UFC 112: BJ Penn - “The Dominating Prodigy”

BJ Penn faces Frankie Edgar at UFC 112 on Saturday night

> Don't miss our UFC 112 predictions and find the official UFC 112 fight results after the fights are complete here at Pro Fighting Fans!

UFC lightweight champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn (15-5-1 MMA / 11-4-1 UFC) will enter the octagon once again this Saturday at UFC 112 taking on new #1 contender Frankie Edgar for the 155 lb. title. Not much has changed for Penn, one of the most dominant lightweights of all-time, as he enters the fight a significant 6-to-1 favorite to leave Abu Dhabi as the lightweight kingpin.

Find great unique MMA t-shirts & clothing online from Intimidation Clothing!

The challenger, Edgar, comes into his first title fight on the strength of a three-fight win streak. His most recent bout was in December, a submission victory over the extremely tough Matt Veach halfway through the 2nd round. The New Jersey native joined the UFC ranks in February 2007 with a 5-0 record. Three years after entering the octagon for the first time, Edgar is a legitimate challenger for the lightweight belt.

“The Prodigy” comes in as one of the few fighters in the UFC who is as dangerous on the ground as he is on his feet. Penn has won five of his last six including back-to-back fights at UFC 101 in August and UFC 107 in December. At UFC 101, Penn dominated Kenny Florian on the ground and finished him late in the 4th round via rear naked choke submission. In his most recent bout at UFC 107, it was a one-sided thumping by Penn over Diego Sanchez. BJ demonstrated his top-notch boxing skills in picking apart Sanchez and finally putting him away midway through the final round via TKO.

The “Edgar vs. Penn” matchup looks similar to the previously mentioned bouts between “Penn vs. Florian” and “Penn vs. Sanchez.” Edgar is an excellent wrestler with solid boxing, above average power, adequate kicks, and a heart that will not stop; much like that of both Florian and Sanchez. With that in mind, what chance could Edgar have against the champion who finishes lightweight contenders with ease?

Penn will be favored no matter where the fight goes, the only chance that many believe Edgar has, is to unload and connect on a perfectly timed right hand. Even if the punch lands, it is not a guarantee that Penn will go down or stay down. He has an iron chin that has been tested on more than one occasion.

> Look to Pro Fighting Fans for the official UFC 112 results after the fights are complete and check out the expanded selection of UFC clothing & merchandise available online!

It is clear that Penn is cleaning out the lightweight division, and, with a decisive victory over Edgar bigger challenges are ahead for the champ. Perhaps the challenges are not as a 155-pounder, instead, they may be in the welterweight division where Georges St-Pierre is cleaning out a division of contenders of his own. It is obvious that Penn needs bigger challenges at this stage in his career, and as the rumors circulate about a step up in weight, Edgar could throw a wrench in those plans. Let’s allow Penn to take care of business in his UFC 112 co-main event before we declare him the next suitor for the welterweight belt as well.

By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer