TUF 19 Finale LowKick Staff Predictions
With last night’s blockbuster UFC 175 card in the rearview mirror, focus will now shift (kind of) to tonight’s (July 6, 2014) The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 19 Finale main event trilogy match between former UFC lightweight champions and TUF coaches Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn.
Out of action since a one-sided loss to Rory MacDonald in 2012, Penn returns to a new weight class of featherweight in an effort to avenge his two previous losses to “The Answer.”
It promises to be a high-paced affair between two talented contenders looking to put their names into the talented UFC 145-pound title mix. Our picks are in for the grudge match tonight:
Mike Drahota: I’m among the detractors who don’t think bout makes a ton of sense, if only for the reason that it ties up No. 3-ranked Edgar for year in order to face a man he’s already beaten twice. Penn made weight yesterday, and he may retire even if he beats Edgar tonight. But I just don’t see that happening, as I think “The Answer’s” speed, technique, toughness, and tenacity will propel him to a workmanlike victory over a foe he knows how to defeat. At this point in time, I just don’t see Penn reinvented himself enough to beat a top-level foe like Edgar. I’m picking ‘The Answer’ by unanimous decision.
Rory Kernaghan: A lot of people are talking about how insignificant the third fight between Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn is, but I have to disagree. This, I believe, will be the final outing of one of the biggest legends in MMA. ‘The Prodigy’ has been there and done it, and is out of his depth by cutting to 145 at this stage in his career. Edgar was faster at lightweight, and will be faster than Penn at featherweight. Unfortunately for the Hawaiian veteran, I feel another five round decision win for ‘The Answer’ is in order.
Brian Cox: Frankie Edgar is a great fighter and sets a heck of a pace. He’s twice proven that he can beat BJ Penn, and the odds are good that he’ll do it again. However, the Penn that he’ll be facing on Sunday night will be a different one than Edgar has faced before. Simply put, he’s matured, and at 145 pounds, it’s reasonable to assume that he’ll be in shape for the fight. As such, Penn has addressed two of the biggest negatives in his career. In the first two fights Edgar outworked Penn. This time around I’m not sure he’ll be able to do it. I think Penn will have the gas tank to go the distance and offset Edgar’s output. As such, and for reason of improved mindset, conditioning, and the added benefit of fighting at 145 pounds, I’m picking BJ Penn by way of unanimous decision.
Buster Evans: I’m having a hard time picking this fight and I’ll tell you why. B.J. Penn is at his best when he’s motivated, which we haven’t seen in his last few fights at welterweight. On Sunday, he will be dropping down two weight classes at 36 years old to face Edgar, who has already beat Penn twice. This could very well be the most motivated version of him we’ve ever seen. However, I still don’t think he will have what it takes to beat “The Answer” so I’m picking Edgar to take another decision win.
Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea for USA TODAY Sports
