I haven’t seen the undercard yet. The preview to this fight comes on here on the west coast in about an hour. I predict BJ will win by submission. I would have said GSP but when I saw BJ “go through” S.Shirt with mostly jabbs I knew that I had waaaaay underestimated his stand up. Most people know that “The Prodigy” is dangerous on the ground but most people, myself included, underestimate his striking ability. BJ is one bad mofo. THAT is why I think he’s so dangerous. I mean GSP looks like he could kick your ass but BJ with his round cantaloupe head looks like somebody you’d go smoke some bud with or something. He’s just so unassuming. That’s my take.jp
Going just by the weight training I think BJ is trying to bulk up for 170 lb the healthy way this time around instead of just eating crap and being fat. The squats are good but I have to agree with a previous statement in “too much islotation stuff”. BJ is dangerous on the ground and standing, however so is GSP. However GSP will most likely be heavier, never has suspect cardio and has a mental edge on BJ in that he won the last fight.
Big determining factors are BJ’s conditioning, how he handles the weight gain (as in speed, again conditioning, etc) and of course fighter’s game plans. A in-shape BJ Penn is a scary, scary man. However GSP is pretty much always in shape and constantly improving while BJ has only really devoted himself to fighting in the last couple of years.
With all that said I’m picking GSP to win most likely by TKO but with a Decision not surprizing me either.
Yah, looks like a typical workout. I don’t see a lot of sports specific workouts, though squats and dead lifts help those powerful hip muscles which is needed if taken to the ground for flipping people off. He lifts about the same amount of weight as I do and I’m 5′1, 120 lbs and a girl. I would trade off between endurance days that impliment many reps to work his stamina. Then I’d have days where less reps are used and the stress is placed on strength and power and increasing maximum strength.
I think BJ needs to hire a new trainer or buy himself Blunt Force Trauma (lol).
His S & C program might be shit but he’s definitely a talented guy, probs not as athletic as GSP or as strong.
Awful. What’s the point of smoking a fighter with light weights if they’re going to spar later anyway? Leg press and Machine hamstring curls? Give me a break. I train 50 year old ladies who deadlift more than that.
From what the video gave, it’s a shame really. Isolation stuff for a fight comming up?! Now, they may know something we don’t in terms of injuries etc… however if all things are equal, it’s a shame he’s paying someone for that!!!
Take responsibility BJ and do your home work bro, your body is your paycheck and the training we seen is NOT pay check material! Lucky your a freak!!
I agree with Max. When I was working out with a couple of fighters roughly 5 to 6 years ago, I noticed they were using light weights and high reps on their weight training workouts. This was in addition to running, skills training, sparring, and skipping rope. I convinced two of them to start adding weight to the bar in the gym and gradually curtail their rep schemes to no more than 5 reps on any given set. Heavy triples and multiple max singles became more the norm. In addition, they decreased strength training to two days per week with full body workouts rather than four-day body part splits.
We also changed the long slow distance running to sprints of varying distances as well as hill sprints. Both guys began to see a difference in their sparring and fights when it came to man-handling opponents much bigger and previously stronger than them. Running out of “gas” was not an issue due to all the practice time on the mat or in the ring. Hypertrophy and weight gain were not an issue due to the low reps. I conclude that fighters need to use weight training more for strength and power gains and not putting “gas” in their tank. I do realize however that I only worked with two fighters and not dozens or even hundreds to base my opinion on.
All i have to say about BJ´s prep is: get BFT, seriously BJ. I won´t comment more on the video as everyone else has pretty much agreed on the needless isolation movements and the surprisingly light weights.
As far as the fight itself, here´s are some thoughts and my prediction :
- On their first fight BJ pushed GSP, somewhere in the 3rd round, BJ got bored and GSP got the win, yet took a lot of punishment and ended bloodied and battered, BJ looked like he´d just finished sparring.
- BJ went up in weight to take on Matt hughes, made the weight, was still lighter than Hughes on fightday (Matt cuts down from 190 as you all know)yet was stronger, faster and more skilled in submitting him on their first fight. GSP was submitted on his first try at Hughes,still he then went on to beat him convincingly in fights 2 and 3. BJ lost fight 2 but he dominatted Hughes earlier before a freak accident tore BJ´s rib muscles and was pounded into a ref stoppage.
- Lately, BJ has been more active on the octagon than GSP.
- BJ has fought better opposition, not to take anything away from GSP, but BJ, i dare to say has got more experience.
- GSP has got great work ethic to go with his strenght and athleticism, BJ was just born to fight he´s a freak among freaks. At a heavier weight unlike most lighter athletes moving up a class, BJ IS stronger, yet just as fast and explossive.
- GSP is a great all around fighter, his stand up is impecable his takedowns powerful and his ground skills are excellent. BJ´s stand up is not as colorful but is VERY powerful, If he wants to take you down he will do so and almost effortlessly and his takedown deffense is tremendous, he will go down only if he chooses to.As far as ground skill there´s no contest BJ´s just superb.
