The Nick Diaz / BJ Penn ground battle doesn't get talked about ever

[Wilmer Digreux]

Probably because we didn't get to see nearly enough of it. But what we did get to see was sweet!

These two should do a grappling match some time. Neither of them need to take any more punches but a grappling match between them would be a barn burner even now.

 

[frederick]

That missed punch gave me Punk/Gall flashbacks.

 

[HuskySamoan]

Probably because we didn't get to see nearly enough of it. But what we did get to see was sweet!

These two should do a grappling match some time. Neither of them need to take any more punches but a grappling match between them would be a barn burner even now.

This fight doesn't get remembered accurately over time. Most fans are stupid and don't know what they watch or haven't even seen the fight and just go off the result. When Penn was on point and in shape, he was so insanely good, but when he wasn't...he'd often gas and look for a way out or lose. The Nick Diaz fight for Penn was the beginning of the end of his career, but Penn vs Diaz...round 1, Penn boxed Nick's ears off and took him down and won the grappling exchanges...he just gassed after round 1 and got worked rounds 2 and 3. Even Penn vs Fitch, I remember Penn dominating round 1 and then slowing down, I think he won round 2 but gassed out completely round 3 and lost a 10-8 as a draw. But when Penn was on, like vs Diego, Gomi, Florian, Sherk etc where he didn't fatigue so easily...dude was an all time great talent and dominant monster. And even in his loss to Nick or draw to Fitch, you saw despite him being two divisions smaller in size, his skill ceiling was higher than theirs and he just wasn't taking training seriously enough anymore.

 

[Mammothman]

Khabib would have make them both look so easy

 

[Wilmer Digreux]

This fight doesn't get remembered accurately over time. Most fans are stupid and don't know what they watch or haven't even seen the fight and just go off the result. When Penn was on point and in shape, he was so insanely good, but when he wasn't...he'd often gas and look for a way out or lose. The Nick Diaz fight for Penn was the beginning of the end of his career, but Penn vs Diaz...round 1, Penn boxed Nick's ears off and took him down and won the grappling exchanges...he just gassed after round 1 and got worked rounds 2 and 3. Even Penn vs Fitch, I remember Penn dominating round 1 and then slowing down, I think he won round 2 but gassed out completely round 3 and lost a 10-8 as a draw. But when Penn was on, like vs Diego, Gomi, Florian, Sherk etc where he didn't fatigue so easily...dude was an all time great talent and dominant monster. And even in his loss to Nick or draw to Fitch, you saw despite him being two divisions smaller in size, his skill ceiling was higher than theirs and he just wasn't taking training seriously enough anymore.

Yeah, Marinovich Penn vs Diaz and Fitch might've gone very differently.

 

[HuskySamoan]

Khabib would have make them both look so easy

Khabib would have struggled with a prime Penn, he never fought someone with as good takedown defense besides MAYBE Gaethje or Tibau and he never fought someone with as good of mat grappling period. Beyond that Penn had some very clean striking and when on point, an actual gas tank to go 5 rounds unlike Conor or Gaethje who gas routinely within 3 rounds. The main thing Khabib had was a serious size advantage.

 

[nonoob]

No matter what anyone says now, those two, time after time, have proven themselves in battle among the upper echelon in MMA. They both fought the "Who's Who" of champions. Whether they took the win or loss, they would definitely bring it when they came to battle.

Both had balls of steel and never backed down from a fight. HESPECT !​

 

[mahavishnunj]

Khabib would have make them both look so easy

I don't know about that. Prime Penn was a handful for any/everyone.

 

[William Munny]

Prime Penn vs Prime Diaz would have been great to see.

 

[Megatronlee]

Come to 2023 man

 

[Wilmer Digreux]

Come to 2023 man

<{cruzshake}>

 

[Deleted member 498977]

Come to 2023 man

Why?
Times when Penn fought Diaz were much better

 

[Poatan Power]

Khabib would have make them both look so easy

BJ Penn's first professional fight was in the UFC and his 9th professional fight was defeating Matt Hughes at WW.

