Titleholder Penn  is returning to his more natural weight of 155lbs, having been dominated by Georges St Pierre at UFC 94 when he made the jump up to challenge for the welterweight crown.

The lightweight division is where Penn has done his best work inside the Octagon, having enjoyed one-sided victories over Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson and Sean Sherk in the last two years.

“For BJ Penn this is very important,” Rogan said. “He is coming off the devastating loss to Georges St Pierre where he was really owned in that fight.

“Georges controlled almost every aspect of the fight. He took him down at will, passed his guard, beat him up on the ground: it was really pretty much a one-sided affair.

“BJ belongs at 155lbs, that is the optimum weight class for him. That is where he is the lightweight king, that is where he has had his best fights.

“What is important to him now is to come back to lightweight and re-establish himself as the king of this division. To do that he is going to have to get past a very hungry, very talented and very determined Kenny Florian.”

Florian has chalked up six-straight victories since April 2007, when he was beaten by Sherk as they fought for the then-vacant lightweight title.

While other lightweight contenders have fallen by the wayside, Florian has remained patient, finally earning his title chance after a first-round submission victory over Stevenson at UFC 91, a victory that came quick off the back of another impressive win over the much-vaunted Roger Huerta just three months earlier.

“For Kenny Florian this is a tremendous opportunity,” says Rogan. “First of all, Kenny has improved dramatically from the first time we saw him in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

“If you watch the early fights that Kenny had, right when he came out of the Ultimate Fighter, he was basically a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guy with limited striking.

“He had a couple of elbows and kicks but nowhere near the technical ability that he has standing up now.

“All the work he has done with Mark DellaGrotte in Boston has really made a tremendous difference in his fighting style.

“The Joe Stevenson fight, Kenny just destroyed him; just attacked him, smashed him, got him to the ground and strangled him – and did it all very quickly.

“BJ Penn had a much harder time with Joe Stevenson than Kenny Florian did. Does that mean that Kenny Florian is going to be able to do that to BJ Penn? No, but it does mean that Kenny is a legitimate, dangerous contender for the lightweight title. In my opinion, the most dangerous guy to go against BJ.

“It is a real tough fight for BJ and a real tough fight for Kenny Florian. I think this is probably going to be BJ’s toughest test in defending his lightweight crown, and certainly the toughest fight of Kenny Florian’s career.”

So what do you Penn fans think ? No doubt Florian is going to be a dangerous opponent but I reckon this will be a terrific bout.  So, whom are you placing your money on ?

“Since the last fight Frank was talking crap on me, on Greg, his other coach, and said he’d actually forgot more jiu-jitsu than Brock’s ever learned and once he retired he wanted to be Brock’s coach…Brock said, ‘I’m not going to say anything because I don’t really know Frank but after my fists do the talking and I give him a beat down, I am going to give him a piece of my mind.’”

- Erik Paulson, trainer to Brock Lesnar, explaining the reason for Lesnar’s post-victory outburst against Frank Mir at UFC 100.

Comment Below and tell me if you think Brock was in the right do to this. Let me here your opinions!

Kenny Florian has been training with B.J Penn’s arch rival and pro claimed best pound for pound fighter in the world George St Pierre. Now If Kenny has being training with such great fighters like George St Pierre and let me tell you this George St Pierre will be teaching Kenny how he beat B.J Penn. Number 1# contender Kenny Florian talks on how he feels regarding his up coming bout against UFC Lightweight Champ B.J. Penn:

I’m not sure.  I’m not sure I really believe that you have to break B.J. mentally or make him quit.  I think the key is challenging every aspect of his game and making him make those little mistakes, those little errors.  People tend to look at B.J. like he’s this god and he doesn’t make mistakes, like you just can’t beat him on the technical level.  I feel you can beat him at the technical level.  In doing that, if he happens to fail physically or slow down, that’s going to be worse for him.  But I’m not expecting that.  If that happens then it will be a tough fight for him, for sure, but I’m expecting him to be ready to go hard for all five rounds.


Kenny Florian is very confident on going to war and beating B.J Penn, Just read this.

