 |
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
It's that time again, time to break down the reactions from MMA fans via the polls run at MMATorch.com this week. We've got a lot of fallout from UFC on Fox 5 to take a look at this week, and we'll start with reader reaction to B.J. Penn's loss to Rory MacDonald.
Given the one-sided nature of the loss last Saturday night, it's been reasonable to question the future of "The Prodigy," so we asked our readers whether or not they felt it was time for Penn to retire for good. After all, he had retired following the loss to Nick Diaz, which was arguably less of a beating than he sustained against MacDonald last week.
So it's no surprise that 66% of responders were in that camp. That contingent believes that Penn's time as an elite fighter is done and over with, and that it's time for him to walk away. The other 34% think that he can and should continue fighting, because he's B.J. Penn, and he can do what he pleases.
It's a tricky spot for Penn and for MMA fans. He's clearly not among the top welterweights right now, and the one-sided nature of the MacDonald and Diaz fights attest to that. He's only won one out of his last six fights, and that was a knockout against the shell of Matt Hughes at the end of 2010.
But despite those negatives, there's still a nagging sense that he could be a competitor in the lightweight division. However, that's contingent on him not only being able to make the weight, but being willing to try that again.
I don't want to see him return if it's at welterweight. There's nothing there for him. The win over Hughes seems more and more like an aberration the further we get from it, and there's no need to see him get beat up by younger, stronger, faster fighters right now. But if he tries to come back at lightweight, I'd at least be interested in seeing what he could do. Given that I don't believe he'll want to put the work in to get back to 155, I think it's probably best he walk away.
We had another poll this week concerning Penn's opponent, Rory MacDonald. After defeating Penn, MacDonald called out Carlos Condit for a rematch of a fight from 2010, and that fight came together this week for March's UFC 158 card.
Prior to it being confirmed, though, we asked fans whether they felt MacDonald would avenge his only career loss, or whether Condit would beat him a second time. The results were quite close, with 48% in favor of Condit, and 52% believing the younger MacDonald would get his vengeance.
One of the reasons this fight is so fascinating is the two and half years MacDonald has had to improve since the first matchup. He was only 20 years old when they first fought, and he's gotten much better since then.
He's evolved his striking game, and his grappling game is still very good as well. He'll be a big challenge for Condit, who wants to bounce back from a loss to GSP at UFC 154. At this stage, I think either result is very possible, but I have to believe MacDonald is the more improved since their first fight. We'll find out one way or another in March, and I can't wait to see it.
Moving on to the UFC's lightweight division in the wake of last week's event. Ben Henderson's one-sided decision win over Nate Diaz marked a successful title defense, and he's awaiting a clear challenger to emerge early next year to set up his next fight. So we asked MMATorch readers who should get that fight.
The three clearest options are the Anthony Pettis-Donald Cerrone winner from next month's UFC on Fox 6 card in Chicago, and Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez, who is expected to come to the UFC early next year as well.
A majority of voters are in the Anthony Pettis camp, with 56% believing he should get the shot if he beats Cerrone. Only 11% believe Cerrone should get that same nod if he beats Pettis, but 32% are in favor of Melendez getting that fight.
I'm firmly in the Anthony Pettis camp in this conversation, and if he defeats Cerrone that rematch with Henderson has to happen next. However, if he should lose to Cerrone, I'd put Melendez in that fight over Cerrone. Henderson's likely to return by April or May of 2013, so we'll see one of these fighters get their opportunity at UFC gold by then.
(Attention MMATorch app users: Make sure to upgrade to the latest edition of the MMATorch app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device!)
-Follow Us on Twitter: CLICK HERE
-Like Us on Facebook: CLICK HERE
-Listen to our Weekly Podcast: CLICK HERE
-Subscribe to our Podcast in iTunes: CLICK HERE
-Get our Free iPhone App: CLICK HERE
-Get our Free Amazon Kindle App: CLICK HERE
-Get our Free Android App: CLICK HERE
Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/penickstake/article_15345.shtml
Joe Doerksen Chris Dolman Edson Drago Tomasz Drwal Joe Hybrid Duarte
No comments:
Post a Comment