UFC Should Stop Immediate Rematches.

[xtremebadass]

B.J. Penn says immediate rematch "in the works" with new UFC champ Frankie Edgar
by Dann Stupp on Apr 13, 2010 at 12:00 pm ET

Although top contenders Gray Maynard and Kenny Florian are waiting in the wings, former champ B.J. Penn may get the first shot at newly crowned UFC champion Frankie Edgar's lightweight belt.

Penn (15-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC) dropped a decision and lost his belt to Edgar (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in the co-main-event of UFC 112 this past weekend on April 10.

However, Penn today said – though nothing is official – that he's spoken with UFC officials and that an immediate rematch is in the works and a real possibility.

"The UFC called us yesterday, and there's probably a rematch in the works with Frankie Edgar," Penn said in a short video posted on his official Web site, www.bjpenn.com. "(It's) still tentative, but it looks like they want to do the fight again.

"So we'll see what's going on. (I) just wanted to give you guys a heads-up."

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) contacted multiple sources close to the fighters and was told nothing officially has been decided. In fact, one source suggested UFC officials are considering Penn as one of a few options that also include Maynard, who's the only fighter who owns a past win over Edgar.

In recent years, UFC officials has shied away from immediate title rematches. However, a very strong case could be made for Penn, who dropped a decision that was much closer than the scores (50-45, 48-47, 49-46) indicated. Additionally, the defeat was Penn's first at 155 pounds in eight years, and prior to the loss, UFC president Dana White suggested Penn was close to cleaning out the division following a string of impressive title defenses.

If the UFC does green light Edgar vs. Penn II, a No. 1 contender's bout between Florian and Maynard is certainly a possibility. Maynard hasn't competed since January, when he edged Nate Diaz via split decision to move to 9-0 (7-0 in the UFC). White stopped short of declaring Maynard the top contender after the UFC Fight Night 20 victory and instead awarded the title shot to Edgar.

On Monday Maynard told MMAjunkie.com he prefers to fight for the title now.

"If I get a chance to go for the belt, I don't care when it is," he said. "I'll keep training and whenever they tell me, that's fine."

Florian (13-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC), who's fallen shorts in past title bids against Sean Sherk and Penn, was hospitalized on Monday with a staph infection in his knee. His manager, Ron Weinberg, told MMAjunkie.com it was a precautionary and that they expect a quick and full recovery.

Since his loss to then-champ Penn in August at UFC 101, Florian has posted stoppage wins over Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi, and he owns eight wins in his past nine fights.

In any manner, with the UFC already announcing its upcoming schedule through UFC 115 in June, a decision regarding Edgar's first title defense could come soon. One possibility for the fight is an Aug. 28 event currently planned for Boston.

First Shogun/Machida now Penn/Edgar? Give me a break. I want Maynard vs. Edgar.

 

[Klide]

I could understand the Shogun/Machida fight but Penn always complains.

 

[phantomgerald]

Yeah Shogun rightfully won his fight but got robbed by the judges. Penn lost by a fucking unanimous decision for crying out loud. Even if one judge gave him the fight, he would still have lost!

 

[J...]

People should be fine with immediate rematches, it helps to prove that victories over the champ where not a fluke. Now BJ Penn is one hell of a fighter. Definitely a legend of his division and the way he fought out there at 112 was just not him. He's been the champ for a good amount of time let the guy have his rematch to prove Edgar winning wasn't a fluke. Champs who lose should get rematches more often.

 

[xtremebadass]

Immediate rematches clogs up divisions. It was always a "Once you lose, you get to the back of the line."

If UFC makes this a trend it is going to become boring. The classic series like Liddell/Couture never happened one right after another, that is what makes series of fights so special. They are spread apart which makes you look forward to the next meeting. Plus it really robs alot of fighters of the opportunity for the belt.

 

[J...]

Thats understandable but times are changing and as is UFC. Classic fueds were awesome but the whole back of the line thing could kick in once they get there rematch if they lose that way like I said fighters can prove it was or wasn't a fluke. Like back in the day when Serra beat GSP. If he had got a quick rematch it would have proven Serra's win was a fluke like everyone knew.

 

[phantomgerald]

I'm against it because it's hard for the other contenders. They might have won their way to the title fight but because the top 2 are always facing each other then the rest do not get a chance. He might get hurt in his next fight, or he can sit it out and he'll be not well prepared. Either way worthy guys will not get their chance.

 

[xtremebadass]

I was pretty pissed how Shogun got a rematch, I did think he deserved one, but I don't think it was right to give him one right away, but BJ getting a rematch? That is just pathetic.

Machia-Rua II has held up the LHW division big time. Hopefully once this rematch is over the winner of Rampage/Rashad can finally get their shot.

 

[xtremebadass]

Looks like they are actually going through with this shit. COME ON. Maynard vs. Florian too? That is a kick in the balls to Maynard.

Health permitting, Boston's UFC 118 could include Edgar vs. Penn II, Florian vs. Maynard
by Steven Marrocco on Apr 15, 2010 at 7:30 pm ET
The spearhead of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's first trip to Massachusetts is rapidly taking shape.

The promotion is already targeting co-headlining fights for an as-yet-unnamed pay-per-view event – potentially UFC 118 – expected to take place Aug. 29 at the TD Garden in Boston, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event.

A rematch between newly minted lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and the man he recently unseated, former champion B.J. Penn (15-6-1 MMA, 11-6-1 UFC), in under heavy consideration for the top spot.

Additionally, a No. 1 contender's match-up between top contenders Kenny Florian (13-4 MMA, 11-3 UFC) and Gray Maynard (9-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is expected to serve as the co-main event.

Multiple sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that while the promotion is far from issuing bout agreements, several of the fighters have agreed in principle to the match-ups.

However, health issues could affect the timing of the proposed fights, sources said. Florian, who today hinted at the match-up in a Boston Herald report, today was released from the hospital after a severe staph infection in his knee.

Edgar, too, was recently released from a New Jersey hospital for a staph infection he caught while in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for his title-winning turn at UFC 112 on April 10.

Maynard, who is on the mend from a recent knee surgery and had hoped for the next title shot, on Wednesday told MMAjunkie.com Radio that he welcomes a fight with Florian, though he said today that he has not officially been approached about the match-up.

"Hell yeah, that sounds good," Maynard said of the potential Florian bout. "Put my back in a corner. That's the way I like it."

This past November, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed into law a bill, versions of which were previously approved by the House and Senate, that calls for the Massachusetts State Boxing Commission to become the Massachusetts State Athletic Commission and oversee MMA events.

TD Garden, an indoor venue that is home to the NBA's Boston Celtics and NHL's Boston Bruins, has a maximum capacity of more than 19,000.

Stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com for updates on the potential UFC 118 as they become available.

And for all our coverage on UFC 118, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

 

[Kaptain KnicKy]

I agree that Penn doesn't really deserve an instant rematch. I mean he did just get outclassed at 112, whether it was his own fault or not. Florian, or more likely Maynard deserve the next show.

As for the Shogun/Machida I actually like the instant rematch. I understand XBA that it's clogging up the division, but it'll be good to watch. Shogun pretty much dominated Machida and was robbed (and yeh, I'm a Machida fan) so their rematch will be awesome.

Penn though, just gets his rematch because he's considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Urgh.

 

[NinoBrown]

Champs who lose should get rematches more often.

That sounds like Dave Batista logic.

BJ is just a sour that he lost. Give Maynard the title shot.

 

[phantomgerald]

Maynard/Florian isn't that bad either. We at least get to find out if Maynard can beat the best. If he can't get past Florian, he doesn't deserve the shot anyway.