I think my overall game is going to be better than his.  I’m a more complete fighter.  I incorporate more of a complete striking game, whereas B.J.’s more of just a boxer.  But I have to go out and prove it on August 8.  I truly believe that I’m better everywhere and I’m a better conditioned athlete.  I feel like it’s going to be a tough fight, but I’m ready.  I’m ready for five rounds of hell.

Now after reading that Kenny Florian sounds like the Mike Tyson of MMA. This Kid is really going to have to put his money where his mouth is on August 8th, Because if B.J completely dominates Kenny Florian then hell this kid’s going to be embarrassed and humiliated. Furthermore if he beats B.J. Penn then hell, I’m an Idiot and I’ll stop writing MMA articles and personally say sorry to Kenny for being an asshole.

Anderson Silva is set to fight Forrest Griffin in a few days at UFC 101 on August 8th. This fight is going to be awesome and a bit of an advantage for Dan. Because if Forrest beats Anderson, Dan Henderson will find those wholes in Andersons game and take that opportunity and advantage and take out Silva and become the Title Holder at 185. Dan Henderson without a doubt will look back on a few tapes and see what he did wrong in the last fight and improve and fix them holes in his game. I think this fight will be awesome and it could either way at the minute I’m rooting for Dan to win because he’s an awesome guy and humble, Furthermore I think if Anderson walks into that right hand, It’s lights out.

But…We are talking about Anderson Silva here the best pound for pound fighter in the world. It’s not going to be an easy job to beat this guy, Dan’s going to have to work his ass off to overcome Anderson. Who do you guys and gals think will win this bout?

• Dana says they tried everything possible to get Fedor in the UFC and went above and beyond, the only thing they wouldn’t cave on is co-promotion.
• Dana White confirms that they have signed Vitor Belfort.  Belfort will fight Rich Franklin at UFC 103.
• A 3 year deal has been signed with ESPN UK.  Free, Hi-Def starting with UFC 101
• Tito Ortiz is officially back in the UFC.  Dana White says “Tito will retire in the UFC”
• Tito: “Time cures everything. Dana apologized to me….It was about competition…financially I’m ok…Dana stuck by his word.”
• Ortiz states that there was no one to fight if he went to Strikeforce and that he feels totally healthy.
• Tito is working with Freddie Roach and says he expects to fight in November or December.
• It is confirmed that Vitor vs. Franklin will be at light heavyweight (205 lbs)
• White confirms Tito’s first fight back could be against Mark Coleman and expects some ring rust.
• Dana says they are always working to complete a network deal but need “the right deal” which they don’t yet have.
• Tito says it was an offer he couldn’t refuse and you’ll never hear him complain about money again.
• Dana claims that Dan Henderson is next in line for a title shot at 185.
• Dana says the UFC is going to come to Japan and it “can’t be stopped”
• White says that no one wants to watch Mayweather vs. Marquez, they want to see Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.
• Dana says he has no interest in bringing back Tim Sylvia or Andrei Arlovski.

Great Conference if you ask me. Shame about Arlovski though wouldn’t of mind seeing him fight in the UFC, but Tim Sylvia your over, getting knocked out by Ray Mercer was the nail in the coffin for you sorry. That guy got beat by Kimbo Slice for Gods sake. Btw Dana @ Wearing an Affliction T-shirt Heh.

I respect Anderson for the people he’s beat and taken out easily but Is it a smart move moving up to 205 to fight former Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin? Probably not. In some points of views it could be because Anderson really wants to test him self but be prepared to go 3 rounds of hell with Forrest Griffin; Furthermore Forrest has great cardio and is willing to fight anybody and he’s not the person to knock you out but he will ware you down and when that time comes he will pounce and you and maul you to death.

This is going to be one interesting fight and I am more interested in this fight than the BJ Penn vs Kenny Florian main event fight. Many people who go against Anderson Silva are scared because Anderson is a great fighter and when that time comes he will Knock you out or beat every part of your body down. Forrest Griffin Said:

You know what the difference is between me and everybody else who fights Anderson Silva? I know I can beat him.

Forrest is one humble guy and I am having to lean towards Forrest on this fight, It’s going to be a crazy fight and hopefully a great fight for the fans.