#1- If you really followed what happened in that Koscheck situation, the only reason Diego fought like that was because he had a bad staph infection. The next morning after the fight he woke up with a hole in his thigh almost down to his knee. So don't act like Koscheck beat Nightmare because he was better and Diego couldn't or didn't show any smarts to make any adjustments. You watch that one fight compared to all his other fights before or after, and you'll see something was wrong with him that night. #2- Sherk matchup wise was to small for Penn. Anyone who knows MMA knows Sherk was gonna get his ass kicked. He was to short, not enough arm reach on his punches, and had to utilize his Boxing to get inside and try and take him down. He couldn't and got picked apart like I and many others knew he would. Matt Hughes had a hard time taking BJ down, what in the world would make you think Sherk's "pace" was gonna be a problem for him? #3- Florian GOT discouraged. You can see the look on his face when he went back to his corner. He didn't want it anymore and I'm pretty sure he was happy that fight ended when it did. Penn controlled everything he wanted to do and it was his fight. You just proved my point. He neutralized Florian and dictated. Nightmare is bigger than Florian & Sherk and is a better fighter than both of them. Nightmare would break Florian & Sherk just like Penn did and maybe in more devastating fashion. #4- You're right, even the best chins can be cracked. However against Nightmare, I doubt we'll see BJ standing to often. He wanted Pulver on the ground when they last fought. I don't think he wants to gamble to much with Diego who's uppercut knocked out Karo Parisyan's tooth and now has a developing headkick which he scored a knockout with and almost put Guida out the same way. You tell me what Penn is gonna do if he can't keep Nightmare off him and making BJ fight his fight, like GSP did?
It was a knee that knocked Karo's tooth out, not an uppercut. And Florian is a better striker then Diego. Fair enough about the Koscheck fight, I did feel that Diego just wasn't himself in that fight and I also feel that he could've out worked Kos on the ground also. But I was wrong to use taht fight as an example if he really did have staph :good But that was also after Diego KO'd Riggs and trained with Oscar and you could see his attitude changed, he thought he was this devastating striker, and he's not. He's gonna get technically beat by BJ. He's too sloppy, not fluid enough or seasoned as a striker to beat BJ on the feet. BJ fought friggin Machida to a close decision, now your telling me that Diego will be too much for him on his feet
Diego Sanchez striking has improved alot from the Josh Koscheck fight but it still isnt a level or more behind BJs. What can Diego do that noboddy else could do ? BJ has good legkick defense,much superior boxing skills then just about anyone and the agressive style of Sanchez's striking is probablly what BJ would want IMO he will pick him apart with jabs and setup uppercuts and maybe even knees. Diego has a great chin but taking combos from BJ Penn is different then taking occassional overhand rights from Koscheck. You get hit enough you will go down we have seen that many times over the years. Dynamite Kid you bring up that BJ took the fight with Jens Pulver straight to the ground like he was afraid to strike. Why not take it to the ground we all knew Jens is a smaller fighter then BJ and his ground game is well behind Penn's that was obvious even in their first fight when BJ could score takedowns. No reason to risk any famous Pulver left hands when you can submitt him on the ground. Thats the only recent fight I have seen BJ wanna be on the ground so often.
Yes you're right, it was a knee. You are correct. I saw that fight like 20 times and actually forgot it was a knee. I confused that with the uppercut he landed when the fight started that hurt Karo early. My mistake And I didn't say Nightmare would be to much on the feet. I'm saying BJ may not wanna be there for to long being as how Nightmare has shown to really be hurting guys on the feet these days. That's what I meant. I can't pick a winner and can't guarantee anything. I think both guys can come out and potentially control the fight depending on who's night it is. All I'm saying is, Nightmare is gonna give a fight and BJ is gonna have to reach into his bag of tricks to beat this fighter. Diego is obsessed with BJ right now. He said in a blog on Myspace he even spies on BJ on his website
Diego seems like a complete nutjob, he's one of my favorite fighters though. Love watching the guy fight. BJ is my favorite though, so that's why I'm kinda posting in favor of BJ and also just because i really believe BJ is too much for him.
BJ is one of my fav fighters, But I think BJ has got to finish Diego early or Diego is going to grind him down, BJ never looks like he has that much energy where Diego has too much. He is gonna fight at superspeed which i think may be too fast for BJ. As much as i hate to bet againt BJ my money is on Diego this time
Did somebody actually compare Diego Sanchez's striking with Jens ****ing Pulvers? Jens has displayed some of the best striking in LW and FW MMA over the course of a long career, has boxed at a respectable level succesfully, and had success in kickboxing and Shootboxing; to imply that Diego has anything approaching that, and that since BJ wanted to keep Jens off his feet he will feel the same need with Diego is laughable. BJ realized that Jens is better standing than on the ground; taking him down took Jens out of the best part of his game, taking Diego down is not. Diego is looking like a monster, but really he is just not as good at any particular thing as BJ. His cardio may very well be better, but he has never gone 5 high action rounds against a top level fighter, and there is no guarentee that the fight will go that far or be that high of a pace; BJ seems to have proven his cardio is good enough to go into the championship rounds at a reasonable pace, it certainly isn't a huge flaw for him like it used to be.
Only GSP grinds Penn down, because GSP grinds guys like Fitch and a monster like Alves down. BJ Penn has the best top game in MMA history. Ask yourself this, do you see Diego ending up on top or do you see Penn on top? I must say, I see Diego on his back quite alot even against Nick Diaz. Once Penns on top of him, hed be fortunate to be on half guard. Also, speaking of Diegos cardio, he wasnt so fresh against Alessio after 3 rounds. Diego for me is one of these TUF fighters thats just fortunate he hasnt had that awakening moment yet like Forrest, Kenflo and Rashad, the moment that says "you just cant hang with the greats".
Really looking forward to this one sanchez is a savage guy. My heart says Bj but my head is slightly swaying with sanchez whatever happens it is not one your going to want to miss.