Nick Diaz says B.J. Penn is "a lot better fighter" than Georges St. Pierre
Posted on October 24, 2011, 04:02 PM by Joey Santosus
"I think B.J. is a lot better fighter to be honest with you, on a technical standpoint. He’s much better at jiu-jitsu, boxing, even on a physical level I wouldn't count him out. I don’t think he should be fighting at this weight, but I think he’s a much better fighter than GSP all-around.
I would have preferred to fight GSP, of course, because it’s not like I’m fighting somebody that I already know. I’m fighting for the title. That’s why I started this. That’s why I’m fighting for the UFC, because I came to fight for the title. I came for the money. I came to fight for the title. That was the GSP fight. Now I’m not getting that fight." - For more from Nick Diaz, visit MMAWeekly.com
After failing to appear for multiple media commitments, former Strikeforce Welterweight champ Nick Diaz was abruptly yanked from his UFC 137 title fight with Georges St. Pierre and relocated to the co-main event (later promoted to main event) opposite B.J. Penn. As a result, Diaz has not only lost his crack at UFC gold, but according the "The Stockton Bad Boy" he'll now face "a lot better fighter" in "The Prodigy."
Though it should be noted that Penn has come up short against St. Pierre on two separate occasions, once by split decision and again via corner stoppage, Diaz feels the Hawaiian is competing outside of his natural weight class at 170-pounds. So what do you think LowKick'ers? Will Penn provide a much stiffer test for Diaz in his octagon return or did the Cesar Gracie fighter dodge a bullet by not drawing GSP?
Further Reading: Nick Diaz arrives fashionably late to the UFC 137 Conference Call
Photo: Nick Diaz celebrates his victory over Gleison Tibau during the Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC 65 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, CA, on November 18, 2006. Photo credit: Francis Specker
Comments
then why did he lose to him twice
Size. Question answered.
God. Is the answer. Can't get holyer then gsp. I mean the dudes got "saint" in his name . And al he does is pray during his fights
But, but, but, he can jump right out of a pool...I saw it.
Size? How about superior conditioning and wrestling ability. If you want to look at size then how come Matt Hughes or Jon Fitch didn't just run through BJ like GSP did the last time they fought.
GSP is bigger than Hughes and much younger and John Fitch was taken off gaurd and in the 3rd started to run through BJ.
size, fail conditioning..
BJ is a good fighter, but he didn't just lose to GSP; he was destroyed by the champ...Diaz just wants to feel better for forfeiting the opportunity at the belt and may even be feeling bitter by GSP's statements that Condit is the true Number 1 contender and better skilled than the bad boy, Diaz...
I totally agree with nick diaz, gsp has been scared to standup with the best strikers not to say its not good strategicly wize to take them down but he resorts to wrestling vs everyone who has even decent standup like hardy and bjs amazing everywhere.. not taking any credit away from gsp though I just dont think hes as technically up there. He is although physically on another level than everyone and a great wrestler, but bj is better all around. Which is why when he fights anderson silva I think he will lose, he will be smaller and wont have that size advantage and silvas just to unreal for gsp to rely on just wrestling. But hey, who knows... sonnen rd2?
I agree with Nick, and Rich Franklin is a much better fighter than Anderson Silva...
He said all around guys. GSP is just a superior wrestler. All around BJ is definitely better.
thats the truth, but they won't listen.
I completely agree with Nick on this, i think Bj is definately the better fighter even though he has been beaten twice by GSP. When he had those two title fights Bj relied way too much back then on his natural fighting ability and wasn't training as hard as he does today, which is also why he used to have cardio issues. Since he started training seriously, the way a fighter should, his performances and cardio improved dramatically, which eventually won him the LW title at the second time of asking. Also, WW is not BJ's natural weight class which is clearly obvious, Bj just really likes to test himself which he has made clear throughout his career, fighting the likes of Machida, Hughes, Serra and Ludwig among others, going up and down in weight like a yo yo at times, which is never good for the body. Bj is naturally a LW and even though he is equally good at WW, which not many fighters can claim, he shines brightest at LW imo. GSP, being a natural WW, is a lot bigger and naturally stronger than Bj and will always be a difficult fight for him but overall i think Bj is the better fighter hands down, and he also finishes more fights, lol.....
If BJ is a natural LW... why is he not competing at LW?
If BJ is better than GSP but is more competitive at LW why does he not have the belt?
Here's why...
He lost to Edgar, which no one thought would happen. Then he got the rematch and another shot to beat him. Everyone thought that he would take the fight more seriously and come out the winner in spectacular fashion and he lost even more decisively than he did the first time.
You would think that someone that is more "skilled" than GSP would be able to at least out strike, out grapple or out wrestle another fighter at their optimum weight class, which is what GSP does on a regular basis.
BJ is an excellent fight but he is not better than GSP.
The other thing that GSP has that BJ doesn't have or doesn't use is strategy. In their first fight BJ was beating GSP up. GSP went to his corner and came out differently. GSP makes a smart game plan and follows it adjusting as necessary. BJ fights based on his natural feel and that served him well until he got in the top 3 and then it just isn't enough.
in the 1st one, bj was kicking butt and gsp turned it around and won, fair and square. in the 2nd one, gsp was kicking butt and when bj went to turn it around, he got slimed by vaseline. doesn't matter if gsp knew it or not, vaseline made the true outcome unknowable. gsp gave bj a rematch, but vaseline ruined it, so bj is owed a true rematch. this time by the rules.
I agree with Nick Diaz....
Great fighter shouldn't have to struggle with weight or getting fit for a fight. GSP is the best fighter in the world because whether he's 1 day away from the fight or six months away he's always ready to fight. and he conducts him self like a true champion. which is why he is still champ and Bj Penn is not. The end
Give me BJ Penn all day long.
Well, GSP said the same thing when his opponent changed from Diaz to Condit (Condit is a much bigger threat, etc.)
Diaz just returned the [dis]favor.
I guess BJ is a lot better fighter than Frankie Edgar as well, right Nick?
Fraqnkie has proven himself and some are saying he may be better than GSP. Hard to say for sure but we do know that BJ is no longer in his prime and each time he fought GSP he was not nearly as ripped. He looked fat really.
What I am saying is that in a technical stance BJ has more elite tools. Unfortunetley he was smaller and fatter and less athletic.
BJ is a great fighter. Lets not forget, he is a former champ in two weight divisions. GSP on the other hand is more of a great athlete than a great fighter. His training is more scientific and more on par with what an Olympian would do as opposed to a pro fighter. Which isnt to say that pro fighters dont train hard and smart, I just believe that it's GSP's training regimen and coaching staff that make him as great as he is. He's hit upon a winning formula. It seems that BJ is still looking for that recipe. He is by far a more emotional fighter which is made evident by the "which BJ will show up" phenomenon. He also doesnt play things as safe as GSP. He used John Fitch's own game against him, fought him where he was strong. That's not a game plan I see GSP ever using, playing in his opponents strong zone. But BJ did because he's a fighter, not a product of analysis and scientific conditioning.
Gee, I wonder why Diaz thinks Penn is a better fighter? Could it be that he respects Penn and hates GSP?
i wanna see penn hit up lightweight one last time
is it 5 rounds or no?
so far still 3
Diaz been smokin too much of the green stuff again.