BJ Penn may have been able to hold belts in 3 weight classes

[tuckermaclain]

The only reason I say this, was reviewing fight by a common opponent when all 3 were active. Machida fought Franklin in what was supposed to be a "tune-up" fight for him. Got completely destroyed. Front kick KO. He was never in the fight. 16 months later, BJ Penn fights Machida and really puts up a good scrap. Easily closes the distance and has Machida on his back several times. I've seen fights less close than this that could have been given to the loser (Penn.)

I know it's MMA math, but the 3 fought pretty close together and BJ looked so much better than Rich. Do you think that if BJ would have fought Franklin when he was champ that he would have won?

I think he would have. I don't know of any other guy who has held belts in 3 classes. Maybe Conor could if he went on a starvation diet. What do all of you think?

 

[ImNotSurpisedDonks!]

Machida fought Franklin in what was supposed to be a "tune-up" fight for him. Got completely destroyed.

 

[MRDOG]

B.J. could of been three division champion IF there was a 145lb division when he was in his prime.


I also agree that B.J. would of had a good shot at beating Rich Franklin.

 

[Pequeño Corey]

He’d need to be “motivated BJ” all the time.

 

[TheAmericanGazelle]

There are probably a handful of fighters who could win three belts if they only had to fight one fight in-class, with that fighter being a very nice stylistic matchup.

 

[tenniswhiz]

Machida was fat when he fought BJ.

I heard the presenter told Machida and BJ that it was a sumo match by mistake. Only at the last minute did they realize it was MMA.

Machida improved a lot after that.

I attach absolutely no comparative relevance to this fight.

 

[GSP1978]

The end of BJ's career was just ugly. Yair Rodriguez.

 

[LockardTheGOAT]

Conor will be the first to hold belts in three weight classes.

 

[SpedDaddyV]

The only reason I say this, was reviewing fight by a common opponent when all 3 were active. Machida fought Franklin in what was supposed to be a "tune-up" fight for him. Got completely destroyed. Front kick KO. He was never in the fight. 16 months later, BJ Penn fights Machida and really puts up a good scrap. Easily closes the distance and has Machida on his back several times. I've seen fights less close than this that could have been given to the loser (Penn.)

I know it's MMA math, but the 3 fought pretty close together and BJ looked so much better than Rich. Do you think that if BJ would have fought Franklin when he was champ that he would have won?

I think he would have. I don't know of any other guy who has held belts in 3 classes. Maybe Conor could if he went on a starvation diet. What do all of you think?

 

[House Adams]

Someone tell me if I’m off my rocker here... But I feel like a prime Rich Franklin beats BJ into a bloody stump..

I know that isn’t the question.. But saying BJ did better then Franklin against Machida implies he could beat Rich...

 

[gono btw]

The only reason I say this, was reviewing fight by a common opponent when all 3 were active. Machida fought Franklin in what was supposed to be a "tune-up" fight for him. Got completely destroyed. Front kick KO. He was never in the fight. 16 months later, BJ Penn fights Machida and really puts up a good scrap. Easily closes the distance and has Machida on his back several times. I've seen fights less close than this that could have been given to the loser (Penn.)

I know it's MMA math, but the 3 fought pretty close together and BJ looked so much better than Rich. Do you think that if BJ would have fought Franklin when he was champ that he would have won?

I think he would have. I don't know of any other guy who has held belts in 3 classes. Maybe Conor could if he went on a starvation diet. What do all of you think?

Now PAY ATTENTION.

BJ got Machida, but he actually asked to fight [HW !?!] Fujita...

Hence, had Fujita beat Fedor (that punch, yeah...), BJ could have fought him and maybe...the HW belt...

 

[Otto!]

That’s nothing. Hendricks will be the first to miss weight in 3 weight classes.

 

[007]

but he didn't. END OF THREAD

 

[xentreos]

I don’t see bj beating franklin even in his prime of primes. Rich was an intelligent tighter

 

[RDUBYA]

Ace doesn't get enough respect - BJ gets too much

 

[Bodil]

B.J. could of been three division champion IF there was a 145lb division when he was in his prime.


I also agree that B.J. would of had a good shot at beating Rich Franklin.

Hurts my brain when people can't spell ''could've''.