By Joe Fernandez
Newsday.com
The UFC travels to Newcastle, England this month for No. 80. With a vacant UFC lightweight title, BJ Penn has a chance to become the first fighter since Randy Couture to earn a UFC title in two different weight classes.
Let's check out some of the matchups for the January 19th card:
BJ Penn vs. Joe Stevenson -- UFC Lightweight championship
I've said it before and I'll say it again. If he wanted to, I think that BJ Penn could be UFC champion in three different weight classes (155, 170, 185) even though Georges St. Pierre and Anderson Silva look unbeatable right now. He's that good. He can stand up and swing with just about anyone in his weight class(es); and forget about his jiu-jitsu, it's in another universe. Even his wrestling and takedown defense is in an elite class. Fighters have shot in for a takedown against him and he's able to temporarily transform into a folding chair, simultaneosly sprawling with one leg while the other leg is completely under the other fighter's body. Ouch! We're looking at one of the best pound-for-pound -- Ever.
(UFC Photo)
To win this fight, Stevenson (33-7, 5-1 UFC) is either going to have to stun Penn (12-4, 7-3-1) with a punch then pounce before he recovers, or if Penn pulls guard at some point, maybe catch the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with an ankle lock. Even though Stevenson is excellent at pulling off guillotines and ankle locks, those will be difficult to actually get Penn to tap to. But then again, who thought Forrest Griffin was going to choke out Shogun? You work hard enough, these things happen.
Prediction: I think their jitsu cancels each other's out. Stevenson will spend plenty of time punching away inside Penn's guard, while Penn looks for submissions and sweeps. Watching this match will be an unbelievable experience, deciding this match will be an uneviable one. Penn doesn't have a lot of luck with decisions (1-2), but I say he takes the gold on the scorecards.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Fabricio Werdum
Werdum (9-3-1, 0-1 UFC) took the first meeting between these two with a TKO in the third round of their 2003 non-UFC match. Werdum didn't do much against Andrei Arlovski in his sole UFC match, where the Brazilian lost a unanimous decision. Gonzaga (8-2, 4-1) lost to Randy Couture in his last match. That day, the wrestler was able to control the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. A huge slam, which led to a broken nose had a lot to do with that loss.
Prediction: Gonzaga and Werdum's ground games will neutralize the other, so I think this one will be decided on the feet. Because of Gonzaga's much-improved stand-up, I think he'll earn a KO/TKO in Round 2.
Jess Liaudin vs. Marcus Davis
If Marcus Davis (18-4, 5-1) can beat Jess Liaudin (12-8, 2-0), I would like to see Davis fight Jon Fitch for the right to get a title shot. Fitch already had his "next level" win with his defeat of Diego Sanchez. Davis has won five straight, but they weren't against those handful of elite welterweights that would warrant a title shot.
Prediction: Liaudin has two UFC wins and two UFC fights, and neither has seen the second round. How about this ex-boxer (Davis) earning three of his five UFC wins by submission. I don't think it will get that far though. Look for a quick start and a quick finish to this match. Davis wins by KO/TKO in the first.
Wilson Gouveia vs. Jason Lambert
In a total of nine UFC fights, there's only one time that either of these fighters went to a decision (Gouveia lost to Keith Jardine in 2006).
Prediction: I see Gouveia (9-4, 3-1 UFC) trying to get this fight to the ground. Lambert (23-6, 4-1), who has heavy hands, is probably going to want to finish this one standing up. Either way, I think it will end up on the ground with Lambert winning due to a referee stoppage in the second round.
Jorge Rivera vs. Kendall Grove
Grove (10-4, 3-1) is coming off the first loss of his UFC career, a TKO at the hands off Patrick Cote. Rivera (14-6, 3-4) lasted 14 seconds against Terry Martin in his last UFC fight. Grove needs this fight so he can be thrown back into that serious contender department, and with two of his last three UFC matches being losses, Rivera needs to start a winning streak -- now.
Prediction: The good thing about both of these fighters is that they're not "decision-type" guys. They both try to end fights quickly. Is this fight going to be any different? Nope. Grove catches Rivera with some strong kicks, knees and punches. He chases Rivera down to the mat and earns the referee stoppage in the first round.
Fightin' Words readers, who do you think will win these UFC 80 matches?