Penn and Stevenson to star in ‘Rapid Fire’ clash

B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson must travel across the Atlantic Ocean to take the vacant lightweight title at UFC 80 in Newcastle, England. For Stevenson, a wealth of experience, a distinct side advantage, and a relentless attack make his claim to the gold legitimate. But the enigma that is “The Prodigy” has reemerged and is looking to establish himself as pound-for-pound the best in the world. After five-rounds of battle, who will be at the top of the sport’s most frenetic division?

By Danny Acosta

B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson’s road to the 155lbs. title are polar opposites.

“Daddy” entered into MMA at the age of 16, fighting on Native American reservations with parental consent. He amassed a wealth of experience and titles in King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge before jumping up to welterweight to join The Ultimate Fighter 2 cast, where he defeated Luke Cummo to earn his spot in the UFC. A disappointing loss to Josh Neer at 170lbs. has been his only loss in Octagon. He then entered the re-established lightweight division against uncrowned king Yves Edwards and won via technical knockout (cut). Dokonjonosuke Mishima, Melvin Guillard, and Kurt Pellegrino were the next fighters to suffer defeat at the hands of the Las Vegan. Stevenson hopes to add Penn to that list.

B.J. Penn’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pedigree saw him make his MMA debut in the UFC. He dominated his way to a title shot against Jens Pulver in only his fourth professional fight. As a challenger, he was the favorite. He lost. Since the heartbreak of losing to Jens Pulver, his career has read like a Jack Kerouac novel—talented yet reckless. Avenging his loss against “Lil’ Evil” in his last outing and return to lightweight, Penn seems poised to claim the title that has haunted his career.

The Hilo boy has a standing and ground advantage. While Stevenson landed a crisp jab that put Guillard on his back, “The Young Assassin” overextended himself, losing his balance, and leaving himself open for a flooring shot. Penn is too technical and too poised to end up on the wrong side of a punch. The California-born fighter’s stocky build and jerky boxing style opens him up to be picked apart from the outside. It also forces him to be on the attack, attempting to close the distance, and be more explosive in his shots. Against a man with inhuman flexibility and strong angle strikes, this will be tiresome for the twenty-five-year-old. Against an inexperienced striker like Stevenson, Penn’s sturdy chin and heavy hands can guide him to victory.

Stevenson needs to force Penn against the fence and keep him there. Stuffed against the cage, the powerful and tireless fighter’s ground and pound can punish and neutralize Penn’s world class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Anywhere else, “Daddy” will struggle as he did against superior grappler Kurt Pellegrino.

However, this title bout holds the same definitive factor: cardio. Penn has earned a reputation for tiring out, while Stevenson willed his way to a unanimous decision over Pellegrino. Yet Stevenson has never seen five rounds like Penn. While he has more experience than the twenty-nine-year old, he has not seen the high profile, high-pressure fights Penn has. Both bring strong mental game into the fight, but both are at the most critical juncture in their careers on the biggest stage in fighting. With Sean Sherk next in line and being the first lightweights to headline a card since the division reemerged, mentality is just as important as technique and cardio in this clash.

The featured fight of the night pits Gabriel Gonzaga battles Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight bout. Both are coming off disappointing losses and this rematch promises the winner a title shot in the near future. “Napao” has progressed immensely since being stopped by Werdum in 2003, mainly in the striking department. The Pride veteran has not been slacking either, but a string of inactivity hinders his chances against a hungry and consistent Team Link star.

The Wander Braga black belt has a size advantage over Werdum, but standing with the Mirko Crocop’s former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor can see him excel. The Chute Boxer can stand and trade yet he lacks the power to endanger the former title challenger. Add Gonzaga’s heavy hands and superior wrestling and going to the ground seems less likely for the Rio de Janeiro native, where Werdum can lure, tire, and stop Gonzaga as he’s done before.

In welterweight action, Marcus Davis takes on Jess Liaudin. “The Irish Hand Grenade” has a well-rounded skill set that includes heavy, technical hands, solid wrestling and an improving ground game. “The Joker” too sports a well-rounded game, but prefers to stand. Rising to the occasion has characterized Davis’ UFC wins against Forrest Petz, Shonie Carter, Pete Spratt, Jason Tan, and Paul Taylor. The Frenchman based out of London has failed to do the same, dropping fights against Paul Taylor, Shonie Carter, and Abul Mohamed. But like Maine’s favorite fighter, he is on impressive win streak, including an armbar over Dennis Siver.

For Davis, winning this fight would place him on a higher plain of competition in the UFC’s intense division. For Liaudin, the win would be the biggest of his career—a message of his arrival. But look for Davis’ fearless fight style and elevated ground game to stifle the more experienced fighter.

In an undercard light heavyweight battle more than six months in the making due to injury, Wilson Gouveia challenges Jason Lambert. The Brazilian favors the leg kick and has a good set of hands to follow. But throwing the leg kick is always a dangerous proposition against a ground and pound specialist like “The Punisher.” In his last showing, the thirty-year-old was dominated on the ground by Renato Sobral. Against the Coconut Creek, Florida black belt Lambert may face the same issues. However, “Babalu” fell victim to a vicious counter punch, a sign of his power and improving strikes.

The deciding factor is Lambert fights out of California’s North County Fight Club. He lacks the high-level training partners Gouveia finds at American Top Team. Standing and on the ground, the Fortaleza, Brazil native holds the advantage, but Lambert has an adaptable game and his wrestling can present problems for Gouveia. This fight boils down to fortitude and cardio—two elements both fighters have neither excelled at nor lacked.

The opening bout of the night is a middleweight tangle between Kendall Grove and Jorge Rivera. “Da Spyda” has the cardio to challenge Rivera, who likes to pace himself, especially during the later rounds. Both are unafraid to trade, but the Hawaiian’s elongated frame poses too many problems for the shorter striker. The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner also has tricky ground skills, where Rivera has proven uncomfortable. “El Conquistador” needs to remain elusive and punish Grove’s aggression by working from angles. Under Team Sitydotong, Rivera has the mind for it, it’s just the execution that might falter.

On a fight card loaded with finishers, B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson hope to make the loudest statement by putting their opponent to sleep. Capturing gold is not just a claim to lightweight kingship, it is a claim to pound for pound glory. For these two young fighters, a loss is not the end of the road, just another setback. But a lapse in victory in the sport’s most competitive division can send either on another brutal journey to gold—if at all.