I am so excited about this Saturday’s UFC Fight between George St. Pierre and BJ Penn. I started paying attention to Mixed Martial Arts back in 1999 when my friend Michael Lane started practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  It’s really an amazing sport.  It is pretty violent, but the safety record so far has been very good (much better than boxing). This fight brings together the reigning Welterweight Champion against the reigning Lightweight Champion.  You would think that this would be an easy match for the Welterweight Champ because of the size/strength advantage.  But BJ Penn has had a lot of success fighting bigger guys and is probably very comfortable at 170. Here’s how I break down the fight: Technique: Draw GSP and BJ are both incredibly well rounded fighters.  While BJ is probably the better grappler, GSP is probably a slightly better striker.  But don’t forget that GSP is an excellent wrestler and has easily dispatched many jiu jitsu specialists.  Likewise, remember that BJ is an excellent boxer with a ton of knockout power. Athleticism and Fitness: GSP GSP is the bigger fighter and is known for excellent conditioning.  BJ has been known to gas out in long fights, and may struggle with the larger, stronger GSP in a 5-round bout.  I’d say that the longer the fight goes on, the most GSP has an advantage. Mental – BJ As dominant as GSP is, he has lost fights against far inferior fighters in the past because of lapses in judgement.  BJ on the other hand is extremely hungry, and is the underdog in this fight.  He has much more to gain, and GSP has a lot to lose, so I’d say BJ has an advantage here. Rob’s Prediction: GSP by referee stoppage in Round 4