Penick's Take
PENICK: B.J. Penn vs. Kenny Florian II should be next if both fighters win at UFC 118
Aug 20, 2010 - 4:57:47 PM PENICK: B.J. Penn vs. Kenny Florian II should be next if both fighters win at UFC 118

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

The UFC may have a dilemma on their hands in the lightweight division after UFC 118. At least, that's the way some seem to feel.

With Kenny Florian and B.J. Penn fighting on next Saturday's pay-per-view card from the TD Garden in Boston, Mass., it could set up the possibility that a rematch between the two becomes the most realistic option for the division's title. But with how dominant Penn was in the first meeting between the two at UFC 101 last August, and the fact that it's only been a year since that fight, there are those that don't want to see that fight take place.

Both fighters need to get past their opponents on next week's card, in Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar, respectively, but both fighters are favored heading into the event. So if Florian defeats Maynard and Penn recaptures his belt against Edgar in convincing fashion, this would be the logical next fight for the UFC.

UFC UK President Marshall Zelaznik, however, thinks it makes for a tough choice for the UFC.

"If B.J. wins and Florian wins, then it puts pressure on the match-making," Zelaznik said in an interview with ESPN.co.uk. "That then puts the possibility of B.J. stepping up a weight class back on the table."

A permanent move to the welterweight division has been talked about for Penn before, but because of Penn's dominance in the lightweight division and the recent results he's had at welterweight, it's not necessarily the right move for him. And at this point, if Florian wins at UFC 118 he deserves another opportunity.

Florian has shown an ability to improve his skills exponentially from when he first entered the UFC, and the fighter that showed up to Philadelphia last August won't be the same man that steps into the cage next Saturday. Florian admitted his gameplan wasn't the correct one against Penn, and learned a lot about what he'd be up against if he gets a second chance.

Since that fight, he's submitted both Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi, and he takes on the toughest fight available to him in the division next in Gray Maynard. The UFC definitely wants to move Gomi toward a title shot after his knockout of Tyson Griffin, but because of his fight with Florian in March he can't be leapfrogged over Florian.

In his April fight with Edgar, Penn showed the division that he was indeed human; and the eight year aura of invincibility he held at lightweight was broken. I thought he still won the fight despite Edgar's impressive showing, but despite the contention with the judges scorecards the fact remains that Edgar was able to work his gameplan and do enough to earn the nod. Now, I believe Penn takes this rematch and reclaims his top spot in the lightweight division, and his skills may be better than Florian's in every area, but Florian remains an entertaining fighter with a high profile.

Competitively he'll have earned the rematch if Penn gets past Edgar and if he defeats Maynard. It's the fight that needs to be booked from the sporting standpoint, even if the UFC has a tougher sell of it this time around.

There are still some challenges and interesting fights for Penn in the lightweight division, especially with how often he's saying he wants to fight. Even if he beats Florian a second time, it's a fight that can be interesting and challenging for him, and then there are a couple more fights in the division he can take before making the move up in weight.

Of course, if Edgar or Maynard win at 118, this discussion becomes moot. But if both fighters come out victorious, it's definitely a fight that can be more competitive than their first outing. Florian continues to improve his skills, and after finding out first hand what doesn't work against B.J. Penn, he may find a way to employ a more effective strategy.