GSP is out. Replaced by:

[( o Y o )]

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=3125

BJ Penn.

[gols]

This is actually really good in a way, now we can see if Hughes is the 'true' champion by getting revenge.

[ArtOfWar]

WAAAAR PENN! Damn, I'm beginning to salivate. But Baby Jay is taking this fight at a 1 month notice...me no like that. Ahh, WTF, BJ is great no matter what

[Lord Gaul]

I am torn, I like both guys so I will simply route for an exciting fight.

[RedHawk]

oh this is too cool. turn some bad news into good news. shame gsp didnt get his shot. But glad to see Penn in there.


will this be a title fight?


gsp gets the winner?

[migo]

Penn was already expecting to fight Hironaka, so no worries there.

[Titan]

I was expecting Nick Diaz and ready to say "crap", but BJ is the good and logical replacement for the fight.

[heckyl]

im disgusted by this. Hughes is going to fight hard and will take a decision 5 rounds later. BJ doesnt deserve this.

[derUbermensch]

Hughes, no question.

[Grant Ellis]

The gameplan for Hughes vs. GSP is the same as Hughes vs. BJ..take down a dangerous striker who is next to impossible to takedown and hold there... then pound the crap out of him.

Difference is BJ has amazing submissions while GSP has good submissions... but, I don't think it will matter.

I think Hughes is dominant and focused enough right now to take BJ, but if lightning strikes twice I'll be a monkey's uncle.

[mugen67]

I don't really see this as bad news, I'm interested in seeing the rematch between them. If Penn wins again, I imagine St. Pierre will eventually have rematches with both Hughes and Penn so maybe this worked out for the better. Maybe now they will set Hironaka up with an easier first fight....

[Shiruba]

Feel sorry for GSP, he deserved it, but im very happy they gave the spot to BJ. Hopefully he shows more heart than against GSP, then he will take it.

[FieldingMellish]

Am I the only one who absolutely detests this? Most likely.

Oh yeah, just saw heckyl's post, lol. So I'm not alone.

Penn doesn't deserve the fight and I think Hughes is going to obliterate him. Still, as (fairly) late replacements go its a quality fight thopugh from a mnarketability standpoint I don't see how this is in any way better than Hughes-GSP.

Of course, my proud bias towards GSP may be affecting my judgement.

Just hope when GSP returns he doesn't have to re-earn his shot like Parisyan was supposed to with the Thompson & Sanchez fights. He already got screwed over by Penn's demands and should automatically get Hughes, er, the winner as soon as possible.

[Titan]

Am I the only one who absolutely detests this? Most likely.

Oh yeah, just saw heckyl's post, lol. So I'm not alone.

Penn doesn't deserve the fight and I think Hughes is going to obliterate him. Still, as (fairly) late replacements go its a quality fight thopugh from a mnarketability standpoint I don't see how this is in any way better than Hughes-GSP.
Who would you have liked to see replace GSP?

[FieldingMellish]

Who would you have liked to see replace GSP?

Oh its not a case of there being a better replacement. Just that I was so ridiculously excited about the Hughes-GSP rematch.

I don't think Penn deserves the fight after losing to GSP and also after putting in some shitty, boring performances since leaving UFC. Not sure anyone else deserves it either (except Diego Sanchez but its way too soon after the Parisyan fight) I'm just very sad the fight I really wanted to see is off.

[migs]

I am a huge fan of GSP and not a fan of BJ. I was hitting the roof when GSP started taking over in their recent fight.

That said, I love this fight cause they have a score to settle. The first fight was an absolute clinic by BJ finished off with a kiss. Hughes won't admit it but he must have been pissed that BJ punked him like that, cause he is human. This is a great grudge match whether it is billed as one or not.

[FieldingMellish]

I am a huge fan of GSP and not a fan of BJ. I was hitting the roof when GSP started taking over in their recent fight.

That said, I love this fight cause they have a score to settle. The first fight was an absolute clinic by BJ finished off with a kiss. Hughes won't admit it but he must have been pissed that BJ punked him like that, cause he is human. This is a great grudge match whether it is billed as one or not.

Oh, it'll be pushed as a major grudge match. NOBODY does a better job of hyping a fight than UFC. Hughes must be absolutely furious after the first fight and his arrogant dismissal of BJ. I like Penn but I think he's getting wasted in this one.

[Titan]

Oh its not a case of there being a better replacement. Just that I was so ridiculously excited about the Hughes-GSP rematch.
Same here. I've waited a long time to see GSP get his well-earned shot. GSP is a great fighter, and will make a great champion. I wish BJ versus Hughes wasn't for the title, because GSP earned it and showed a lot of patience. BJ winning this fight could throw things for a loop. I.e. the UFC gets the opportunity to make a GSP versus Hughes fight for the shot at the title, and similar matchups. But I hope they wouldn't, even if they got the chance.

[MZN]

BJP is the best replacement you can get but still it sucks. It sucks because of Penn not earning it, still being really dangerous to Hughes and him winning would turn the ww division upside down. I think though that the ufc looks at it as the Liddel-Horn re-match in a sense that they are confident Matt will win and let him fight GSP some events later and I really do hope that they are right.

I'd rather see it being postponed with all the financial drawbacks that it'll bring. GSP's groin muscle should be publicly lynched!

[Global Honored]

I don't know how confident they are Matt will win..we were prob going to have Matt-BJ either way, after the GSP-Hughes Title fight, now it just gets moved up the docket. GSP going to fight both of them anyways, so no matter who wins, it will still be a drawing rematch. GSP-Matt II or BJ-GSP II. The year of the sequels!

[Grant Ellis]

Come to think of it...I really wanted to see GSP vs. HUGHES II :(

Thanks for rubbing in how good a fight it would have been, fielding. :(

[heckyl]

yeah fielding, ya limey bastard! youve made me cry for the last time! :(