Josh Koscheck agrees to fight BJ Penn, awaits his answer
Posted on May 17, 2012, 12:21 PM by Mike DrahotaA potentially blockbuster bout is in the works today for the UFC, with Josh Koscheck having been offered a bout with former two-class champion and MMA legend B.J. Penn. Penn, absent since he retired after an October loss to Nick Diaz, has been rumored to have a return in the cards as of late, with Gilbert Milendez as a potential opponent. However, those plans never came to fruition, and Milendez is staying with Strikeforce to defend his Lightweight championship there. Now Koscheck is the potential opponent, revealing the news via Twitter.com:
#UFC just offered me to fight BJ Penn...I said YES!!!!! Just waiting on him!!!!!! Let's scrap bra?
— Josh Koscheck (@JoshKoscheck) May 17, 2012
So, it appears that if B.J. Penn is ready to return, a big-name opponent awaits him. Koscheck comes off of a very close fight versus Johny Hendricks. Although he thought he won, ultimately he lost a split decision. Koscheck had asked for a five-round rematch with Hendricks on his Twitter account, stating that he had won rounds 1 & 3. He needs a big win in his next fight to stay towards the top of the divisional rankings, and a fight with Penn could be just that for him. With a stacked division at Welterweight, adding a legend like Penn to the mix only adds fuel to the fire.
Needing no introduction, the ultra-talented Penn has been on the shelf for over six months now, contemplating his next move. Recently Dana White announced he would be returning to the Octagon, to the delight of many fans. Penn of course lost a technical boxing-based match to Nick Diaz at UFC 137, in a Fight of the Night award-winning bout. While many feel he is no longer relevant in the ever-changing landscape of today's MMA, many others think that he has a lot left in the tank, thanks to his infinite talent in terms of boxing and BJJ. As fans, we will have to wait and see if he accepts the invitation to fight in what could be a very, very exciting bout.
Further Reading: He's back: Dana White announces B.J. Penn's return to the Octagon
Comments
BJ will come out swinging and could connect but more likely Kokcheck will take him down and lay on him for the last 2 rounds. unless BJ has been doing some marathon swimming his cardio is always terrible, that said he did look good against sanchez though I will give him that. I hope he skips rope until he hates his feet and kick kok in the face man that guy is annoying.
Better win BJ....don't want to see someone hug you AGAIN. really i'd like him better at lightweight now that his kryptonite isn't champ anymore
I wish BJ would go back to lightweight he is just to small for welterweight. There are to many big welterweights that would just out muscle him. I dont believe he is relevant at welterweight but definitly is at light weight.
I would be surprised if BJ would want that fight....Its a great fight for Koscheck though.
I see Koscheck tiring BJ against the cage like St Pierre did..
WW Penn is one of the best P4P fighters a live for the first round and there probbaly the only guy at that weight class who can compete with him in the 1st is GSP. I would expect BJ to completely outclass him in the first but the rest of the fight would be a different story.
Although saying that Kos doesnt grind like Fitch or throw in numbers like Diaz so BJ might be able to keep enough cardio to win the second as well. I would take BJ to win a 3 round fight but Kos would probs take a 5 rounder if they main event.
a think bj has great chance, look what he did to fitch in the 1st round of there fight, he just has to be consistant going into the later rounds and make sure that the tank is full. bjs hands are far better than kos and a think it show in this fight if it happens.
exactly look at what everyone is saying, round one. kos doesn't have a weak chin to where he can be knocked out in the first round. Bj at ww doesn't do well in ww fights in later rounds. i actually see kos pulling off a decision.
If Bj can keep it standing then he should be able to jab his way to a decision (ala Gsp) unless one of Kos's overhand rights catches him. Nice pic btw.
I think Kos will probably win this fight by holding Penn against the cage or holding him down, but Penn can definitely win this fight if he can avoid those positions.
Also, BJ is definitely capable of winning this fight by KO at any time, including the first round. Kos is a very good fighter, but he's not impossible to KO in the first round. Paulo Thiago did it, and BJ Penn is faster than him, has better boxing, and hits harder.
I don't disagree. Kos got drilled with a few big shots his last fight and I don't think Bj has more power than Hendricks. Cool fight though. Hope Bj accepts.
KOs are as much about timing and accuracy as power, and BJ Penn is definitely more accurate than Hendricks he has great timer.
Agreed.
Bj declined the fight.
Well nevermind then. Lol