Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: What does a victory mean for B.J. Penn or Matt Hughes in their third bout at UFC 123? Perez, Lee, Hyden, Hobaugh, Marsh, Bacior, Williams and Shelby
Nov 18, 2010 - 3:06:31 PM ROUNDTABLE: What does a victory mean for B.J. Penn or Matt Hughes in their third bout at UFC 123? Perez, Lee, Hyden, Hobaugh, Marsh, Bacior, Williams and Shelby

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What does a victory mean for B.J. Penn or Matt Hughes in their third bout at UFC 123?

ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

For Matt Hughes, a victory actually puts him in a spot closer to a title shot than a victory does for B.J. Penn.  For Penn, it just means he's won another fight, but brings him no closer to a title fight, no matter the weight division.  Hughes has a better chance of getting closer to a belt than Penn does at this point.

ERIC LEE, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

A win for Penn or Hughes on their record really makes for no waves in the UFC. Whoever wins is still a few fights out from having a title fight and even then it will just be a chance to lose to GSP for a third time. That's right third time!! Both Hughes and Penn have been beaten by GSP twice. I don't think many people are interested in seeing them both get beaten again by the same man at this point in their careers.

FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Honestly, a victory doesn't mean a damn thing to either one of them on a professional level. If B.J. beats Matt Hughes he beat a 37-year old guy who's at the end of his career. If Matt Hughes beats B.J. he beat a guy who's notorious for not being dedicated enough to his craft. This fight has no repercussions whatsoever in the welterweight division. Georges St. Pierre will defend his Welterweight Title against Josh Koscheck in December. The winner of that will defend the Welterweight title against Jake Shields. Also in the title mix are Carlos Condit and Jon Fitch.
Neither B.J. nor Hughes are close to a title shot, and this fight will do nothing to change that.

ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH SPECIALIST

This fight is only important to the legacy of the winner.  Matt Hughes is one of the greatest champions in UFC history.  B.J. is too, but his cardio and heart have been challenged on many, many occasions.  Losing to Penn does nothing to tarnish the career of Matt Hughes.  If B.J. Penn can beat Hughes his entire career is raised to the status of Randy, Chuck and Matt. It is, in my opinion, one of the last fights that makes sense for Matt Hughes in 2010.

GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

This is one of the more interesting matchups of the year.  Both fighters are past their primes but nonetheless are still good fighters, and I believe both are top ten in their respective weight divisions. It's the great wrestler vs the great jiu jitsu fighter.  Matt Hughes has definitely lost a step and B.J. has as well.  B.J. has always had endurance issues and if matt takes him to deeper waters it could be bad for Penn.  I think this is a fight Hughes can definately win tho I'm struggling to actually pick a winner.  Basically with a win,  both fighters will put themselves back into the mix atop their weight divisions.

MIKE BACIOR, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I feel that B.J. needs the victory much worse, as a third straight loss could potentially end his career, in my opinion. He needs it psychologically. For Matt Hughes, it would move him much closer to the title.

ALEX WILLIAMS, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Professional pride.  Both B.J. Penn (some day) and Matt Hughes (some say sooner) will look back on their careers and each will want to say that he got the best of the other man.  Given that B.J.'s one significant victory at 170 pounds came almost seven years ago (versus Hughes) and given that there's no reason to believe Hughes can hang with GSP, a victory here shouldn't maneuver either man close to a title shot at welterweight.  

TOBEN SHELBY, MMATORCH AUDIO CO-HOST

I'm honestly not sure what a win for B.J. Penn or Matt Hughes does at this point in either of their careers. At the very least, it proves whoever wins is still a relevant fighter and a good test for anyone looking to step to the next level. As for the immediate future, I guess the UFC could try to give Hughes another title shot should he come out victorious, but I'm not sure how interested anyone, including Hughes himself, is in that. Penn could start a campaign a welterweight and I think he'd find success there for the most part. However, much like Hughes' win scenario, I'm not sure how big anyone would be on title talk anytime soon.