Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

[Phillmattic]

http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/04/13/b-j-penn-i-think-a-rematch-is-in-the-works/

Three days after he lost the UFC lightweight title to Frankie Edgar at UFC 112, B.J. Penn said he believes he'll get an immediate rematch with Edgar, and that he'll be fighting for an opportunity to get the belt back within the next two months.

"The UFC contacted us yesterday, and I think they want to put a rematch together, so I think a rematch is in the works," Penn said Tuesday morning in an interview with 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C.

Asked when that rematch would take place, Penn indicated that he thinks he, Edgar and the UFC are all prepared to do it quickly.

"I think the next three months, four months at the most," Penn said.

The three or four month range would indicate that Penn vs. Edgar 2 could be the main event at the UFC's tentatively scheduled August 28 pay-per-view show in Boston. If the UFC really wants to give fans a great fight for free, it could also possibly be the main event of the August 1 Versus show in Oakland, although it's a long shot that a title fight would be carried live on basic cable.

But whenever the fight happens, all indications are that Penn will get an immediate rematch, and it's a rematch that makes a lot of sense. Although all three judges gave the fight to Edgar, many observers thought Penn should have won the decision. And the UFC just doesn't have a lot of big-name lightweights who could carry a main event against Edgar. From a competitive standpoint, it's probably not fair to Gray Maynard, who is undefeated and already has a win over Edgar, to make him wait for a title shot. But from a business standpoint, Penn getting an immediate rematch is the right call.

BJ's Trainer Rudy Valentino also stating that Penn was battling a sinus infection going in to the bout.

http://www.cagepotato.com/exclusive-bj-penns-trainer-talks-edgar-fight-says-penn-was-battling-sinus-infection

One judge scored every round for Edgar but what I saw in the fight when I was watching it, and I haven’t watched it again on tape, but watching it as it happened, I felt that BJ won the first three rounds. The fourth round was even and I think he lost the last round. So I feel BJ won the fight. He was also battling a sinus infection and was on antibiotics, so he was not one hundred percent. I’m not making any excuses, that is just what happened. I didn’t see him lose that fight but I did see him lose the last round. As for effectiveness of punches, I thought BJ had it. Frankie got two takedowns but BJ got up real fast and nothing happened on the ground there, so I don’t know if they could score the fight based on those two takedowns.

Sorry Gray... If this does indeed happen, you may not even get a title shot against an opponent you've already beat, then you may end up fighting Kenny Florian. No too good for you.

[Gibbz]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

I was hoping B.J. wouldn't get an immediate rematch.

Determined by another crack at Edgar I think Penn would finish him. I can't see Edgar successfully defending against Penn or Florian.

[DueceDiggla]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

I don't see anyone else who is more deserving of the fight. Florian maybe, but he already had a title shot less then a year ago.

Maynard doesn't deserve it either. He's begging Dana for the fight now, but he had no problem letting Edgar fight for the belt when BJ had it.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

I'd much rather just have BJ in an immediate rematch.

112 really didn't determine much, not saying BJ won, but like DD said, it just makes the most sense.

Since it was close in my eyes, might as well have them go at it again with nobody else that screams of a deserving shot.

[Beantown]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

Since it was close in my eyes, might as well have them go at it again with nobody else that screams of a deserving shot.

Pretty much how I view it as well.

[Sandman42]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

I have no problem with it. It was a really close fight and I've seen some places like Fight Metric giving the fight to Penn because he outstruck Edgar in 3 rounds.

[The Chef]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

I'd much rather just have BJ in an immediate rematch.

112 really didn't determine much, not saying BJ won, but like DD said, it just makes the most sense.

Since it was close in my eyes, might as well have them go at it again with nobody else that screams of a deserving shot.

Agree completely. While I was more then willing to give Edgar the close win there are a few different websites that saw things differently. MMAweekly.com scored it a draw, another website gave Penn a 48-47 win so I can definitely see why they would just give him a rematch right away.

[Anaxamander]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

I have no problems running this one back, as long as they promise not to put Silva and Maia in the ring together again.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

Not a fan of it.

Undermines Edgar's win; and if Florian shouldn't have one because he just did, then shouldn't BJ have to work his way back up since he's just had several title fights and lost his last one?

Florian's earned another shot, and Maynard has earned one too. Florian just beat the guy Dana brought in to fight Penn, and Maynard has had a good streak. One of those two should get a shot.

