It’s a quick way to build up a fighter already under contract. Whether the winner of the tournament is an equal match for Arlovski is another issue, but at least there is a recently established track record and recognition for the challenger. — Andrew
The era of single-day multi-fight tournaments is thankfully dying in the U.S. I hear where you’re coming from. Tournaments could provide the UFC a way to produce interesting challengers in any of its divisions. But I just can’t see how a company that loves to say it ran to regulation could ever justify making athletes fight more than once an evening.
I like your idea Andrew, just spread it out over several events.
155 of 170: Where Does B.J. Go From Here?
You said in your article on Sherdog quote: "It's unknown where we'll see Penn next. But, for the sake of his career it should be at 170 and soon.” Did you mean 155? Kindest Regards — John Sullivan
I meant 170. Don't see any way B.J. can make 155. The comment was based on talk that Penn would move up in weight. At this point, that seems crazy, doesn’t it?
More Penn Talk
"Penn’s failure is also evidence of this. His two-year out-of-the-UFC soul searching has, in the end, hurt him. Fighting in divisions two, sometimes three times above his competitive weight surely didn’t help. Neither did fighting less than world-class opposition.
It’s unknown where we’ll see Penn next. But, for the sake of his career, it should be at 170 and soon."
I read your article, and I was wondering how fighting Rodrigo/Renzo Gracie (Pictures), Duane Ludwig (Pictures), Matt Hughes (Pictures) and Takanori Gomi (Pictures) in the last three years is fighting less than world class opposition. OK Renzo is washed up, but the rest I mean … the guy lost to a great fighter and in Japan he probably would of won this fight. Pierre took Penn down a few times but by no means dominated. He just did more and by UFC rules that’s the most important thing. Penn stood up whenever he wanted too and was controlling on the ground after being taken down. I mean he didn't get robbed because those are UFC rules, but he wasn't exactly outclassed. I think I take issue with that you making it sound like Penn is washed up or his career is in trouble or something because he lost by lame rules to one of the best fighters in the world. — John Miceli
I wrote it was the last two — not three — years that affected Penn during the St. Pierre fight.
This is not the same man who defeated Takanori Gomi (Pictures) and Matt Hughes (Pictures). This is the Penn who blew up in weight to lose a snoozer against Ryoto Machida (Pictures) and then struggled with Renzo Gracie (Pictures) (loser of five of six heading into the Penn fight).
The Hawaiian is talented beyond comprehension and because of this it appears he’s easily bored. If a loss to St. Pierre doesn’t motivate B.J., nothing will.
Penn’s standing as a fighter, which at one time was the most promising in MMA, is in trouble if he doesn’t change quickly.
Longer Fights, Longer Rest
I was wondering about when you said you think championship fights should be seven rounds. You said if boxers can go 36 minutes why can't UFC fighters go 35. The boxers only have three-minute rounds and a total of 11 minutes of rest, so they could be fresh and ready for more action. UFC fighters would only get six minutes of rest in a seven-round fight. The action would be slowed. I know PRIDE has long rounds and they do good, but I feel the excitement can be somewhat lacking. Do you think it would be a good idea if they got an extra 15 to 30 seconds to recover? — Freddy Kalligen
Sure, give ‘em an extra half-minute between rounds. Good call, Freddy.