MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[MasterShake]

- ARE GSP AND GOMI IN B.J. PENN'S FUTURE?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - by Damon Martin - MMAWeekly.com
Source- MMA WEEKLY - Your #1 Source for Daily MMA News, Interviews, Multimedia, and More
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



B.J. Penn has talked recently about the legacy he wants to leave behind when he exits the sport of mixed martial arts, which includes fighting in various weight classes. He addressed rumors about a possible move back to welterweight recently with MMAWeekly.com.

“What does everybody want me to do?” he asked about his divisional status. “I hear people keep talking about it and I always hear Dana (White) saying he wants me to stay in the 155-pound division, but if the fans and the media and the people are so intrigued with the fact that B.J. Penn will fight anybody at any weigh, but right now, I’m just thinking about the lightweight division.”

The list of contenders seems to grow on an almost daily basis and Penn is excited to face all of them.

“I think there’s so many good guys coming up,” he said. “I’m not going to sit here, I’m not going to say any names. I realize this division is so stacked. There’re so many good fighters and hungry fighters out there. They’re coming and I better be ready.”

One fight in the lightweight division that fans would love to see is a rematch between Penn and Takanori Gomi, who Penn defeated a few years back, and while the Japanese superstar is currently signed to another promotion, Penn is confident they will mix it up again.

“With me and Takanori Gomi, the question is where do you sell the fight? He’s a huge name in Japan, I’m a big name in the U.S,” he stated. “It’s all about making big fights. I’m sure me and Gomi are going to fight again, some way, somehow. I’m sure it’s going to happen.”

The welterweight division is still on Penn’s mind though and with the upcoming fight between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Serra, the current lightweight champ weighed in on the fight and a rematch with St. Pierre down the road as well.

“Georges still has to get past Matt Serra though. I think if Georges can get past Matt Serra and I know I’m going to get past Sean Sherk, we could have some kind of really huge fight there. I’m talking about a fight of the century type of fight, but Matt Serra’s no joke, you know?

“He already knocked Georges out once and he’s better on the ground. So if Georges takes him down, I’d put Serra as the guy who has the better groundwork. So Georges is going to have to come up with a good game plan. Georges has got a great camp to do what he’s got to do. I expect a great fight, and don’t count out Matt Serra against anyone.”

Ultimately, Penn would like to take both the 155-pound and 170-pound divisional titles home to Hawaii and cement his place in history.

“I want to be the first person to hold two divisional titles at the same time in the UFC,” said Penn. “That would be awesome.”

First up on the agenda though is for Penn to face Sherk on May 24 in defense of his UFC lightweight title.

Go BJ, he is such a humble guy I really hope these fights happen I know the Gomi fight has about a zero chance of happening, I think BJ forgot who he works for. But I would like to see him fight GSP or Serra, i think GSP would be a bigger challenge though. As far as Serra better on the ground I don't know Hughes was supposed to be the better wrestler and he got dominated if we see the same GSP, I do not think Serra has a chance, that would be a pretty cool fight, for two titles.

[carbondioxide830]

imagine bj penn as lightweight champion vs. gsp as welterweight champion. champion vs. champion for the welterweight title. i smell perhaps one of the greatest five round title fights in mma history.

of course that all depends on whether or not gsp can even the score with matt serra and if bj penn can beat sean sherk in may.

[MasterShake]

I know to bad it couldn't be title for title, but GSP would have to start smoking crack.

[valheruking]

Well we know BJ will go to Japan to fight Gomi if need be, no matter what Dana or the UFC think, probably after he beats the top guys in the UFC.

[MasterShake]

Originally Posted by valheruking

Well we know BJ will go to Japan to fight Gomi if need be, no matter what Dana or the UFC think, probably after he beats the top guys in the UFC.

Wasn't the first Gomi fight right after he left the first time?

[Ramma]

Originally Posted by carbondioxide830

imagine bj penn as lightweight champion vs. gsp as welterweight champion. champion vs. champion for the welterweight title. i smell perhaps one of the greatest five round title fights in mma history.

of course that all depends on whether or not gsp can even the score with matt serra and if bj penn can beat sean sherk in may.

The last Champion vs. Champion (of different divisions) fight was Hendo vs. Wandy... and that was a great fight.


I don't think BJ vs. GSP will happen right after GSP/Serra and BJ/Sherk even if they both win... Dana would have them both rack up a couple wins and make the fight mean a little more... or he might never do it at all. GSP and BJ are marketable guys and having each one own a division is better for business.

[Masscore]

There are a couple of things that would have to happen before GSP and Penn fought again:

Penn would have to Beat:
Sherk (Not an easy task)
Huerta (Who gets better with every fight)
Sherk again (You know there will be a Penn v. Sherk II if the fight was any good).
Edgar (Which I think would be a pretty good match)

GSP would have to beat:
Serra (who has beat him before)
Fitch (who I think will beat him)
Karo (who he should beat)
Kos II (Kos is the only fighter outside of Penn that GSP didnt just destory, with a better gameplan it could be a closer fight).

For this fight to happen, both guys will have to clear out their divison because both divisons just have so many contenders in it. I just don't see that happening. There are two many good fighters in both LW and WW for these guys just to cruise to a Champion v. Champion fight.

Oh and if the UFC ever signs Gomi, I think Gomi will beat Penn in the rematch. There is no question which fighter has gotten better since their last fight. While Penn was getting fat and bumbing up to LHW, Gomi was destorying the LW divison in Pride which was stacked. I think in a rematch, Gomi stops Penn in the 3rd with strikes. I guess what I am trying to say is I see what too much having to happened before Penn v. GSP II happens, it may be year or two before it finally happens.

[UFC-chef/Hughes-fan]

personally i would like to see a rubber match with Hughes. they both beat each other in great fights.

[Ramma]

Originally Posted by Masscore

Penn would have to Beat:
Edgar (Which I think would be a pretty good match)

GSP would have to beat:
Karo (who he should beat)
Kos II (Kos is the only fighter outside of Penn that GSP didnt just destory, with a better gameplan it could be a closer fight).


Oh and if the UFC ever signs Gomi, I think Gomi will beat Penn in the rematch. There is no question which fighter has gotten better since their last fight. While Penn was getting fat and bumbing up to LHW, Gomi was destorying the LW divison in Pride which was stacked. I think in a rematch, Gomi stops Penn in the 3rd with strikes. I guess what I am trying to say is I see what too much having to happened before Penn v. GSP II happens, it may be year or two before it finally happens.

1. I agree, Edgar vs. Penn would be awesome

2. Karo and GSP already fought, and GSP didn't destroy Karo either (in reference to Kos II). Either way, I don't think a rematch with Koscheck is necessary. GSP was gunshy and still managed to take Koscheck out without question.

3. Gomi has improved since their last fight, but Penn would submit Gomi all the same. Gomi is great on the ground, but there are plenty of LWs that have better BJJ than Gomi (inside and outside the UFC). I don't think Gomi will be standing long enough to KO Penn either. I see Penn winning by a later round sub or decision.

4. I don't think GSP vs. Penn II will happen unless BJ loses the title and moves back up to WW.

[phunt]

I dont know how anyone can think B.J Penn's striking sucks. He's going lose to gomi via strikes? Is that a joke? If i remember correctly, B.J moved up in weight, fought Machida and did quite well on the feet, like better than anyone else. A 155 pound guy packing on somewhere to the tune of 50 pounds and being totally outsized and doing well with arguably the most "technical" striker in LHW. He made GSP's face look like an old worn out punching bag, he pound the crap out of hughes than sunk in that choke and has highlight reel knockouts of Din Thomas and Caol Uno.