Bottom line: BJ by sub or quick KO, GSP could very well take the match but as is the case with BJ, it depends on how bad BJ wants it, if he wants to…he will find a way to win an there´s really not much GSP can do about it.
I know a lot of people on this forum come from a strength and conditioning background, so I can understand the concern regarding the training methods used by BJ …
But, the dude is sooo talented.
I think the dude could use a hawaii-chair for his conditioning and he’d still KO or submit most dudes his size.
BJ is trying to put on muscle, pure and simple. He doesn’t have time to establish a strength base or any of that stuff before his fight, he just needs to get to a solid 170 in a hurry.
Also, there’s a high enough chance of injury from the fight training, he doesn’t need to add heavy deadlifts or squats and other exercises that may cause an injury. This is why a lot of fighters rarely, if ever, use free weights when training, particularly in the weeks approaching a fight. Not in a heavy capacity anyway, more lightweights for conditioning. I’m not saying deadlifts are a dangerous exercise, just all things being equal, he’d be a lot more likely to hurt himself on a deadlift then a leg curl.
Focusing on power for BJ would be like being able to try and beat Michael Jordan at any form of competition and picking basketball. No matter how much time he puts in between now and then on “power”, he will get destroyed if he tries to play that game with GSP.
and its apples and oranges comparing the ground games of GSP and BJ. GSP is a physical machine with relentless power and conditioning. BJ is a jiu jitsu, well, prodigy. He’s a freak. And he’s adapted BJJ better than almost anyone in the game (honorable mention to Minotauro). And he’s damn near impossible to finish (took a cracked rib to finally take him out).
Besides the ham curls, I didn’t see any isolation exercises, unless your counting the hyper extensions… but that’s not really an iso. I honestly didn’t think the workout was that bad – anything with squats & deadlifts in the same session is going to be demanding. We don’t know where this workout fits into his overall program so we can’t judge how appropriate it is based on a 1 min clip.
I say BJ wins 3rd round submission… it could go either way though. Both men are excellent fighters. Should be exciting.
I’m not a GSP fan; classy guy and talented enough to play any sport he wants but I just can’t get behind somebody who comes out to french rap music and wears a headband that he stole from Daniel Larusso. That said he’s going to destroy Penn. I’m waiting on the GSP/Anderson Silva fight; this is just a formality.
I can’t knock or praise a 1 min training video. Squats looked good, BJ has insane flexibility. I cringed a bit on the leg press, looks like he was using a ton of knee extension rather than the glutes/hams because of his leg placement. He can get away with it but I never could. I was under the impression that he was doing a high rep or circuit style training.
I like BJ,one of my favorite fighters b/c he is insane at BJJ and I think he really took the time to learn proper stand up. I will never vote against him but GSP is peaking and that dude always come into the cage in great shape where BJ can be suspect in that area.
Yeah I agree watch his training compared to GSP and there is a huge difference. GSP does a lot better training with his strength and conditioning coach I think.
I do not see a huge real world translation so him doing a leg press and leg curl, hes a fighter why would you be making him do that shit.
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January 14th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I thought BJ Penn’s workout of choice was Crossfit, but from that very short clip it looks just like a typical body building workout.
January 14th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I haven’t seen the undercard yet. The preview to this fight comes on here on the west coast in about an hour. I predict BJ will win by submission. I would have said GSP but when I saw BJ “go through” S.Shirt with mostly jabbs I knew that I had waaaaay underestimated his stand up. Most people know that “The Prodigy” is dangerous on the ground but most people, myself included, underestimate his striking ability. BJ is one bad mofo. THAT is why I think he’s so dangerous. I mean GSP looks like he could kick your ass but BJ with his round cantaloupe head looks like somebody you’d go smoke some bud with or something. He’s just so unassuming. That’s my take.jp
January 15th, 2009 at 12:32 am
Going just by the weight training I think BJ is trying to bulk up for 170 lb the healthy way this time around instead of just eating crap and being fat. The squats are good but I have to agree with a previous statement in “too much islotation stuff”. BJ is dangerous on the ground and standing, however so is GSP. However GSP will most likely be heavier, never has suspect cardio and has a mental edge on BJ in that he won the last fight.
Big determining factors are BJ’s conditioning, how he handles the weight gain (as in speed, again conditioning, etc) and of course fighter’s game plans. A in-shape BJ Penn is a scary, scary man. However GSP is pretty much always in shape and constantly improving while BJ has only really devoted himself to fighting in the last couple of years.
With all that said I’m picking GSP to win most likely by TKO but with a Decision not surprizing me either.
January 15th, 2009 at 12:59 am
Yah, looks like a typical workout. I don’t see a lot of sports specific workouts, though squats and dead lifts help those powerful hip muscles which is needed if taken to the ground for flipping people off. He lifts about the same amount of weight as I do and I’m 5′1, 120 lbs and a girl. I would trade off between endurance days that impliment many reps to work his stamina. Then I’d have days where less reps are used and the stress is placed on strength and power and increasing maximum strength.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:19 am
I think BJ needs to hire a new trainer or buy himself Blunt Force Trauma (lol).
