The Significance of Penn vs. St. Pierre II

There is something significant about the possibility of having the first UFC champion in two weight classes in B.J. Penn, but there is something more important about this fight, a fight that has been brewing for a long time, and has been a major topic on discussion boards since the end of their last fight.

The end of Penn vs. St. Pierre Part I was so indecisive, so unsatisfying, and yet the fight itself was so incredibly entertaining that fans want to see it put in a setting where even if we get a first three rounds that can be scored 29-28 either way, we’ll have another two rounds to watch these two guy go at it.

Penn and St. Pierre gives us a fight between two guys who may be the top pound-for-pound fighter. Rarely do we get to see a fight between guys who are in the pound-for-pound conversation (and since we’ll never see Miguel Torres vs. Anderson Silva, I imagine this will continue to be pretty rare). The winner of this fight will almost certainly advance his name in that pound for pound conversation, as a win over a top ten fighter almost always does. The loser will probably lose his position in that discussion.

It seems to me that Georges St. Pierre has a lot more to lose in this fight than B.J. Penn does. After all, it’s Georges’ belt that is on the line, and not B.J., and if B.J. loses, he’s still going to be the #1 lightweight in the world in most American minds. B.J. also has a great deal more to gain. If he wins, he establishes his position as the UFC welterweight champion, and as the #1 welterweight in the world. Running two divisions does a great deal for B.J. in making him a unique force in MMA, but also puts him in a position that Georges can’t be in (GSP can move up to 185, but he would have a much tougher time in that division, I think, that B.J. will if he is defending the welterweight title).

In a lot of respects, this is the Empire Strikes Back. However this goes, we know that Return of the Jedi is in production. The pickings among the top welterweight contenders are pretty slim. Georges has already beat Koscheck and Fitch decisively, so Thiago Alves seems the lone challenger that presents some intrigue, at least in my opinion. If Georges wins, I can easily see the UFC having him and B.J. defend their titles at UFC 100 and use that as an opportunity to hype a final chapter between the two.

If B.J. wins, I can see him dropping back down to defend the 155 pound title while Georges fight Thiago for the #1 contender position (assuming that the fight between Georges and B.J. will be competitive, and exciting, as I have a feeling it will be) that Alves may have assumed he’s earned. The winner would then get a shot at the title, and while Alves’ goal would obviously be to postpone a third installment of St. Pierre vs. Penn, I think we can all agree that it’d probably happen.

Of course, this is all speculation. The real story here (and excuse me for burying the lead) is that these guys are great fighters with a great fight behind them and a very competitive pair of spots in the 170 pound rankings.  In a post-Matt Hughes division, it is clear that these two guys are looking to establish themselves as that top guy, and this is the opportunity for that to happen.

Often, we suggest that there are big fights, historically significant fights. We speculate on how they will impact the sport. Rarely do we have an opportunity to see a fight where the ramifactions are both clear and massive before the guys even step into the Octagon, and more importantly, it’s going to be a war.