Penn/GSP II?

July 25, 2008

I have a feeling BJ Penn just became Georges St. Pierre’s biggest fan.

Regardless of the outcome of the UFC welterweight title fight between champion GSP and challenger Jon Fitch on Aug. 9, St. Pierre will fight Penn at the end of the year according to a source close to Penn.

This comes on the heels of UFC President Dana White saying he has a big announcement planned during Saturday night’s showing of Penn’s last fight against Sean Sherk for free on SPIKE TV. The entire UFC 84 card, featuring Penn/Sherk, Wanderlei Silva/Keith Jardine and Tito Ortiz/Lyoto Machida, will be shown from 6-8:30 p.m.

Obviously Penn would be looking for redemption after his split decision loss to GSP in his UFC “return” in March of 2006. The timing of the announcement seems a little weird with GSP just two weeks away from his title fight with Fitch. Penn/GSP is a blockbuster fight in the MMA world, but I think it loses some of its luster if St. Pierre loses to Fitch.

All that has been confirmed as of now is that a fight will take place, but I’ve heard the bout could be a non-title fight if GSP is still champion. If that’s the case, a Penn victory probably would set up a possible welterweight title fight later next year, maybe as the main event of the UFC’s planned Aloha Stadium event after the sport is regulated in Hawaii in July of 2009? Obviously it’s just speculation on my part, but the timing of it makes sense, especially since it allows Penn to defend his lightweight title some time in the first six months of ‘09.

Posted in Fights