Penn vs. MacDonald

This is the official discussion thread for Penn vs. MacDonald. Let's see what you've got.

UFC Tonight ‏@UFCTonight

"I don't think he should retire. I think he is great at 155 - maybe a fight against Showtime Pettis?" Kenny on BJ Penn.

His only future is at lw but that spends on whether his discipline will extend to smaller name fights. If he doesn't see the incentive, he won't commit I don't think.

@Gregory  I understand.  But he could have adjusted his tactics.  When he started to sustain too much incoming, he could have reverted to the tactics that Condit used against Diaz.  Kick and run.  He should have used kicks to hold off MacDonald, keep him at bay.

Too many shots made his gas tank shrivel really fast and he needed to get on his bicycle and stay mobile.  The last thing he should have done was stand in the pocket and trade striking.  He might have also considered more clinching.  If Rory then threw him to the ground, it would have worked better than standing.  

Rory would not be able to land better punches from BJ's guard than on their feet.  It would have given Penn a chance to regroup, try submissions.  

What he did, stay on his feet, was the worst strategy possible.

@bill I think it's easier said then done. BJ did go for takedowns which I thought was a smart move but the problem is when fighting someone as well rounded as Rory is you don't get to decide where the fight goes. No matter what BJ wanted to do, Rory was going to make BJ fight his fight.

@Bill ... he couldn't kick and run for two main reasons:

1. He's not really known for his grade A kicking.
2. Rory was cutting the ring properly, he didn't mindlessly go forward like Diaz, thus making it harder to find somewhere to run.

Plus, if Rory had taken him down believe me BJ would have been pounded much harder than he was on the feet, lucky for him Rory was landing some great **** standing up so he didn't feel the need to take it to the ground.

No strategy you can come up with would have helped BJ beat Rory. He's better and bigger than him in every aspect of the game.

I hear you guys.  I kind of agree with both of you.  Seems like BJ's problems started when he accepted the fight in the first place.  I personally was shocked he would choose to tangle with someone like Rory!  I thought it was a terrible idea for him!

But I am naive and believe that there is a solution for every problem.  In MMA, technique can nullify power.  But in this case, Rory had great technique, too.  

Case in point.  When Ali fought George Foreman, the most powerful puncher ever, Ali was too old to dance on his bicycle for 15 rounds.  So, his strategy was to lean against the ropes and let Foreman punch himself out.  After George punched himself out, Ali then went on the attack, and won the fight.

But BJ should not be in WW, so all this is moot.

I think that B.J. truly believes that all he has to do is show up and he can beat anyone in the world, even though this has proven not to be so on several occasions.  

"Case in point.  When Ali fought George Foreman, the most powerful puncher ever, Ali was too old to dance on his bicycle for 15 rounds.  So, his strategy was to lean against the ropes and let Foreman punch himself out.  After George punched himself out, Ali then went on the attack, and won the fight."




To old?  Ali was only 32.  It had nothing to do with age. Foreman would not allow him to dance around and was beating him in open space. So ali was forced to fight against the ropes.  In all honesty Ali likely could not have ebaten Foreman in a re match. Also the only reason his strategy even worked was because the ropes were looser then normal.