BJ Penn-Carlos Condit Rumored for UFC 137

I don't think it's official yet, but it looks like Condit and Penn will be hooking up in a bout billed as a title eliminator at UFC 137 in the fall

I guess that means Penn-GSP III is only a win away for BJ. Nevertheless, this is a great match-up. Condit doesn't have a style that typically gives Penn problems. So I like BJ but it should be fun.

 

not sure how much penn has left in the tank, but stylistcally he should win rather easily. i would be surprised if condit's striking overwhelms bj, which has never been the case.

 

Condit has looked great lately. It's going to be a tough fight for both of these guys.

 

I'm with Joony on this one. If the opponent is not a very top level MMA wrestler, BJ Penn will be ultra competitive.

 

I think Condit wins. I don't see too much problems in this fight. He's bigger, hits harder and is much rangier.

See him presenting similar problems for BJ as Edgar did. Being flat footed isn't a good idea against a guy like Condit.

Condit will win a decision, but wouldn't be shocked to see him KO BJ either.

 

I don't think Condit is near quick enough on his feet to do what Edgar did. It was Edgar's movement that gave BJ problem, not range or size.

Again, I think it will be a real competitive fight but I just think Penn has more ways to win. Keep in mind, Penn basically out-wrestled Jon Fitch for 2 rounds. Fitch can talk all day about not training wrestling defense or being caught off guard, but the truth is that Penn was just the better grappler until he tired.

It's probably second only to Cain-JDS and Diaz-GSP as fights I can't wait to see this year.

 

Size and range can replicate the same thing that movement can. It doesn't matter if you are just quick enough to stay out of range, or long enough to stay out of range. What matters is the end result.

BJ has good takedowns but he's going to need to get in close to do so, Condit controls range well, plus he has a great guard.

 

I hate the hijack the thread but I also hate to make another topic for every bit of news.

Mitrione vs Kongo also rumoured for the card.

http://mmaweekly.com/matt-mitrione-v...137-fight-card


GSP - Diaz

Condit - Penn

Nelson - Cro Cop

Mitrione - Kongo


May be the first PPV card I buy.

 

He didn't.

 

Man, great card. I think Mitrione-Kongo is a great 'next step' for Meathead.

 

That is a great next fight for Meat Head and one that should be fun while it lasts!

 

condit's been taking guys out early lately, but i'm curious to see how he reacts when bj's standing against the cage thwarting take downs and blocking/evading shots.

penn has a short neck that protects his chin from being exposed. i doubt condit's going to be able to land a KO knee or punch at any point during the fight. and condit's wrestling's not good enough to take bj down.

 

Condit hardly ever goes for takedowns.

 

yea, well like i said. there's nothing he does better than penn except for knocking people out w/ one punch.

 

He's a better and more diverse striker, better cardio...better gameplanning.

 

shown against b level guys.

 

And? When's the last time BJ beat an A level guy?

Arguably Sean Sherk years ago?

At 170, Matt Hughes back in 2004. Awesome. Hughes then battered him in the rematch.

 

Then got knocked out in 20 seconds in the trilogy!

 

Well...yeah. When Hughes was like 80 years old.

 

well you questioned his stamina, but he seemed fine when beating up kenny florian and diego sanchez.

even when he was fat, he was take big ass machida to distance.

only advantage condit has over penn is size, which hasn't really been a factor in penn's losses except for vs. machida.

but what you said could very well happen. condit has a devastating punch and striking, so he has the possibility to take anyone out. and based on his recent streak, it's very well plausible for him to stop penn. i just beg to differ.

 

And what happened in BJ's last fight? He gassed? Oh yeah. He did.

Anyone can have a lot of energy standing flat footed and throwing a couple of combos every round punching someone. When he was forced to work he gassed out in his fight against Fitch and in the second fight with Edgar for that matter.

Condit is taller, rangier, and has better technique and power on his kicks than Edgar...the same tool that Edgar used to give BJ fits.

