UFC 94 Picks: Georges St. Pierre vs. B.J. Penn

Georges "Rush" St. Pierre
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Age: 27
Record: 17-2

What can be said about Georges St. Pierre that hasn't already been said? He's a ridiculous athlete who's well rounded in every aspect of the game. He has maybe the most crushing wrestling in MMA, versatile striking, and now has his BJJ blackbelt. Without doubt, St. Pierre's strategy for this fight is going to be to take BJ Penn down and try to smother him with ground and pound. And if he can manage to push the fight into the later rounds he'll have a significant cardio advantage as well. BJ has rededicated himself to getting in shape, but he's just nowhere near the level of athlete that GSP is.

B.J. "The Prodigy" Penn
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Age: 30
Record: 13-4-1

He talks a lot of trash but he's got the talent and the skill to back it up. Nobody wants to see BJ Penn realize his talent more than me, but he's just not suited for the 170 lb division. He's looked great in his last three fights, but those were at his natural weight of 155 lbs. He's got all the tools to win, but he's at a tremendous size and strength disadvantage here. If he can manage to stay off his back and turn this into a brawl he'll have a chance, but I just can't see him being able to stop St. Pierre's takedowns.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Georges St. Pierre will take BJ down and ground and pound a decision. BJ didn't have a lot of answers off his back in their first fight, and GSP has just improved so much since then. The only way I see BJ winning is catching St. Pierre early with a punch and capitalizing. Otherwise, expect another wrestling clinic put on by the division's premiere athlete: Me. Or Georges St. Pierre. Look, whatever, man.