The Worst BJ Ever?
I woke up this morning and the first thing to pop in my mind, was the thought that last night might have been the worst BJ I have ever experienced. When he lost to Farnkie Edgar at UFC 112 in Abu Dabi, there was at least some argument about the outcome. Edgar looked faster than BJ, nothing more. At 118, Edgar looked better everywhere. He took BJ down with aplomb and in a fashion no one, at any weight, has done before. He controlled the striking again with his speed and footwork mush like he did in Abu Dabi, only this time he also landed the more meaningful shots, too.
Last Night’s BJ was atrocious. It was a tooth-scraping, tip biting affair. Penn looked slower than ever before and couldn’t muster any potent offense, even when he found himself in top control, a place where he has been unstoppable in recent years. During the introductions, Penn already looked outside of himself. He stood stiff and stoic, looking more like a wax figure of himself than a former champion and pound for pound great. If he was ever in the fight, it was but a fleeting moment or two. Otherwise, he appeared resigned to his fate, almost from the star.
It hurst me to get a BJ like this. He has been my personal favorite for as long as I have been watching MMA. His performance at UFC 118 was the worst I have ever seen him. But more to the point, it was the best Frankie Edgar anyone has ever seen. No more whining, no more excuses. No speculation about Penn being sick or injured. He got beat-and soundly at that. Last night’s BJ left me and most everyone feeling a little bit fucked.
