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[Sakara=Excitement]

UFC 118: Is BJ Penn Overrated? Facts Point to Yes. - Bloody Elbow

BJ Penn was manhandled last night. Manhandled by a fighter most experts consider too small for the lightweight division. Frankie Edgar had his way with Penn, scoring on his feet and even taking down the man who seemed in past fights to have uncanny balance and defense. Many people were shocked by Penn's two losses to Edgar. Not me. Looking carefully at Penn's career leads you to one conclusion-despite his inflated reputation, the extraordinary BJ Penn is merely ordinary.

The raw numbers stand out like a sore thumb. In title fights, BJ Penn is a pedestrian 5-5-1. For every big fight he wins, he loses one in turn. The true greats of the sport, your Georges St. Pierres, your Matt Hughes, your Frank Shamrocks, your Fedor Emelianenkos, are defined by rising to the occasion. When the fights get tougher, these men only get better. Not so with BJ Penn.

BJ Penn is a front runner. We learned that for the first time against Jens Pulver at UFC 35. Crowned as champion before even stepping into the cage, Penn had no answer for Pulver's heart and determination. When the fight got to the point where it demanded each man expose his very soul to walk away the winner, Penn faltered. Pulver stepped forward. That was the difference.

From that day forward the BJ Penn modus operandi has been losing the big one. With the exception of upsetting Matt Hughes at UFC 46, the defining fights of Penn's career have all been losses. Against St. Pierre twice. Against Hughes in the rematch. And now, when confronted by a fighter not afraid to test his mettle against Penn head to head, two losses against Edgar.

BJ Penn, when it is all said and done, will be considered a disappointment. From the time, before his UFC debut, that Frank Shamrock announced the "Prodigy" would be the greatest fighter of all time until this latest loss to Edgar, Penn has little to show for what should have been a legendary career.

[vegas bushido]

What a ridiculous article. It was obvious that BJ had a broken back or some type of new illness that science has yet to identify. If he were healthy and determined, he would have beat Edgar so bad that time would have reversed itself and the fight would have actually never taken place. Kind of like Back to the Future. How dare people say that BJ isn't the best p4p fighter in the world. Disgusting.

[Buffalo Soldier]

So he got outworked by a much quicker fighter. Nobody is as quick as Edgar, and I know BJ will come back from this and dominate again. Why point out his record if your not going to say that he only fights legit threats? Yes he has lost to Frankie twice and is not beating him anytime soon. No he is not overrated.

[tucker50]

I actually do find this article ridiculous. For years everyone has called BJ the most talented fighter with a questionable work ethic and heart. He still hasn't really strayed from that. He didn't look good in either Edgar fight, but its only been about 9 months since one of the most one-sided beatdowns in UFC history against Diego, but people have short memories.
His inconsistency has always been a flaw, and nothing has changed, so I would not call him overrated because we've known that for years. All I know is we get to see Penn work his way to a title shot for the first time in almost a decade and that is kind of exciting.

[Rumble]

Wow, this wasn't a little biased. So I guess beating Matt Hughes, Caol Uno, Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, Kenflo, Sean Sherk, Diego Sanchez, Takanori Gomi are all minor achievements, not to mention that the first GSP fight was a controversial decision. Earning 2 titles in 2 different weight classes isn't a achievement worth mentioning either?

The guy is one of the best LW in the world. Just because the guy isn't undefeated doesn't mean he hasn't achieved great things. Penn has little to show for what should have been a legendary career? He is one of only 2 fighters to hold 2 titles in 2 different weight classes, the other fighter being Randy Couture, and his record is a who's who of wins, and losses only to the most elite of competition.

I'm a huge BJ penn fan, but I will be the first to tell you that he lost the last 2 fights to Edgar and there are holes in his game that he needs to work on. That being said, just because he lost doesn't mean his whole career is insignificant and underachieved. This was a completely biased article, which is sad because Bloody Elbow usually put out some quality articles.

[Crystalman7]

BJ Penn is not overrated. He is a good fighter however I never saw him like the No. 1 P4P Fighter. BJ Need to move to Welterweight. He almost clean the lightweight division. Almost...

[roaddawg]

Originally Posted by vegas bushido

What a ridiculous article. It was obvious that BJ had a broken back or some type of new illness that science has yet to identify. If he were healthy and determined, he would have beat Edgar so bad that time would have reversed itself and the fight would have actually never taken place. Kind of like Back to the Future. How dare people say that BJ isn't the best p4p fighter in the world. Disgusting.

The best p4p fighters in the world don't get obliterated by fighters smaller than them. BJ is still an awesome fighter and would probably still wreck most in his division but Edgar is his kryptonite.

Edgar is younger, faster, certainly more enegetic, has a great chin and certainly more well rounded. It's time to give Edgar his props.

[Rumble]

Originally Posted by roaddawg

The best p4p fighters in the world don't get obliterated by fighters smaller than them. BJ is still an awesome fighter and would probably still wreck most in his division but Edgar is his kryptonite.

Edgar is younger, faster, certainly more enegetic, has a great chin and certainly more well rounded. It's time to give Edgar his props.

I think he was being sarcastic roaddawg

[Mac]

I have never been a fan of B.J. even going so far as to call him a spoiled rich kid who took his ball and went home, referring to when he left after beating Hughes years ago. I have come to see that B.J. is a very skilled fighter.

As far as overrated, we will have to wait till the dust settles to see where he ends up after this. I do think B.J. is not a mentally strong fighter and the mental part is a huge deal.

It could also be a matchup thing. Edgar could just be the one fighter who matches up against B.J. well in the LW division. This using Edgar's size to discredit Penn is rediculous though.

[Adambomb]

This is a horrible article written by a biased an incompetent fool that probably got snubbed while asking for an autograph. BJ Penn isn't overrated, Frankie Edgar is underrated. It's time to start given Frankie the respect he deserves instead of trying to tear down BJ.

Frankie Edgar is the one lightweight BJ Penn has not been able to beat. Stylistically it's just a horrible matchup for him. Penn's career is far from over though and even if it was he'd still go down as the greatest lightweight of his generation.

I'd like to see BJ fight Hughes for a 3rd time, then move back down to lightweight and try to make another run at regaining the championship. I still think he beats Florian, Maynard, and everyone else in the division.

BJ definitely needs help from Couture or someone in forming a good gameplan because last night it was clear that if he even had one it wasn't very well orchestrated.