UFC NEWS: B.J. Penn believes he'll fight at lightweight again eventually

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

PennBJArtCRG_150_76.jpg

UFC President Dana White said this week that the winner of the UFC 127 main event between B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch would be the "number one guy" to challenge for the UFC Welterweight Championship.

However, though another shot at the UFC Welterweight Title may be in line for him, B.J. Penn still believes his future includes a return to the lightweight division.

There was some doubt about that with comments he made on Tuesday's conference call, though. Penn discussed his displeasure with making the cut to 155 lbs., but did say, when asked if he would never fight at lightweight again, that "Dana wouldn't let that happen."

The comments were construed in some reports to mean he had no plans on going back, but Penn clarified his statements on BJPenn.com this week.

"I just wanted to address something real quick. [Tuesday on the conference call] one of the reporters asked me if I was done fighting at 155 pounds and I said, 'Dana wouldn?t let that happen.' I definitely believe that I?ll be fighting at 155 pounds again. So maybe I was a little miss quoted or maybe the quote came out wrong. But that?s not really important, what?s important is taking on Jon Fitch in Australia. He?s been the man for a long time at welterweight and that?s it, that's the plan."

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: Penn will make his way back to the lightweight division, but I hope he doesn't continue to hop around. I'd like to see him make a run in one division and stick with it, but B.J. is going to do what B.J. is going to do. If he beats Fitch, he should stay at welterweight and go for a title shot. If he loses, a move back to lightweight could still give him a lot of entertaining matchups. Either way, a B.J. Penn fight will always drive interest, and hopefully he just continues to fight for a while.

[B.J. Penn art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_8514.shtml

Genki Sudo Amar Suloev Mike Swick Takashi Sugiura

Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin embroiled in a Twitter War

While both men have already fought against each other twice over, it looks like there’s still some beef cooking between former light heavyweight champions Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin. Recently, the fan-favorite Forrest took to Twitter to release some of his quick jabs that have made him one of the leading men in the business, and [...]

Source: http://www.fighters.com/02/20/tito-ortiz-and-forrest-griffin-embroiled-in-a-twitter-war

Masanori Suda Genki Sudo Amar Suloev Mike Swick

Kharitonov KOs Arlovski, moves to Strikeforce Grand Prix semis

Sergei Kharitonov earned the first semifinal berth in the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix, knocking out Andrei Arlovski at 2:49 in the first round of their bout in New Jersey on Saturday. 

Arlovski, a crowd favorite, started strong with a flurry of strikes and kicks. He had good movement early, avoiding Kharitonov's strikes. But it turned bad for Arlovski when Kharitonov used the clinch to work inside, then landed a knee, an uppercut and knocked him to the the ground with a short right jab. Kharitonov finished the bout with a strike on the ground, knocking Arlovski out cold.

This is Arlovski's fourth loss in a row, with three of them first-round knockouts. He was once the UFC heavyweight champion, but now is in a precarious point in his career with a record of 15-9. 

Kharitonov, who made his name in the Pride Fighting Championships, laughed off the suggestion that he is a darkhorse in this tournament.

"I don't care what the experts say. I'm going to win this tournament."

He will now face the winner of Josh Barnett and Brett Rogers. Those two will face off in April. 

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Kharitonov-KOs-Arlovski-moves-to-Strikeforce-Gr?urn=mma-320601

Josh Hendricks Ed Herman Heath Herring Branden Lee Hinkle

BAMMA 5 To Stream As Online PPV

<B>By MATT MOLGAARD<BR> MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer</B><BR><BR> The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts fifth event, scheduled for February 26th will stream on the promotions website in the form of an online pay-per-view showcase.<BR><BR> The event, which takes place in Manchester, England boasts a stacked undercard, and an intriguing main event which pits the popular Paul ?Semtex? Daley, who will toe the line with DEEP veteran Yuya Shirai.<BR><BR> Daley sports a professional record of 26-9-2. Since his untimely departure from the UFC Daley has won three consecutive fights, including a knockout over the durable Scott Smith, and a convincing decision victory over the always dangerous Jorge Masvidal.<BR><BR> Yuya Shirai brings a 20-8 record into the bout. The Japanese welterweight is currently riding a five fight win streak. Victories over Che Mills, Yoon Young Kim and Jae Suk Lim anchor Shirai?s resume.<BR><BR> Also appearing on the card is a handful of quality opponents and UFC castaways. Included in the lineup are Ricco Rodriguez, James McSweeney and Xavier Foupa-Pokam.<BR><BR> ?We?ve been looking at international streaming for some time and it makes total sense to kick this off with BAMMA 5,? BAMMA Vice President of Business Development Liam Fisher stated in a current press release. ?Paul Daley-Yuya Shirai is one of the most internationally significant MMA fights so far this year and bridges together three different MMA promotions. It would be a crime to not show this fight around the world,? Fisher concluded.<BR><BR> Check out the full card below, and be sure to stream the event online February 26th at www.bammatv.com for just $10. $5 repeat screenings will also be available post live stream. In addition, $12 will secure viewers access to the live stream and one week of unlimited on demand access.<BR><BR> Ricco Rodriguez vs. James McSweeney<BR> Alex Makhonin vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam<BR> John Phillips vs. Jean-Francois Lenogue<BR> Daniel Thomas vs. A.J. Wenn<BR> Lee Barnes vs. Mohsen Bahari<BR> Rob Mills vs. Lee Cohoon<BR> Jason Ball vs. Peter Duncan<BR> Paul Cook vs. Tom Maguire<BR> Tim Newman vs. Diego Vital<BR> Costas Doru vs. Liam James<BR> Frankie Slater vs. Jeremy Petley<BR><BR>

Source: http://www.mmanews.com/home.php

Stephan Bonnar Lorenzo Borgomeo  Kyle Bradley  Jai Bradney 

Best KO at Strikeforce could come from Johnson vs. Del Rosario

Fedor Emelianenko is the show at tomorrow's Strikeforce card in New Jersey, but the slate is deep with what should be nasty heavyweight throwdowns. It's hard to see the alternate bout, with Shane del Rosario and Lavar Johnson, going the distance. Both have dangerous standup games with good finishing power. 

A laid back Johnson (15-3) spoke with the Strikeforce video department and said he's going for the kill. That's no different than any other fight for Johnson, who has 13 KO's in 15 wins. He's also won seven straight, with only one going to the second round.

Del Rosario is a more polished striker and has awesome kicks in his arsenal, but if he gets suckered into a firefight it could be a quick night. Johnson does get sloppy and is easy to hit. If del Rosario fights with a composed approach he should be able to get the win.

With the risk of injury and other political matchmaking snafus there's a solid shot the winner of this fight somehow sneaks into main field of the Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix.

The tournament has a sort of wild card feature. A five-person committee will decide which alternate winner would be slotted in the first opening.  Two veterans, Valentijn Overeem and Ray Sefo square off in the other bout (Showtime 10 p.m. ET/PT).

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Best-KO-at-Strikeforce-could-come-from-Johnson-v?urn=mma-320310

Dan The Sandman Christison  Logan The Pink Pounder Clark  Steve The Snake Claveau  Rich No Love Clementi 

Twitter Mailbag: Fedor's Future, Anderson Silva's Long Wait and More

Filed under: ,

It's time again for that peculiar invention of the modern world: the Twitter mailbag.

Though it involves neither mail nor a bag, the quips and questions sent to me @BenFowlkesMMA never fail to yield interesting queries about Fedor, Anderson Silva, dream superfights and announce teams, and one or two jabs at me personally.

Who wants to go first?

@JasonRule Does the contender title enhance-add any weight to the Penn v Fitch fight? Is there a demand to see either face GSP again?

Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/18/twitter-mailbag-fedors-future-anderson-silvas-long-wait-and/

Trevor Prangley Daniel Puder Jens Pulver Mike Pyle