UFC 84: Ill Will

BJ Penn is my second favorite fighter of all time. Arguably the most gifted fighter ever to walk into the cage on any level. He’s scary good and truly believes he’s the greatest MMA fighter on the planet. I doubt Penn would ever turn down a fight at any time in any weight class. Every fight he’s been in has been entertaining and dominating. Even in loss, Penn looks like he won. BJ is a scary good fighter. Mean. Aggressive. Cocky. Exactly what a fighter needs to be. Exactly the sort of thing that makes the fans gravitate towards a guy like BJ Penn.

Complacency.

History has proven that things like money, women and fame have made great fighters complacent. BJ Penn’s self admitted flaw. Effortlessly beating up on your opponents can make you lazy. Training is hard work, harder than most people think. MMA athletes have to be in top form for a fight. The gas tank has to be on full. Top tier fighters are excellent strikers and grapplers…more so they are conditioning freaks with crazy cardio and must have granite chins. BJ Penn is at the top of the food chain. I think he could clear out the light-weight, welter-weight and middle-weight divisions. But why would he? He’s made money. He knows how good he is. What does he have to prove? Here’s the line that separates the good from the great. BJ Penn is reaching for glory. This is the area that makes a man a superstar in this sport. He’s not worried so much about making money. He doesn’t care if you like him or not. The Prodigy is fulfilling his destiny. The Prodigy is on a mission for glory.

I feel for Sean Sherk. He’s in the same place as Rich “Ace” Franklin. It’s tough being the second best fighter in the world in their respective weight divisions. No doubt it’s going to be a great fight. I do see Sherk getting some redemption. He will give Penn a run. Unfortunately for “The Muscle Shark” this isn’t a race.

Predictions:

BJ Penn vs Sean Sherk – Second round TKO. Sherk will push early, but Penn’s superior striking will be the key in this fight.

Wanderlei Silva vs Keith Jardine – This will hopefully be a war. Styles make fights. I see “The Axe Murdere” winning via a big right-handed knock out in the first round.

Wilson Gouveia vs Goran Reljic – Cardio could be an issue for Gouveia. Wilson’s UFC experience will not be enough to beat the bigger and hungry Goran Reljic.

Tito Ortiz vs Lyoto Machida – This is probably the most anticipated fight on this card. Both fighters have something to prove. I see this going the distance. Ortiz will try and stand early, but Machida’s superior striking will make him go back to take downs and ground and pound. I do think Ortiz will frustrate “The Dragon” by leaning/laying on him the entire fight. I’m calling the upset here. Ortiz squeaks out the decision.