Will BJ regain the lightweight title?

I think BJ will regain the title. Edgar fought the perfect fight last time and it was still very close. BJ will adjust - perhaps using his grappling this time and will win.

 

I didn't say it was poor. I said it wasn't so good as to deserve an immediate rematch. Which isn't unusual, most aren't.

And while I think BJ did well, he lost and with decent clarity. Every time I've watched the fight and trying to use the (nonsense) scoring rules that MMA currently employs, I either end up giving a 49-46 or 48-47 to Edgar. I wasn't blown away by either of their performances to be honest, but I invariably end up scoring the fight for Edgar every time. I really would have to watch it again to be more exact, but I'm saving it for when my friend gets back from Afghanistan and we're prepping to watch UFC 118...then we'll break out the Abu Dhabi and get pumped for the fights!

And, yeah, I think Rampage lost his fight with Forrest at UFC 87 and that one was pretty clear. Not near as "controversal" as many fans seem to think. However, his performance and the excitement of the fight and all the other little factors could give more clout to an argument saying that Rampage deserved an immediate rematch far moreso then BJ does against Frankie. Quite frankly, I'm shocked I even have had to defend this view as much as I have.

And I would repeat the ending of my last post in this thread but you already know it and I have continued to do so. You're free to amend yours, sir.

 

The aggressive version of BJ should beat the smaller, less technical Frankie Edgar this time. BJ played right into his excellent gameplan last time and I don't think he'll do it again.

I'm a huge fan of Edgar but I think he should be fighting at 145. Hopefully the UFC will bring the WEC into the fold so these smaller guys won't feel like they are taking a step down to the WEC 145 weight class. UFC 145 division would deliver the prestige and $$$ that the WEC isn't doing.

 

You said you could understand giving Rampage a rematch against Forrest because "it was a relatively close fight and they both gave very good performances" but you can't understand how that same logic could be applied to Penn vs. Edgar? Why are you arguing so adamantly over a fight you haven't seen in half a year? You keep saying things like Penn was lethargic or he wasn't in control of the fight but those comments don't mean **** to me if all your doing is working off a 6 month old memory. If you want to talk about providing a solid, rational and logical basis for all your opinions, then fight stats and recent viewing beats vague recollections in the logic department any day of the week. But please by all means post your scorecard next time you watch the fight, I'd love to hear someone try to justify a 4-1 score for Edgar.

 

I had a 4 to 1 score for Edgar. I remember clearly giving Edgar 3, 4, and 5 but I don't remember if I gave him 1 or 2.

Dude, Penn lost that fight and Penn knows he lost that fight. Just check out any of the interviews where he is asked about it. He wasn't dominated or destroyed or even beat up very very badly but he was never winning.

 

Look what happened in the rematch to the only other LW to outpoint BJ Penn, Jens Pulver.

Penn by submission, rd 3.

 

All I'll say is that BJ clearly won rounds 1 & 2, Frankie clearly won round 5, but rounds 3 & 4 were very close, particularly round 4. I'm not partial to either fighter but more often than not I find myself scoring it for BJ. The fight was much closer than you make it out to be, I don't care what BJ says in interviews.

 

Yes, BJ will win back the title. I have to think he's highly motivated to get the belt back, and he's the more talented fighter overall.

 

I can't see any other gameplan being effective.

 

Taking Frankie down will not be that simple of a task, though.