UPDATED: Could BJ Penn's Loss To GSP Affect His Next Lightweight Title Defense?

by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 2, 2009 2:24 PM EST in News Comment 19 comments

BJ Penn is a fighter with incredible physical ability, and definitely doesn't lack anything in the confidence department. I realize that Penn was fighting out of his natural weight class against GSP. I also realize that GSP is one of the best fighters on the planet bar none. However, I can't help but think that last nights loss to GSP could affect his next lightweight title defense.

The loss itself isn't the deal breaker, as Penn has suffered losses in his career before. However, it's the way he lost that could be a major factor here. Penn was throughly dominated in every facet of the game, even in the areas where most people consider him to be at the top of the food chain. Anytime a fighter gets dominated in that sense, it could cause that fighter to question himself. Penn has never been dominated like that and no one knows how he'll respond.

BJ Penn will be defending his lightweight title against Kenny Florian at some point this year. Even before UFC 94 last night, I said a Florian/Penn fight would be much more competitive than most people think. That was confirmed for me after Florian's performance against Joe Stevenson at UFC 91. Could last night's loss to GSP affect Penn going into a lightweight title defense against Kenny Florian? Do you think Florian gained just a bit of confidence while seeing Penn being mauled by GSP? Let me hear your thoughts.

[Note by Kelvin Hunt, 02/02/09 2:20 PM EST ]Josh Gross Reports BJ Penn Is Mulling Retirement. When I wrote the piece above I knew that the loss would affect him, but I honestly never thought he would consider retirement. I don't think he'll retire though. A fighter with his mindset would not allow himself to go out on such a sour note as his performance at UFC 94 in my opinion.

[Note by Kelvin Hunt, 02/02/09 9:47 PM EST ]BJ Penn will not be retiring and is filing a formal complaint in regards to the vaseline controversy at UFC 94.

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IMO,

Florian is no where near the level GSP is at. If Florian were to think that since BJ was worked by GSP the way he was that he has a chance of doing the same, then he is misleading himself. Aside from GSP just being an overall better fighter than in their first fight, I think the extra weight BJ carried was a big factor as well. I don’t think this loss has any negative affects for Penn in his fight against Florian. If anything, I feel it will just motivate him to want to make a statement to the MMA world that he is still the same BJ Penn.

by _Felix_ on Feb 1, 2009 10:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He has always said that 170 was is best fighting weight.

by J_Maddux on Feb 2, 2009 1:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, obviously it is not. Honestly, I think he just likes/liked it because he didn’t have to cut a lot of weight.

by _Felix_ on Feb 2, 2009 7:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am excited to see how BJ reacts after this loss… the fight with Florian will be a good test, but as much as i love Kenny i dont believe he will be able to beat BJ. BJ Penn is still the top in the game. I belive BJ will use this loss to fuel his fire.

by Chris Clodfelter on Feb 1, 2009 11:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

I wouldn’t want to be the next guy fighting BJ after this loss.

by Celtics1990 on Feb 2, 2009 11:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Word. The thing is though, this fight with GSP was the pinnacle of his career. It’s tough to reach that moment, then fail to seize it. It would be really easy for him to become nonchalant…basically because everyone expects him to run through everybody at 155, and even himself has admitted it would be hard to get motivated to fight Florian(or anybody else in the UFC LW division).

by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 2, 2009 7:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Re: update

What I got from what Valentino said in the interview was that prior to the fight that if BJ were to win he wanted it to be his last fight. Probably not the case now.

by _Felix_ on Feb 2, 2009 3:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is what I was referring to...

Late Sunday, Penn’s representatives decided against filing the complaint, which has already been drawn up by the Hawaiian’s family attorney, first thing Monday, a reaction perhaps to some initial communication between the camps. Distance from the fight will also yield breathing room to make a decision on the rest of his career. But considering how his fight transpired, and with the apparent controversy over tactics in St. Pierre’s corner, Valentino believes Penn could have a change of heart.

“I’m not making excuses for B.J.’s fight,” he said. "What happened, happened. St. Pierre was a better fighter. But B.J. couldn’t get his ground game off because his legs were slipping off. His hands were slipping off. He couldn’t get going. It wore him out. That could have been a factor in the fight.

“After what happened I think he might have something to prove again. He might jump up and go at it again. I don’t know.”

The only one who might, it seems, is Penn himself.

by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 2, 2009 3:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Kenny will beat BJ.

by cauliflower_ears on Feb 3, 2009 4:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Uh Oh!

I have somebody onboard with me!

by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 3, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and me

been saying this! Kenny is evolving, BJ is from the past!

all you gotta do is...

by imapimp08 on Feb 3, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Uh Oh!

There’s another one!

by Kelvin Hunt on Feb 3, 2009 4:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sign me up for the Florian will beat BJ club :) He has good ground skills, good striking, and GSP levels of determination. If anyone can beat BJ at 155 its Kenny.

by brad23 on Feb 4, 2009 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs