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PARK: Penn, Edgar, Florian and Maynard set for unofficial lightweight tournament semis at UFC 118
Aug 15, 2010 - 3:40:42 PM PARK: Penn, Edgar, Florian and Maynard set for unofficial lightweight tournament semis at UFC 118

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By: Chris Park, MMATorch UK Specialist

UFC 118 in Boston, Massachusetts will provide the stage for something that loosely resembles an old school tournament between the Lightweight division’s top four fighters.

Before the showdown for the 155 lb. title is battled out, there will be the number one contender spot at stake, as former title challenger and home town favourite Kenny Florian takes on undefeated wrestling standout Gray “The Bully” Maynard. The winner of this fight will then be forced to sit and wait to see exactly who they will be challenging for the Lightweight title.

In the main event of the evening, arguably the best lightweight to ever put on a pair of gloves, B.J “The Prodigy” Penn, will look to avenge his first loss at 155 lb. since 2002. Penn will be given his chance of redemption when he re-matches the man who took his title at UFC 112, Frankie “The Answer” Edgar.

The main issues that have plagued Penn throughout his MMA career have been his motivation and his commitment to training. The first time these two squared off there was very much a feeling of "mandatory challenger" surrounding Frankie Edgar, with no-one really giving the New Jersey native a chance. There was no trash talk, no revenge element involved, this was just one man getting the title shot that his impressive run had earned.

While there should never be any motivational issues for any fighter, particularly in a World Title fight, it was clear to see that "The Prodigy" that turned up in Abu Dhabi was a shadow of the Champion who dismantled Diego Sanchez just four months earlier. If motivation was the issue, then avenging that loss and reclaiming the title should be just what the doctor ordered to bring back the real “Prodigy” of old on August 28.

It is a very rare sight for a champion to enter the Octagon as an underdog, but for the second fight in a row, and in his first title defence, that is exactly what Frankie Edgar will be. Edgar’s tactics in April had huge success early, and “The Answer” was able to maintain the same busy pace for the entire five rounds en route to claiming the Lightweight title.

This time it will take a lot more to overcome Penn, but if Frankie Edgar can once again find a way of overcoming the greatest Lightweight in UFC history, then he will spark a new era at 155 lb. There is no doubt that both Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard will be hoping for this outcome, as whichever of these two earn the right for the next shot at the title, Edgar will be the preferred choice of both men.

Kenny Florian has looked in fine form of late, responding to his 2009 loss to Penn with back-to-back submission victories over Clay Guida and Takanori Gomi. If Florian does end Maynard’s undefeated run, to make it three wins on the bounce, then an Edgar vs. Florian fight for the title could provide a very entertaining showpiece. If Gray Maynard walks away from UFC 118 still undefeated, then that would hand Frankie Edgar the opportunity to not only defend his title again, but to avenge his sole career loss.

A successful defence of Edgar’s title would blow the entire division wide open with several other fighters in the division's top ten being brought into contention. Even if B.J Penn defeats Edgar this could still signal a new era, as this re-match could prove to be the final fight in B.J Penn’s lightweight career.

A second showdown with Kenny Florian doesn’t make a great deal of sense, considering the manner in which Penn won their last bout a year ago. A fight with Gray Maynard, who Penn coached on The Ultimate Fighter, doesn’t exactly send the heart pounding with excitement either, so a fresh assault on the welterweight division, where Penn once held the title after defeating Matt Hughes, could provide the challenge that B.J. Penn needs to keep performing to his full potential.

When you sit at the top of the tree for so long there is only one place to go - and that is down. Penn has been given a chance to redeem himself quickly, but should he reclaim the Lightweight Championship on August 28, “The Prodigy” should move to 170 lb. and bow out of the lightweight division on a high as the reigning and greatest 155 lb. Champion of all time.

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Chris Park is the MMATorch UK Specialist and guest columnist at ESPN.co.uk. Please email any comments or questions to Chris at; mmatorchuk@gmail.com or look us up at http://www.facebook.com/mmatorchuk2 our new MMATorch Facebook home for UK Fans!