completely agree that he should be at 155 but he's not even in the realm of comparison to tito.

Not yet, it's true. But the last guy he beat was Matt Hughes, who was even more washed up.



I said he's heading for Tito country. He's not there yet but if he loses this fight, takes half a year and then comes back again, he'll be getting close.

Don't worry BJ a big boy too ....he's alright his call and what do you cares (:D

Guess it depends on whether you actually pay for events or steal them.

This fight is all a setup by the UFC.



BJ Penn wants a big fight--a big money fight.



Rory MacDonald is a Canadian star and the card will be in Toronto. This fight should be a big draw to the card, and to the PPV. If Penn fought Koscheck, the draw would not be so big.



I just hope the excuses stop from fans. BJ Penn, at 33, is not over the hill yet and he is a grown man and former WW champion. If he chooses to fight at WW, let's not hear "he was too small for WW, he should be fighting at LW" if Penn should lose the fight.



Penn is probably too lazy to cut the weight for 155--because that is where he has the best chance for success, given is overall WW record. But if he chooses to fight at WW, I think he should be treated like any other WW--and not being given all these props for being a true 170.



BJ Penn could win this with his hands, and a quick RNC to a stunned Rory. Or MacDonald could school the veteran and suplex him a record 10 times in one fight.



That is why I will be tuning in to see this fight.

You people are retarded! Rory Macdonald is going to destroy BJ Penn. Penn has a good chin but IF he surives the whole fight he is going to be busted up pretty bad.

I could see the UFC setting up this match more to build up Rory's win list than bring BJ back into title contention. Yes, that's right at 170, BJ is now a gate keeper.