Khabib barely squeaked by some 0-1 butchers and waiters for 13 out of his first 16 fights and still ended up not being able to survive weight cuts or injuries once he got to the UFC with his easy UFC schedule too. GTFO of here. Penn subs him in a minute anywhere from 2001-2010

 

[dog y]

BJ recently said his hips are ruined and he can't.
A BJ vs Aoki grappling match would've been superb.

 

[Mike]

Come to 2023 man

 

[Elvis.]

That back take is so insane, such beautiful technique and against a very high level grappler . Nick does an excellent job avoiding that 2nd hook , if Bj has that you’re in deep water

 

[mkt]

Probably because we didn't get to see nearly enough of it. But what we did get to see was sweet!

These two should do a grappling match some time. Neither of them need to take any more punches but a grappling match between them would be a barn burner even now.

For some reason people think fighters' striking goes downhill with age/wear but grappling doesn't. That's not true at all. High-level grappling depends heavily on reflexes, mobility, speed, etc. Penn had all those things when he was young, but not any more. That's why fighters like Penn, Jacare, Sakuraba, TFerg, Aoki, get submitted later in their careers. They can't move and scramble like the used to. Penn/Nick grappling now would probably be pretty slow and lame.

 

[Substance Abuse]

This fight doesn't get remembered accurately over time. Most fans are stupid and don't know what they watch or haven't even seen the fight and just go off the result. When Penn was on point and in shape, he was so insanely good, but when he wasn't...he'd often gas and look for a way out or lose. The Nick Diaz fight for Penn was the beginning of the end of his career, but Penn vs Diaz...round 1, Penn boxed Nick's ears off and took him down and won the grappling exchanges...he just gassed after round 1 and got worked rounds 2 and 3. Even Penn vs Fitch, I remember Penn dominating round 1 and then slowing down, I think he won round 2 but gassed out completely round 3 and lost a 10-8 as a draw. But when Penn was on, like vs Diego, Gomi, Florian, Sherk etc where he didn't fatigue so easily...dude was an all time great talent and dominant monster. And even in his loss to Nick or draw to Fitch, you saw despite him being two divisions smaller in size, his skill ceiling was higher than theirs and he just wasn't taking training seriously enough anymore.

Preach. Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[AstralPanda]

This fight doesn't get remembered accurately over time. Most fans are stupid and don't know what they watch or haven't even seen the fight and just go off the result. When Penn was on point and in shape, he was so insanely good, but when he wasn't...he'd often gas and look for a way out or lose. The Nick Diaz fight for Penn was the beginning of the end of his career, but Penn vs Diaz...round 1, Penn boxed Nick's ears off and took him down and won the grappling exchanges...he just gassed after round 1 and got worked rounds 2 and 3. Even Penn vs Fitch, I remember Penn dominating round 1 and then slowing down, I think he won round 2 but gassed out completely round 3 and lost a 10-8 as a draw. But when Penn was on, like vs Diego, Gomi, Florian, Sherk etc where he didn't fatigue so easily...dude was an all time great talent and dominant monster. And even in his loss to Nick or draw to Fitch, you saw despite him being two divisions smaller in size, his skill ceiling was higher than theirs and he just wasn't taking training seriously enough anymore.

One of the most talented fighters ever.

Imagine how good he could've been if he had a team who brought out the best in him. If his cardio was at an elite level.


He's the size of a modern BW these days. Hell, even Aljo and O Malley are bigger than him.

Penn would be on the short list of all time greats if his career had been managed a bit better. But I guess that's also part of the mystique.

He accomplished what he did at only a fraction of his full potential.

 

[tymikeson]

the penn that choked out matt hughes at welterweight and lost a close fight with gsp at welterweight would have had a great chance to beat kabib at lightweight. even randy couture (a heavyweight) indicated that when he trained with bj, he couldnt keep penn on his back, he kept sanding up.

listen to gsps comments about penns reaction time