...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
With Nick Diaz and B.J. Penn being promoted to the main event of UFC 137 just a week and a half before the event, the bout has been tapped as a three round fight as it was originally scheduled. However, Nick Diaz's manager Cesar Gracie says they're willing to go five rounds with Penn.
Gracie says they've already spoken with Dana White, and that it's now just on Penn to accept the extra rounds to make it happen next week
"If they can't fight five rounds against each other, how are they going to fight five rounds against GSP?" Gracie said in an interview with Ariel Helwani at MMAFighting.com. "Dana is good with it. We've agreed to it. If B.J. agrees to it, we'll make it happen."
Gracie didn't just stop there, though, and gave a little extra nudge that could only come from his camp.
"These guys have to prove they are ready," Gracie said. "These guys are fighters. B.J. has always said he's a warrior."
"Don't be scared, homie. Let's make it five rounds."
Penick's Analysis: I would love to see this fight be a five rounder. Not that it will necessarily get into the "championship rounds", but when the next week has Chris Leben and Mark Munoz scheduled for five, it would almost be a shame for this fight to only go three now that it's in the main event. Of course, it's not required; Penn doesn't need to agree to five rounds just because Diaz's camp is trying to goad him into that. They've been preparing for three rounds, and it's not fair to make the change if they're not willing to make the change, which is why White announced it as a three round fight. But if Diaz is up for it, and Penn agrees? Make that a five round fight and let's have an epic non-title main event to make up for the loss of a Championship fight.
DON'T GO YET... WE SUGGEST THESE MMATORCH ARTICLES, TOO!
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
Interested in joining MMATorch's writing team? Send idea for a theme to your column (for Specialist section) or area of interest (i.e. TV Reporter) along with a sample of writing to mmatorch@gmail.com.
