It appears that the ufc is more than happy to accommodate fighter’s requests to fight other fighters… so long as the UFC itself likes that fight. Over the past few days, some interesting developments have taken place over the various Twitter accounts of several prominent UFC fighters. After trying (and failing) to set up a BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch rematch, it now appears that BJ Penn will instead be facing Carlos Condit. Here are all the details. ...

Recently, BJ Penn posted a video on his official YouTube account that has been gaining a lot of attention. In it, he is asked what he thinks needs to happen in order for MMA to be more exciting. Penn’s response was that championships needs to be eliminated and judges need to be eliminated. He said that any fight that went to the judges under normal circumstances would instead be ruled a draw, and the only way to win a fight was to finish a fight. He then added that the pay scale should be adjusted to award those that finish fights the most. It’s a very interesting idea, but would it work? Here are my thoughts. ...

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn doesn't have a whole lot of motivation to continue his career as a professional mixed martial artist. After consecutive losses to current lightweight kingpin Frankie Edgar, Penn moved back to 170-pounds in order to complete a trilogy with rival Matt Hughes. And while the cards were stacked against him, Penn was able to knock out the resurgent UFC Hall of Famer, who at the time was riding a three-fight win streak heading into their final meeting. Since the win, Penn has gone to a draw with consensus number two welterweight fighter Jon Fitch at UFC 127, and the two were expected to meet in a rematch to settle the score come UFC 132, however the American Kickboxing Academy protege has since bowed out of the bout due to injury. And while several fighters had begun campaigning to fight Penn in place of Fitch, namely Carlos Condit, the Hawaiian also has since suffered an injury which will keep him out of the pay-per-view event. ...

As BJ Penn, the former lightweight and welterweight champion in the UFC, has since been left without an opponent when budding rival Jon Fitch pulled out of their rematch at UFC 132 this July, only one fighter has been vocal enough about the proposition in stepping in to face the perennial top-10 fighter. Penn recently has bounced back from a disappointing two-fight losing skid in the lightweight division when he took on Matt Hughes last November in their rubber match, where heading into the bout both men had split victories. In the end, BJ managed to knock out the UFC Hall of Famer in just seconds of the opening round. Next, Penn battled to a contentious and controversial majority draw against Jon Fitch at UFC 127 in Sydney Australia, where both men had their moments. The fans and media alike have been split on the decided victor of the bout, so the match was intended for an immediate rematch, however since then Fitch has suffered a shoulder injury in training. Carlos Condit, the former WEC welterweight champion and budding UFC contender, is the one man who has been vocal about taking on the tall task in meeting with Penn come this July. ...

It’s recently been announced that Jon Fitch has been forced to pull out of his upcoming rematch with BJ Penn. The two first met at UFC 127 in February, and fought to a very close Draw. The rematch would’ve taken place at UFC 132 in July. Instead, Penn is now sitting on the sidelines waiting for a replacement to be named. Here’s a quick list of the five fighters I think Penn should face now that his rematch with Fitch is off the table. ...

It has been reported earlier last week that a highly anticipated rematch between former champion BJ Penn and perennial contender Jon Fitch would be taking shape. In their first encounter, Fitch and Penn battled to a contentious majority draw, much to the ire of the fans and media alike who were split on the decision, with some saying Penn deserved the win while others made the case for the American Kickboxing Academy product. However, it has recently been revealed that Fitch has since suffered an injury and could not continue with the proposed match-up. ...

As they should rightfully be, all eyes are currently on ufc 128, which takes place tonight on Facebook, Spike TV, and then Pay-Per-View. After that comes UFC 129 in front of over 55,000 fans. But the UFC is always looking to the future, it’s one of the key ingredients of their success. And the UFC recently announced three marquee match-ups for their UFC 132 event, featuring a colossal rematch between BJ Penn and Jon Fitch. Here are all the details. ...

UFC 127 was a pretty solid night of fights, especially for an international event. The Australian fans at the Acer Arena were treated to several entertaining brawls, some great KO’s, and just a very competitive night in general. But which stars shined brightest, and what moments will fans be talking about in the following weeks? Here’s my take on the matter: my top 5 best moments of UFC 127: “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch” certainly had its fair share of surprises. The main event ended in a draw, Brian Ebersole upset Chris Lytle, Dennis Siver upset George Sotiropoulos… the list goes on and on. Now once again it’s time to ask: what’s next? What does the future hold after so many unexpected happenings occurred at UFC 127? Here’s my answer to just that: a new edition of my “What’s Next” series of articles, featuring UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

UFC 127 was a solid but not a great card.  The second ever UFC event in Australia brought out the best of Michael Bisping against an aging opponent, revealed the unique skills of a UFC newcomer, and provided a main event that featured surprising tactics by "The Prodigy" BJ Penn.  Click through for detailed notes on UFC 127. ...

