UFC legend BJ Penn and Nick Diaz meet in what is the third choice as the main event for UFC 137. The re-shuffle has the MMA world intrigued. The re-jigging has gone from Georges St-Pierre vs Diaz, to St-Pierre vs Carlos Condit – after Diaz was expelled for missing multiple news conferences – and then, due to a GSP knee injury, Penn vs Diaz as the main attraction.
Diaz has earned his place here, returning to the UFC after a career-defining 10 straight victories. He vacated his Strikeforce welterweight title when he expected to face St-Pierre for the UFC belt. In a previous run in the UFC, he was 6 wins, 4 losses, between 2003 and 2006, but this is the enigmatic character's time to shine.
Penn comes in, arguably, as the underdog. He drew against Jon Fitch in a title eliminator in February in Sydney, and has a record of 2-3-1 as a UFC welterweight, with both victories against fellow legend Matt Hughes.
Tale of the Tape
Penn Diaz
W-L-D 16-7-2 25-7, 1 NC
Age 32 28
Height 5’9” 6’1
Reach 70” 74”
Strength BJJ, Boxing BJJ, Boxing
On the main card, Cheick Kongo moves up to chief support, and seeks to become the fourth heavyweight with 10 wins in UFC history. The others are Frank Mir, Andre Arlovski, and Randy Couture, all with 10 apiece. No heavyweight has more wins than Kongo since his debut at UFC 61. Pedro Rizzo and Tim Sylvia also stand at 9 heavyweight victories in the UFC.
Similarly, no heavyweight has more wins than Matt Mitrione since his debut at the TUF 10 finale. The former Giants and Vikings practice squad member is unbeaten in five MMA bouts with four wins by knockout, but this will provide a major test for whether the loveable character has what takes in the heavy division. After losing back-to-back bouts against Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir in 2009, Kongo got back on track with a submission victory over Paul Buentello and a spectacular first-round knockout of Pat Barry in June. He also drew with Travis Browne after having a point deducted for grabbing the fence.
The ever-popular Mirko 'Cro Cop', the 2006 Pride Grand Prix winner, has lost back-to-back fights, each by knockout, and tries to avoid dropping three in a row for the first time. Nelson also enters on a two-fight losing streak for the second time and has never lost three in a row. The TUF 10 winner and former IFL heavyweight champion is just 2-4 in his last six bouts but each of his last six wins have been by knockout.
Scott Jorgensen vs Jeff Curran (bantamweight) was promoted to the main card after St-Pierre vs Condit and Brad Tavares against Dustin Jacoby were both shelved due to injuries. Curran returns to the UFC for the first time since 2004 when he lost a lightweight bout to Matt Serra – his only previous UFC contests. He also lost his last four WEC bouts from 2007-09. However, has won two straight and four of his last five overall and seeks his first three-fight winning streak since winning six in a row from 2006-07. Jorgensen has won six of his last seven with the only loss in that stretch coming to bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz.
At featherweight, Hatsu Hioki makes his featherweight debut against George Roop. Hioki has won four straight and is 12-1-1 in his last 14 bouts. Considered a top featherweight in the world, Hioki has won the Shooto lightweight and Sengoku featherweight titles. Roop comes off upsetting Josh Grispi by TKO in June.
The PRELIMINARY CARD has one contest which has fight of the night written all over it: Dennis Siver vs Donald Cerrone. Both teak-tough, seemingly impregnable fighters. It should be a fan pleaser. From this seat, I can't wait for the Cowboy v the Caveman.
Elsewhere on the prelimary card:
Tyson Griffin vs Bart Palaszewski
Brandon Vera vs Eliot Marshall
Ramsey Nijem vs Danny Downes
Chris Camozzi vs Francis Carmont
Dustin Jacoby vs Clifford Starks
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