BJ is a very simple striker. He rarely does anything other than counter, and even then he just throws basic boxing combinations. Condit does everything...kicks, elbows, knees(flying and grounded) and punches.

BJ could definitely crack Condit too, but I have a hard time believing BJ is as big of a puncher as Ellenberger, who Condit, at the very least was able to survive when hurt.

 

Condit was out-boxed by MacDonald for the most part and he was out-grappled by Kampmann for the most. Neither are as good at either as Penn.

As I said before, short of a KO punch, kick or knee, Penn has more ways to win the fight.

But TLC does make a good point. I think Condit will be the tallest guy Penn has ever fought including Machida. It will be fun to see if Penn's timing and boxing skill will help him overcome the height and reach of Condit.

However, something tells me Penn will game plan to take Condit down and control him on the ground like Kampmann did. As Fitch and Florian found out, if Penn is on top of you means a RNC is just moments away.

Fitch was lucky in the sense that Penn's legs were too short to lock in the body triangle and Fitch was eventually able to escape. Condit's much thinner frame won't present the same issue.

I like BJ in the second via RNC... Any signature bet takers???????

 

Sure, but he was on a 3 fight win streak. Serra, Renzo and Almeida. Not too bad for an 80 yo?

 

BJ is very simple. He gasses in grappling matches against great wrestlers. Condit isn't even a decent wrestler.

Fatigue won't be an issue. Diego Sanchez was a more varied striker than Penn also. Sometimes good, simple boxing technique is all it takes. And Penn is a far better technical boxer than Condit could dream off.

 

Let's be clear, Florian and Sanchez were top ranked 155 pound fighters when Penn beat them easily.

TLC likes to revise history and will call both chumps. But both guys were more highly regarded at the time than ANYONE on Condit's resume at the time he fought them.

That can't be debated.

 

penn was fatigued vs. edgar because he circled around and popped in and out to take him down. if youre defending both leg kicks and being worried about a guy shooting in, of course you're going to be tensed and fatigued trying to chase the guy down while also trying to evade kicks and sporadic takedowns.

against fitch, he was against a guy who's known to wear/grind guys down.

condit fights nothing like edgar, gsp, nor fitch. but yes, his advantage is going to be his lanky size. i like trplsec's scenario as well, where bj will take condit down and gain control.

i find it hard to believe that penn was some bjj prodigy when all he hardly ever submits guys with moves other than rnc. i guess the point system in bjj is based on how you control the guy on the ground and penn's flexibility allowed him to pull guard to sustain certain position to win points, but he's not like some technical submission wizard one would think he'd be based on his bjj resume. if anything, his takedown defense while standing up (which they don't emphasize in bjj) and boxing is what got him this far as an mma fighter.

 

Who said I'm revising history? Florian is maybe an A- fighter but Diego certainly wasn't. Diego is no more than a B fighter himself and wouldn't be favoured over Rory, Ellenberger OR Kim at 170.

Not to mention, Rory and Ellenberger are at the very least B+ fighters and both could be top ranked title challengers within a few fights. Ellenberger just has to beat Shields and Rory has more potential than anyone in the division.

 

MacDonald is absolutely a better striker than Penn. Taller, more diverse, powerful, and stays unpredictable with takedown attempts and clinches mixed in.

BJ definitely can submit anyone, but he has to get passed Condit's guard first, and Condit, while probably won't sweep BJ, can at least push him off and get back to his feet. I don't think BJ will get many takedowns though to be honest.

If not outright gassing he slowed down considerably against Edgar in the second fight. Basically was completely null as soon as Edgar escaped his back mount in the 4th round. In the 5th, he was completely useless. Mind you, this was from a guy who ran around BJ rather than pressure him and hit him hard like Condit will.

As far as Diego being a more varied striker than Penn....not really. He rarely kicks and he's fairly bad at them, he doesn't counter, the only thing he knows how to do is push forward with wild hooks. Diego is an awful striker.

 

That doesn't mean anything. Roger Gracie doesn't do much either other than gi cross chokes from mount, he's still the best BJJ practitioner ever.