UFC 127 Preview: Is BJ Penn Going to Have to Choke a Fitch?

The UFC is bringing the thunder down under this Saturday as UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch is a go from Sydney, Australia.

This event marks the second Australian visit for the world’s premier MMA organization as UFC 110 took place from Sydney this past February 2010 ended in an event that ended in spectacular fashion both in the cage and at the box office. That inaugural visit actually sold out at the box office while Cain Velasquez turned the lights out for  Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira in the main event to begin his ascent to the UFC Heavyweight title.

This time around, the UFC hits Australia’s largest city with a card featuring a grand total of twelve bouts. Headlined by a main event featuring perennial top welterweight contender Jon Fitch taking on former lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn, this event should deliver in terms of star power at the top. Adding to that bout will be two supporting bouts laden with international flavor as Australia’s own George Sotiropoulos takes on Germany’s Dennis Siver at middleweight while Engand’s Michael Bisping takes on “El Conquistador” Jorge Rivera from Millford, Massachusetts.

The rest of the main card features two other bouts featuring  with four-time UFC Fight of the Night award winner Chris Lytle takes on late-replacement Brian Ebersole while Australian native Kyle Noke also steps into the cage to take on Chris Camozzi.

Let’s take a look at the three most interesting fights on the UFC 127 card.

BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch

This matchup will be BJ Penn’s second at welterweight since walking through Matt Hughes at UFC 123. I haven’t heard many people claiming BJ has lost a step just yet, but then again, he has been speaking in measured tones as of late, seemingly content with his legacy as a fighter and now just looking to take tough fights without the weight of the world on his back.

As for Jon Fitch, well let’s just say the former Purdue wrestler should be ornery as an alligator because they got all them teeth and no toothbrush by now. After all, it took him 16 straight wins to get to his first title shot against Georges St. Pierre in August of 2008. Losing that first title try, Fitch has now won five in a row and feels put on the back burner with a recent 170 title shot going to his teammate Josh Koscheck and future contenders in Jake Shields, Yushin Okami, and Anderson Silva presumably lined up to take on St. Pierre.

Is BJ Penn gonna have to choke a Fitch? What does Jon have to do get some respect around here?

Well… Finishing BJ Penn would be one way to make a statement for the latter.The only problem with that is Jon Fitch hasn’t finished anyone since 2007. Its not exactly like BJ Penn is the easiest competitor in the world to put away. I’ll be a kangaroo’s uncle if you guys think this one’s going to a quick finish. In fact, I’ll order a burger at the first bell and finish it before these guys are done.

I think this one is definitely going to a decision with Fitch maybe doing just enough to get the nod but you never know. What do you guys think?

Jorge Rivera vs. Michael Bisping

Have you seen the YouTube video leading up to this bout with Jorge Rivera trying to get under the Briton’s skin? If you have not, I highly suggest you watch it because it’s so hilarious it almost made me pee.

After all these years teetering on the upper end of the middleweight division, MIchael Bisping is still clammoring for respect and Jorge Rivera simply isn’t giving it to him. And if Bisping wants to get that respect from anybody else, he’s going to have to go through Rivera to earn it.

“The Count” is a busy fighter that can give anybody trouble on their feet. He’s hard to find, hard to control, and even harder to take down and keep down. As for “El Conquistador,” he too holds the same well-rounded qualities but leans more on his striking in order to finish fights.

I see this one as a tough fight stylistically for Bisping but one he should still remain the favorite in. Jorge is 38 and not getting another younger while Bisping is also in a pivotal spot for his career. Lots riding on this one but Bisping via decision.

George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver

Having finished Joe Luazon impressively in his last bout, George Sotiropolous seems destined for a title run at 155. The Australian’s win streak currently sits at seven fights in a row since his octagon debut and he’s looking to make it eight in his home country en route to bigger fights down the road.

For his part, Dennis Siver has won two fights in a row himself, having beaten Ander Winner and Spencer Fisher.

The X-Factor in this matchup will be whether Siver can do enough to survive both on the feet and on the ground against Sotiropolous, who’s shown arguably the best MMA submission game at 155 in the UFC for a very long time. Seriously. If Shinja Aoki and Eddie Bravo had a lovechild, they would name him George Sotiropolous and make sure he had a jab to go along with his submissions.

That’s what has happened here and I don’t think Dennis Siver can handle that. I’m going with George Sotiropoulos via submission.

Feel free to chime in through the comments section with all your picks. Winner gets a pat on the back and bragging rights until the next event. Cheers mate!

UFC 127: Penn vs. Fitch
February 26, 2011
Acer Arena
Sydney, Australia

MAIN CARD

BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch
Jorge Rivera vs. Michael Bisping
George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver
Chris Lytle vs. Brian Ebersole
Chris Camozzi vs. Kyle Noke

PRELIMINARY CARD

Ross Pearson vs. Spencer Fisher
James Te-Huna vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Riki Fukuda vs. Nick Ring
Mark Hunt vs. Chris Tuchscherer
Maciej Jewtuszko vs. Curt Warburton
Anthony Perosh vs. Tom Blackledge
Tiequan Zhang vs. Jason Reinhardt