Penick's Take
PENICK: B.J. Penn's loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 112 opens up the lightweight division to a number of exciting match ups
Apr 12, 2010 - 11:31:28 AM PENICK: B.J. Penn's loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 112 opens up the lightweight division to a number of exciting match ups

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The top of the UFC's lightweight division received a shakeup on Saturday night when the decision was announced awarding Frankie Edgar the new UFC Lightweight Champion. The UFC now has a number of possible fights that they can put together in the division this summer, depending on what B.J. Penn's next move may be.

There is some speculation that, win or lose at UFC 112, Penn was planning on a move to the welterweight division. Until the loss he had taken out all comers in the division, and it was beginning to seem like he'd have a stranglehold on the division until he moved up and vacated his belt. With the loss to Edgar, he's now got the option of making that move with the belt off of him, or trying to regain it, either in an immediate rematch or by winning another fight and getting to another Title fight.

Let's assume he sticks with the latter option. If the UFC doesn't grant him an immediate rematch (which they should put together for an event in Hawaii if they're going to head there this year), then they've got two options for Penn. They can either give Kenny Florian the next shot at Edgar and put a fight together between Penn and Gray Maynard, or they switch Florian and Maynard in those slots. That would put together two high profile rematches, with Edgar defending his Title against the only man to beat him and Florian getting a second chance to figure out B.J. Penn.

All of those options make for exciting fights, but if he goes down that path and regains his Title, he'll again be in a spot where he's beaten everyone there is to beat in the UFC's lightweight division and he may go up to the welterweight division anyway.

If he moves up to 170 lbs. immediately, the lightweight division opens up and becomes a much more competitive place. With Edgar at the top, while he's had some great performances throughout his career, and despite my disagreement with the decision at UFC 112 I need to stress that I thought Edgar fought a very good fight, he's got two immediate challengers in Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard that are very difficult tests for him as well.

Maynard defeated him just over two years ago by decision, and both fighters have improved greatly from when they met the first time. That fight would be a solid, though not as appealing, Title fight rematch, with Edgar getting an extra two rounds against the only man to beat him.

A fight with Kenny Florian would be the toughest, as I believe he's the second best lightweight in the world behind B.J. Penn. Florian's less of a counter fighter than Penn, and may be able to dictate the fight more against Edgar than he was able to do against Penn, but regardless of the style match up it would make for a hell of an exciting Title fight.

So even if you don't agree with the decision victory that was given to Frankie Edgar in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, there's no denying the exciting possibilities it sets up for the UFC's lightweight division. An immediate rematch with Penn in Hawaii would do monster business for the UFC and should be at the top of their list to put together, but if Penn decides to move on from the 155 lb. division now that the belt is no longer around his waist there are plenty more fights to be made and a few fighters who will have a chance to highlight themselves further with "The Prodigy" no longer on top.

RELATED ARTICLE: PENICK: Frankie Edgar's victory over B.J. Penn not a robbery, still not the correct decision: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]