BJ Penn vs Matt Serra in submission grappling(ADCC rules) 2001 and now, who wins?

[NoBiasJustMMA]

BJ Penn vs Matt Serra in a sub grappling match in 2001 and today, who do you think wins(ADCC rules)?

In 2001 Serra competed in ADCC and beat everyone and was told to forfit the main event to Marcio Feitosa by his coach Renzo Gracie so he agreed and forfited the match.

In 2000 Penn competed in IBJJF World championship and took 1st place. As far as i'm aware these are very similar level competitions and similar level achievements considering Serra didn't really get the chance to go for number 1.

I don't think either one of them would have been able to submit the other back in 2001 but I think Serra would have won on points as he seems to have beaten more accomplished grapplers in sub grappling.

Now I think Serra would win by a larger amount of points as BJ seems to have declined more but that may just be the appearence since BJ has stuck around way to long.

I think it would have been a great match back then and could really have gone either way, it's a shame it never happened and/or they never had a rematch in MMA.

 

[tekkenfan]

matt serra due to size maybe idk but i cant see him passing bjs guard

 

[tekkenfan]

whats sad is people think bj sucks cause he got heel hooked lol bj penn still has amazing jiu jjitsu ad smashes the average black belt wiith ease a heel hook specialist catching you doesnt mean they are better than you but people seem to buy into this blue belts can catch blacks in heel hooks doesnt make them better than the black

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

whats sad is people think bj sucks cause he got heel hooked lol bj penn still has amazing jiu jjitsu ad smashes the average black belt wiith ease a heel hook specialist catching you doesnt mean they are better than you but people seem to buy into this blue belts can catch blacks in heel hooks doesnt make them better than the black

Everyone gets old, it will eventually happen to the fighters those new people like that think BJ sucks too. I think Serra would have won as well with his size advantage and having beaten better competition in sub grappling but I doubt a submission would happen either way.

 

[dsdoubled]

Given the grappling and Bjj matches I've seen from them one thing I'm sure of is it would have been extremely entertaining to watch.
As for how it would go? I remember in their fight Serra had a whole lot of trouble getting BJ down but in grappling his scrambles and transitions were outstanding. BJ on the other hand had extremely sound fundamentals to go with his extreme leg dexterity and guard. I'll go with Serra winning ADCC and BJ winning gi.

 

[SUPERGRAPPLER]

Although BJ is not as good as he once was here is something to consider. Matt Serra is SOOOO fat and bloated now! Whereas BJ is still in really good shape . Again I realize that he is not the same fighter he was back in the early 00s.... but Matt has really let himself go.

 

[Crescent Cut]

Serra

 

[tekkenfan]

Given the grappling and Bjj matches I've seen from them one thing I'm sure of is it would have been extremely entertaining to watch.
As for how it would go? I remember in their fight Serra had a whole lot of trouble getting BJ down but in grappling his scrambles and transitions were outstanding. BJ on the other hand had extremely sound fundamentals to go with his extreme leg dexterity and guard. I'll go with Serra winning ADCC and BJ winning gi.

bj doesnt have a strong attacking guard no gi he kinda lays on his back and just pummels his legs around not allowing you any good control to pass but he doesnt really do many attacks from bottom so i see serra winning by takedown or advantage being aggressive on top but he cant quite pass bj

 

[Foppa21]

Matt Serra via carb overload

 

[Spookv]

Serra, he seems to be more active in Jiu-Jitsu.

 

[dsdoubled]

bj doesnt have a strong attacking guard no gi he kinda lays on his back and just pummels his legs around not allowing you any good control to pass but he doesnt really do many attacks from bottom so i see serra winning by takedown or advantage being aggressive on top but he cant quite pass bj

Yep. I didn't say BJ had a dangerous guard or an overly offensive guard. He was just damn near impossible to pass or advance on. Even his triangle offense was more done in transition rather than the more traditional bottom game. He was absolutely the cream of the crop around the turn of the millennium. As was Serra.

 

[tekkenfan]

Yep. I didn't say BJ had a dangerous guard or an overly offensive guard. He was just damn near impossible to pass or advance on. Even his triangle offense was more done in transition rather than the more traditional bottom game. He was absolutely the cream of the crop around the turn of the millennium. As was Serra.

serra did great no gi given at the time the game was fairly new serra was a stocky explosive little Italian and kept a strong pace not trying to take anything from serra but bj was probably more technical than him but serra came out stronger bj is very passive in grappling off his back at least

 

[MadSquabbles500]

I always wondered if those two ever rolled against each other.

 

[ZaphodNYC]

Serra, he seems to be more active in Jiu-Jitsu.

I frequently see Serra at Renzo Gracie Academy on the mats. The guy is amazing to watch, so fluid for a big man and I would love to see him in a real grappling match..

 

[Clinton Fries]

Serra might edge him in straight BJJ but BJ is the better MMA grappler by a mile

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

Although BJ is not as good as he once was here is something to consider. Matt Serra is SOOOO fat and bloated now! Whereas BJ is still in really good shape . Again I realize that he is not the same fighter he was back in the early 00s.... but Matt has really let himself go.

He's in much better shape recently, I think he said he's about 200lbs now which isn't bad for his fire hydrant build.