Another one went into the history books tonight, fans and friends. And UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch” was a very interesting night of fights, to say the very least. It was a night full of upsets, dramatic finishes, free and entertaining preliminary fights on both Facebook and ION TV, and more. And in the main event, Jon Fitch and BJ Penn battled to a tough three-round decision, with neither man emerging the victor. Here are the full results as well as some early commentary on UFC 127: “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

When UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch” airs live tomorrow, it will be the culmination of much hard work by all involved. Many of the fighters find themselves in can’t-lose situations, from BJ Penn to Jorge Rivera, from Jon Fitch to George Sotiropoulos. I’ve covered this event a whole lot, and now it’s time for my final say. This is another edition of “Finally Final Thoughts”, covering my final musings on what I hope will be one of the best cards of 2011. ...

We’re now only a few days away from UFC 127 "Penn vs. Fitch". In the main event, BJ Penn takes on Jon Fitch for the next shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship.. The co-main event will also be an interesting match-up, as Michael Bisping and Jorge Rivera look to settle a bitter war of words inside the Octagon. As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post (covering who I think will win and why), now featuring UFC 127 "Penn vs. Fitch". ...

On February 27 (26 in the United States), the UFC will hold its highly-anticipated “Penn vs. Fitch” event, featuring a major welterweight showdown between top stars BJ Penn and Jon Fitch, with a shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship on the line. Also, heavy-handed Middleweight fighters Jorge Rivera and Michael Bisping will look to settle a bitter and heated rivalry when they step into the Octagon in the night’s co-main event. Still, some fans may be asking themselves: what are the best reasons to check out this card? Here’s my answer to just that: 5 reasons to watch UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to the latest edition of “Crash Course”. “Crash Course” is a series of articles designed to give readers a quick rundown on all the relevant information they need to know heading into an upcoming major MMA event. Everything from why you should watch, what you should expect in the co-main and main event, and even where and when you can find it on TV is all covered in detail. So let’s get right to it with today’s edition, featuring UFC 127: “Penn vs. Fitch”. ...

It’s now time, fans and friends, for the finale of my special one-day-only four-part series where I give my in-depth thoughts on the upcoming major welterweight showdown between Jon Fitch and BJ Penn. For those coming in at this point, Part 1 of the series is up here, Part 2 can be seen by clicking here, and Part 3 is available right here. This final entry into the series is the reverse of Part 3, and details five reasons why I think BJ Penn could defeat Jon Fitch. Let’s get right to it. ...

Welcome back fans and friends, it’s now time for the third part of my one-day-only four-part series covering UFC 127’s main event: a showdown between BJ Penn and Jon Fitch, with a shot at the UFC Welterweight Championship on the line. Part 1 of the series is up here, Part 2 can be seen by clicking here. Parts 3 and 4 are a new installment in my “Five Reasons Why” series, so let’s dive right in with five reasons why Jon Fitch could beat BJ Penn, with the reverse soon to follow. ...

Hello once more fans and friends and welcome to part 2 of my one-day-only four-part series focusing on the major UFC 127 showdown between BJ Penn and Jon Fitch. The first entry in the series, where I say what I think will happen if Jon Fitch beats BJ Penn, is available right here. Now it’s time for the reverse: here’s what I think will happen if BJ Penn beats Jon Fitch. It’s another new edition of “What If He Wins?”, and it features one of my favorite fighters of all time. Let’s get to it. ...

Hello again fans and friends and welcome to part one of a special one-day-only four-part mini-series focusing on the upcoming encounter between top UFC welterweights Jon Fitch and BJ Penn. Today’s four-part series will see two new entries into my “What If He Wins” series of columns, as well as a new “5 Reasons Why” two-parter focusing on the five reasons why Jon Fitch could beat BJ Penn and vice-versa. So let’s dive right in with part 1: a new “What If He Wins”, where I say what I think the future holds for an MMA fighter if he wins his next fight, featuring Jon Fitch. ...

A much anticipated welterweight showdown just got a little bit more exciting. While it was widely considered that Jon Fitch, the number two man in the welterweight division for the last several years, would likely earn a title shot with a win over former champion BJ Penn, seems like the same would be at stake for the "Hilo Boy" should he record a victory here. Current champion Georges St. Pierre will be taking on Jake Shields in his sixth consecutive title defense, and should the French Canadian leave the bout the victor, he will be moving up to the middleweight division in order to face titleholder Anderson Silva, leaving the 170-pound class wide open for either Penn or Fitch to rule. ...

