Quote:
Originally Posted by Sakara=Excitement  I don't even think BJ would be competitive at LW.
Lack luster conditioning, poor footwork, doesn't check leg kicks, doesn't protect his midsection.
Bendo would abuse him too. |
The checking legkicks and protecting the mid-section comments are bogus. How many other guys at any weight class have taken Penn apart that badly? Rory is damn good. Not everyone has his striking & wrestling skills.
BJ has only shown poor conditioning at 170. At 155 he always seemed to have good cardio. Rory had a very long reach & size advantage, and (as mentioned above) he's just damn good. Top lightweights like Maynard, Cerrone, & Miller aren't putting together combos to the head & body like Rory, & none of them have his wrestling either. Maynard may be skilled but he's a lot smaller. No LW has ever been able to keep BJ down.
Pettis may have striking as good as Rory's but Guida proved his takedown defense left something to be desired.
Bendo's the only guy at 155 that poses similar problems for BJ as Rory, but he wouldn't have a massive reach or size advantage.