UFC 107 Analysis And Prediction For The BJ Penn Versus Diego Sanchez Fight
Without a doubt, BJ "The Prodigy" Penn is the foremost 155 pound on earth. There isn't one inch the division that can touch him. Most 155 pound fighters can't even touch him BUT Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez is not a 155 pound fighter.
It may be surprising to many that you'd choose Diego Sanchez to conquer BJ Penn but he's issues with bigger fighters and he's got difficulties with fighters that they like to press the action. That along with the +220 online sports betting odds, leads me to put my funds on the underdog in this fight.
Diego is a slightly better wrestling and he's got better striking. The real determining element in why he'll almost certainly win this fight is pace. Diego Sanchez will push the pace with the fight and he will pressure the fights. BJ Penn would rather control his ufc fights when a fighter takes control of the pace they are able to dictate and beat BJ.
Also BJ Penn has difficulties with fighters that are bigger and stronger than him. Penn lost to Georges St Pierre twice because GSP was bigger anf the husband pushed the pace in the fight. Penn lost to Matt Hughes because he has not been fit and close to the end in the fight Hughes pushed the pace and that he was a bigger fighter.
Diego Sanchez is really a big 155 pound fighter. He is normally a welterweight fighter and can even fight at middleweight if he desired to. He will cut a great deal of weigh being received by this fight and after his weight cut, Sanchez will most likely be at 170 pounds fight day. He will probably be a lot larger plus much more powerful fighter anf the husband will pose Penn some problems as a consequence of Diego's size.
Size can play big role on this fight, sboarena and Penn has not succeeded in doing so well with fighters which might be bigger than him. BJ dominates same size fighters like he did with Kenny Florian and Sean Sherk. But remember Sanchez could be the bigger fighter and that is often a major factor when fighting BJ Penn.
Diego is often a fighter that is always fit and that he will pressure Penn right after the fight starts. He is going to be capable to back Penn track of his aggressive pressure and confuse him along with his strikes and kicks. After the initial two rounds Penn will probably be exhausted continuing to keep track of Diego's' pace. When Penn fought Matt Hughes the other time he was dominating him but by round 3 he was from gas and Hughes turned it. His last fight with St Pierre he was getting thrown off his game through round 4 he couldn't continue. If Diego can push the pace he'll almost certainly tire out Penn and go ahead and take fight inside the latter rounds.
While most of the people need a decade or maybe more becoming a black belt, Penn got his black belt with only 36 months of training. BJ Penn is renowned for his jiu-jitsu but if you peer at his record in MMA he wins all his fights by rear naked choke. Now if you breakdown his grappling game he dominates the grappling game while he is equal in weight. If Diego Sanchez were a similar size and weight he almost certainly would dominate the battle.
However, Diego is not any slouch on a lawn. His no gi game is superb and possesses even competed in the ADCC 2005 Absolute Division championships. The Abu Dhabi is the most prestigious grapping tournament on earth which is something BJ Penn has never competed in before. Diego won his first fight with the ADCC and lost his second fight to Marcelo Garcia who's thought to be one from the best grapplers on the globe. That was when Diego never even competed using a gi before. In 2005, Sanchez wrestled for his high school in New Mexico before starting training MMA with Greg Jackson at Jackson's Submission Fighting that's considered to be the very best MMA trainer on the planet. Despite never using a gi in grappling Diego features a very tight grappling game.
Striking wise you have to give you a slight edge to Diego. Diego can have the reach and power advantage in the striking. He will likely be the bigger fighter and he can push off and jab his punches so BJ Penn will not likely to go into close. Technically BJ Penn is really a better striker with better fundamentals but he'll almost certainly be mistaken for the sheer amount of strikes and the reach.
Bottom Line: Remember Diego Sanchez was obviously a format member of the Greg Jackson team and Jackson was inside the corner when GSP fought Penn so Sanchez will fight a similar fight that St Pierre fought. Sanchez will be prepared for this fight and that he will shock many.
I love the fact Sanchez could be the bigger, stronger plus much more aggressive fighter. These are the three factors that BJ Penn has troubles with in fighters. UFC sports betting wise the +220 betting likelihood is perfect and I would lay a tiny amount about the money line for Diego to win this fight. I don't think Diego has the power to knock out Penn or even the grappling skill to sub him but he's hold the power and strength to win the stand and get the take down points.
He also has the skill in top position to have effective ground and pound. If he's in Penn's guard, he'll almost certainly perform the very same thing GSP did and employ his size and capability to punish Penn. The Ribeiro brothers can have him the best way to fight effectively within the guard. If Diego stays inside top position he can control the floor game. If Penn is to it will be over. However, Penn could have trouble getting top position or taking Diego's back since he may be the bigger stronger fighter.
I do believe Diego does not hold the skills to beat Penn but she has the stamina and capability to hurt Penn and convey this fight late in to the rounds. By the time Penn hits the forth round he'll be gassed that is certainly when Sanchez will take over. The best bet would be to bet for the UFC prop bet for Diego to win by decision. He will hurt and confuse Penn along with his strikes and kicks. BJ is not going to be capable of close the length as he could be the smaller fighter. BJ Penn includes a lot to appear out for on this fight like strikes, kicks, takedowns along with the ground and pound while Sanchez only has to stress not giving up his back or just being about the bottom.
Look for Diego Sanchez to be the New UFC Lightweight Champion which has a Split Decision
Written by Stan Leung and presented by .