There's a lot of things in the world of mixed martial arts that I presumed would never happen. Brock Lesnar becoming a mixed martial artist, let alone champion, is right up there. Randy Couture recapturing a heavyweight title in his 40's almost tops the list. Fedor Emelianenko losing, EVER, was another big one. But to see Matt Hughes and BJ Penn train with one another was almost mind boggling, that I've had to re-watch the tape time, and time again. And it's true. The former two-time welterweight champion Hughes, who has gone 1-2 in bouts with Penn, is training the Hilo Boy for his upcoming bout with perennial contender Jon Fitch on February 26. ...

It’s recently been confirmed that former UFC Welterweight Champion and UFC Hall of Fame member Matt Hughes will most likely not be retiring. Naturally, this is a hot topic amongst the MMA fanbase. Can Hughes still go, especially considering his recent pummeling at the hands of BJ Penn? What type of future does Hughes have in a division that should have passed him by already, if not for his impressive ability to adapt to the times? Here’s my thoughts on what I think the future holds for Matt Hughes. ...

Perennial contender and former title challenger Jon Fitch is back on the hunt for a second chance at UFC gold. After initially claiming eight-victories in a row since his initial inception into the worlds largest mixed martial arts promotion, Fitch was granted a title shot against current champion Georges St. Pierre, though he came up short in his bid as he was on the losing side of a unanimous decision. Since then, the American Kickboxing Academy product has rattled off five straight wins against top competition, which includes victories over Paulo Thiago and most recently former title challenger Thiago Alves at UFC 117 last August. Now, Jon will be gearing up for arguably one of his most toughest challenges to date when he takes on former welterweight and lightweight champion BJ Penn. ...

As recently as two days ago I talked about how I felt like I was one of the few MMA fans that’s really looking forward to the upcoming Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 2 fight, which headlines UFC 125: “Resolution” on New Year’s Day and is for the UFC Lightweight Championship. In fact, the more and more I think about this match, the more and more I really begin to feel pumped about it. Don’t believe me? Still skeptic? Here’s five reasons, in no particular order, why Frank Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 2 will be a lot more exciting than you think. ...

Frank Edgar is unquestionably and undoubtedly the number one Lightweight Mixed Martial Artist in the world. Some people still have trouble accepting this, some even outright reject it. A contingent of fight fans have even took it upon themselves to react to the upcoming UFC 125: “Retribution” main event, which features Frank Edgar defending his UFC Lightweight Championship against Gray Maynard, the only man that’s ever beaten him, with outright disdain. But this type of hostility is nothing new to “The Answer” and in a recent interview, the UFC’s premiere Lightweight stated that he’s once again looking forward to shutting everybody up. Here are the highlights. ...

We’re now over a week removed from UFC 124: “St. Pierre vs. Koscheck 2”, the event that saw long-reigning UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre once again demolish a top-ranked Welterweight. GSP’s latest victim was Josh Koscheck, who lost to GSP for the second time and in front of an incredibly partisan crowd. It’s recently been revealed that Josh Koscheck will be sitting on the sidelines for at least sixty days in order to heal up a broken orbital bone. Many are wondering what the future holds for “Kos”, and I personally hesitated to comment immediately after the event. Now that I’ve taken some time to really think about everything, here’s my list of the Top 5 opponents Josh Koscheck should face in the immediate future. ...

From the moment its main event was first announced, fans around the world started buzzing about ufc 127. This will mark the second time the UFC has visited the Land Down Under, as the event is scheduled for February 27 at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia. Jon Fitch and BJ Penn clash in the main event in a key welterweight showdown that has serious title implications. The official and complete card was recently announced, so here are all the details. ...

What a difference one fight can make. Now more than ever it seems as if most MMA stars are judged and even judge themselves by their latest performance. With that in mind, Matt Hughes is probably in a pretty difficult situation right about now. The former long-reigning ufc Welterweight Champion is coming off of one of the biggest losses of his entire career, a 21-second destruction courtesy of longtime rival BJ Penn. And according to Hughes himself, the supremely-humbling loss to Penn may have convinced him to finally call it a career. Here are all the details. ...

As so often happens in our sport, the MMA world at large is still feeling the effects of a recent ufc card. The card in question is UFC 123: “Rampage vs. Machida”. It was an even filled with surprises, from Maiquel Falcao dominating Gerald Harris to BJ Penn utterly demolishing Matt Hughes. Recently, both the medical suspensions and the “Prelims Live” rating have been made public. Here are all the details. ...

From Jake Ellenberger to one of the toughest tests of his entire career, perhaps the absolute toughest… Jon Fitch certainly has a lot to look forward to in 2011. The former UFC Welterweight Championship contender, who is 13-1 in the biggest and most competitive MMA organization in the world, will face former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion BJ Penn at UFC 127 in Australia. In a recent interview, Fitch talked about how he’s thankful for the opportunity and will be looking to make the most out of it. Read on for all the details and why I personally think that Jon Fitch can and will beat BJ Penn. ...