BJ Penn (2008-2009) vs Khabib

rex kramer said:
That era BJ could use his jab to keep Khabib from getting too close to secure a TD. He was pinpint accurate with that jab, and he had a heavy jab that kept people off balance. And even if Khabib managed to get close, BJ had a crazy agility and TD defense. But if it did hit the ground, I'd take Khabib at that point. BJ was tricky on the ground but it was usually from top position, and I don't think he ever fought anybody like Khabib on the ground, except maybe GSP.

It's a toss up. BJ bashes him on the feet and doesn't make any TD easy. But if Khabib manages to get the TD it's his fight to win.
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BJ was very difficult to take down. That’s easily overlooked.
GSP had some of the best takedowns ever and struggled at times in their two fights
 
Prime BJ was good but he lost twice to Frankie. Now i know MMA math is junk and all that but Khabib is still a better fighter than Edgar

khabib wins this
 
Khabib wins. His grappling is nothing like BJ has every witnessed, it's a great mixture of wrestling, judo, bjj, and sambo. On top of that, Khabib is relentless and punishing and has the threat of takedown. And Khabib has a great chin. It's not recency bias as some people claim, it's facts. Khabib is the LW GOAT.
 
Penn would be the better striker between the two, but it doesn't matter: Khabib is just way too strong for BJ.
BJ's BJJ would be useless because he would be stuck against the cage and be eating Khabib's fist all night long.
 
Bouboumaster said:
Khabib is just way too strong for BJ.
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I'm not so sure about that. BJ faced stronger fighters and did well against them. I doubt Khabib is stronger than a prime Hughes, or GSP, or a green but still HW Machida.

I doubt Khabib's strength would be a shock to BJ. If anything, I think Khabib's relentless pressure would pose more problems. But that type of pressure opens you up for counters you don't see coming. And BJ was good at that.
 
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rex kramer said:
I'm not so sure about that. BJ faced stronger fighters and did well against them. I doubt Khabib is stronger than a prime Hughes, or GSP, or a green but still HW Machida.

I doubt Khabib's strength would be a shock to BJ. If anything, I think Khabib's relentless pressure would pose more problems. But that type of pressure opens you up for counters you don't see coming. And BJ was good at that.
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I agree that Prime Hughes and GSP are physically stronger than Khabib, Khabib is strong, but his biggest asset is technique. His grappling technique and ability to shift his weight efficently is on a whole other level. Many have said that his technique makes him feel much stronger than he actually is.

At LW, Kevin lee is more explosive (in the first round) than Khabib, but he doesn't have Khabib's technique or his cardio.
 
JonJonesNeedle said:
I agree that Prime Hughes and GSP are physically stronger than Khabib, Khabib is strong, but his biggest asset is technique. His grappling technique and ability to shift his weight efficently is on a whole other level. Many have said that his technique makes him feel much stronger than he actually is.

At LW, Kevin lee is more explosive (in the first round) than Khabib, but he doesn't have Khabib's technique or his cardio.
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I agree and I kind of think we're both saying the same thing here. Khabib has a great talent for shifting his weight efficiently. But if you think prime BJ didn't have that same talent, idk what to tell you.

BJ has never fought anybody quite like Khabib before... but he's come a lot closer than Khabib has to fighting somebody like a prime BJ before. Can we at least agree on that?
 
rex kramer said:
I agree and I kind of think we're both saying the same thing here. Khabib has a great talent for shifting his weight efficiently. But if you think prime BJ didn't have that same talent, idk what to tell you.

BJ has never fought anybody quite like Khabib before... but he's come a lot closer than Khabib has to fighting somebody like a prime BJ before. Can we at least agree on that?
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Ya I agree with this, but I still do think Khabib wins, I can definately see Khabib breaking Penn in a 5 rounder.
 
JonJonesNeedle said:
Ya I agree with this, but I still do think Khabib wins, I can definately see Khabib breaking Penn in a 5 rounder.
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I agree I think Khabib is the favorite here. But it's an interesting matchup that I think would put Khabib in situations we haven't seen him in before. And I wouldn't be shocked to see prime Penn win. But yeah I honestly see Khabib probably winning that.
 
rex kramer said:
I agree I think Khabib is the favorite here. But it's an interesting matchup that I think would put Khabib in situations we haven't seen him in before. And I wouldn't be shocked to see prime Penn win. But yeah I honestly see Khabib probably winning that.
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I mean we say this with every Khabib fight. How's Khabib gonna do against the striking of Conor? How's Khabib gonna do against the striking+BJJ of Dustin? How's Khabib gonna handle the legkicks/powershots/D1 wrestling and scrambles of Gaethje?

Turns out he deals with them relatively well. The more we doubt him, the better he does.
 
JonJonesNeedle said:
I mean we say this with every Khabib fight. How's Khabib gonna do against the striking of Conor? How's Khabib gonna do against the striking+BJJ of Dustin? How's Khabib gonna handle the legkicks/powershots/D1 wrestling and scrambles of Gaethje?

Turns out he deals with them relatively well. The more we doubt him, the better he does.
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I don't think any of those guys present the same puzzle that a prime BJ Penn did. For various reasons.
 
rex kramer said:
I don't think any of those guys present the same puzzle that a prime BJ Penn did. For various reasons.
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Before Khabib fought those guys, most people said the same. It's only after Khabib dominated them that they changed their stance. Everyone is Khabib's worst stylistic matchup until he goes in their and dominates them beginning to end.
 
JonJonesNeedle said:
Before Khabib fought those guys, most people said the same. It's only after Khabib dominated them that they changed their stance. Everyone is Khabib's worst stylistic matchup until he goes in their and dominates them beginning to end.
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I thought we were done talking like an hour ago.
 
JonJonesNeedle said:
My point is, it's true that Khabib hasn't fought a fighter like Penn. But they were saying the same thing when he was going to fight Conor, Dustin, Justin.
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My point is, I thought we were done talking like an hour ago.
 
LoveHateLove said:
BJ subs him , prime motivated BJ was a beast
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People want to live in the narrative of the "now". Bj boxes him up, shows his flexibility to withstand takedowns, and subs him off his back. Or gets mauled into the living death.
 
Tabarnakos said:
Prime BJ was good but he lost twice to Frankie. Now i know MMA math is junk and all that but Khabib is still a better fighter than Edgar

khabib wins this
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That wasnt prime BJ though. That was twinkle toes BJ. There is a difference.
 
Prime BJ was kind of a nightmare for wrestlers. Great stand up game, hard to take down and great bjj.

So, how do you think this fight would go?
 
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