Penn Trying to be the Next Hendo?

There’s one fighter comparison that you may not use when talking about B.J. Penn these days. That would be Dan Henderson. Obviously the two are completely different fighters, and their strengths are as different as night and day. Hendo is a much better wrestler. His wrestling is on the top level in the world not just MMA while Penn has some of the best jits in the world. He is known as the prodigy, and he could posses one of the best all round MMA games today.

Dan Henderson is in the record books for one thing that B.J. Penn desperately wants. Hendo is the only fighter in the old school Pride organization to hold more than one title at once (no one has ever done it in the UFC). He was the current 185 champion when for some reason he was matched up against 205 champion Wanderlei Silva. Silva was supposed to run through Hendo like he was a 185′er with no chance, but in shocking manner Henderson landed a nasty hook that dropped Wand. Shortly after Hendo had his hand raised and was the 185 and 205 champ.

Penn has fought at 170 before and he is no stranger to the weight class. He has fought some of the biggest names in GSP and Matt Hughes (who he has beat). Penn is on almost every pound for pound ranking anywhere from 3 to 5. He is no question one of the top fighters in the world, and beating GSP would do nothing but solidify that point. Since losing to Hughes at 170 Penn has been in complete control of the 155 pound division with wins over Sherk, Stevenson, and Pulver all formidable opponents. Originally this fight between Penn and GSP was not going to happen. Dana White forced Penn to fight at 155 and made him earn this shot. With the three victories at 155 he earned the shot and has been rewarded a shot at GSP.

If Penn is able to beat GSP then he will then be the owner of two gold belts. If this is the case then Penn will be a very busy man. He has said that he will defend both titles. Imagine this… Penn vs. Thiago Alves then 3 months later Penn vs. Florian. Things may get very interesting for the Prodigy very soon. He hasn’t had a close match in more than 2 years. Many say that his conditioning is still not where it needs to be and if he gets pushed by a better athlete for 5 full rounds that he will crumble. He may get the chance to prove all of them wrong very soon.