Put one of those two up against them first and make Penn fight someone else to earn his shot at getting the title back.

[Phillmattic]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

Not a fan of it.

Undermines Edgar's win; and if Florian shouldn't have one because he just did, then shouldn't BJ have to work his way back up since he's just had several title fights and lost his last one?

Florian's earned another shot, and Maynard has earned one too. Florian just beat the guy Dana brought in to fight Penn, and Maynard has had a good streak. One of those two should get a shot.

Put one of those two up against them first and make Penn fight someone else to earn his shot at getting the title back.

I agree that it does undermine Edgar's win. Although this could be really big for Edgar also, he's going to be considered pretty legit if he can be the lightweight to beat BJ Penn twice in a row.

UFC doesn't feel like Gray is ready for a title shot, I think a fight with Kenny Florian will prove that he's not.

[nyj721]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

I don't like BJ getting an immediate shot either. Maybe BJ vs Maynard just to show whether Maynards ready or not and Edgar vs KenFlo for the title. If they do have BJ vs Edgar 2, they should do KenFlo vs Maynard.

[goh]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

it could also possibly be the main event of the August 1 Versus show in Oakland, although it's a long shot that a title fight would be carried live on basic cable.

That could be the make up Dana said he'd provide. It'd also probably get lots of people to tune in with it being a title fight.

[The Chef]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

Not a fan of it.

Undermines Edgar's win; and if Florian shouldn't have one because he just did, then shouldn't BJ have to work his way back up since he's just had several title fights and lost his last one?

Florian's earned another shot, and Maynard has earned one too. Florian just beat the guy Dana brought in to fight Penn, and Maynard has had a good streak. One of those two should get a shot.

Put one of those two up against them first and make Penn fight someone else to earn his shot at getting the title back.

How has Florian earned another shot exactly? He beat Guida and Gomi, but its hard to judge the Gomi win as many fighters have come here and turned to **** in the octagon. If anyone deserves a title shot, outside of a Penn rematch, its Maynard as atleast he can say that he beat Frankie previously.

Obviously Ive got no problem with Penn getting a rematch as it was considered an extremely close fight by many, and there are more then just a few people out there that feel Penn won or at the very least it was a draw. Its not like this is the first time this has happened, Arlovski dropped his belt in a clean fight with Sylvia and had a rematch not even 3 months later. The only argument I agree with though is for Maynard, but if they give Maynard a shot then what do they do with Penn? A fight with Florian makes next to no sense so its either Maynard or Penn imo.

[DJ]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

MC, I don't see how this undermines Edgar's win at all. If anything, it speaks to the lack of top-tier guys in the LW Division.

You can't give the shot to anyone else, really. Florian got beat down by Penn and Maynard hasn't fought any top-level guys with the exception of Edgar (and that was over 2 years ago) so I think Penn is the only logical solution, especially since the first fight was close.

Florian-Maynard is a great No. 1 contender's match, though. Whoever wins that fight gets the winner of Penn-Edgar II.

Seeing these immediate rematches is good, although it does make me mad that Rampage didn't get an immediate rematch against Griffin after their fight. That was a super-close fight and a lot of people thought Rampage won, yet Rashad got the next shot at the belt.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: Rumor: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar Rematch In The Works

MC, I don't see how this undermines Edgar's win at all. If anything, it speaks to the lack of top-tier guys in the LW Division.

You can't give the shot to anyone else, really. Florian got beat down by Penn and Maynard hasn't fought any top-level guys with the exception of Edgar (and that was over 2 years ago) so I think Penn is the only logical solution, especially since the first fight was close.

Florian-Maynard is a great No. 1 contender's match, though. Whoever wins that fight gets the winner of Penn-Edgar II.

Seeing these immediate rematches is good, although it does make me mad that Rampage didn't get an immediate rematch against Griffin after their fight. That was a super-close fight and a lot of people thought Rampage won, yet Rashad got the next shot at the belt.

It says - congratulations, Edgar. But you didn't really do all that great and we think Penn will just beat you down as he's the the real UFC LW champ.

Hell - even GSP had to fight Hughes to get a shot at Serra again. There are other guys who deserve title shots. Don't make them wait twice as long as they should so that they can get Penn the title back so they can keep marketing him.