His S & C program might be shit but he’s definitely a talented guy, probs not as athletic as GSP or as strong.
GSP, TKO ground n pound in the later rounds.
January 15th, 2009 at 1:25 am
Awful. What’s the point of smoking a fighter with light weights if they’re going to spar later anyway? Leg press and Machine hamstring curls? Give me a break. I train 50 year old ladies who deadlift more than that.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:16 am
From what the video gave, it’s a shame really. Isolation stuff for a fight comming up?! Now, they may know something we don’t in terms of injuries etc… however if all things are equal, it’s a shame he’s paying someone for that!!!
Take responsibility BJ and do your home work bro, your body is your paycheck and the training we seen is NOT pay check material! Lucky your a freak!!
January 15th, 2009 at 3:29 am
I agree with Max. When I was working out with a couple of fighters roughly 5 to 6 years ago, I noticed they were using light weights and high reps on their weight training workouts. This was in addition to running, skills training, sparring, and skipping rope. I convinced two of them to start adding weight to the bar in the gym and gradually curtail their rep schemes to no more than 5 reps on any given set. Heavy triples and multiple max singles became more the norm. In addition, they decreased strength training to two days per week with full body workouts rather than four-day body part splits.
We also changed the long slow distance running to sprints of varying distances as well as hill sprints. Both guys began to see a difference in their sparring and fights when it came to man-handling opponents much bigger and previously stronger than them. Running out of “gas” was not an issue due to all the practice time on the mat or in the ring. Hypertrophy and weight gain were not an issue due to the low reps. I conclude that fighters need to use weight training more for strength and power gains and not putting “gas” in their tank. I do realize however that I only worked with two fighters and not dozens or even hundreds to base my opinion on.
January 15th, 2009 at 5:18 am
why the hell is he doing hamstring curls???
Is this video all about psyching his opponent into a false sense of security? Is it actually disinformation?
Taking the pre fight online… has to be…?
January 15th, 2009 at 9:58 am
This is typical of BJ. He has so much talent, and yet he does nothing to secure/fortify that talent.
If I my memory serves me correctly, he has a new trainer too.
Don’t see any creativity and power work.
Not impressive at all.
January 15th, 2009 at 11:21 am
All i have to say about BJ´s prep is: get BFT, seriously BJ. I won´t comment more on the video as everyone else has pretty much agreed on the needless isolation movements and the surprisingly light weights.
As far as the fight itself, here´s are some thoughts and my prediction :
- On their first fight BJ pushed GSP, somewhere in the 3rd round, BJ got bored and GSP got the win, yet took a lot of punishment and ended bloodied and battered, BJ looked like he´d just finished sparring.
- BJ went up in weight to take on Matt hughes, made the weight, was still lighter than Hughes on fightday (Matt cuts down from 190 as you all know)yet was stronger, faster and more skilled in submitting him on their first fight. GSP was submitted on his first try at Hughes,still he then went on to beat him convincingly in fights 2 and 3. BJ lost fight 2 but he dominatted Hughes earlier before a freak accident tore BJ´s rib muscles and was pounded into a ref stoppage.
- Lately, BJ has been more active on the octagon than GSP.
- BJ has fought better opposition, not to take anything away from GSP, but BJ, i dare to say has got more experience.
- GSP has got great work ethic to go with his strenght and athleticism, BJ was just born to fight he´s a freak among freaks. At a heavier weight unlike most lighter athletes moving up a class, BJ IS stronger, yet just as fast and explossive.
- GSP is a great all around fighter, his stand up is impecable his takedowns powerful and his ground skills are excellent. BJ´s stand up is not as colorful but is VERY powerful, If he wants to take you down he will do so and almost effortlessly and his takedown deffense is tremendous, he will go down only if he chooses to.As far as ground skill there´s no contest BJ´s just superb.
Bottom line: BJ by sub or quick KO, GSP could very well take the match but as is the case with BJ, it depends on how bad BJ wants it, if he wants to…he will find a way to win an there´s really not much GSP can do about it.
January 15th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I know a lot of people on this forum come from a strength and conditioning background, so I can understand the concern regarding the training methods used by BJ …
But, the dude is sooo talented.
I think the dude could use a hawaii-chair for his conditioning and he’d still KO or submit most dudes his size.
(if you don’t know what an hawaii chair is … http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=E9_amg-Aos4)
I admit, moving up in weight to fight such a well rounded fighter will be a big challenge for BJ, but I still think he can do it …
BJ by KO or submission (with a close-up of him licking GSPs blood off his gloves as an added bonus!)
January 15th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
BJ is trying to put on muscle, pure and simple. He doesn’t have time to establish a strength base or any of that stuff before his fight, he just needs to get to a solid 170 in a hurry.
Also, there’s a high enough chance of injury from the fight training, he doesn’t need to add heavy deadlifts or squats and other exercises that may cause an injury. This is why a lot of fighters rarely, if ever, use free weights when training, particularly in the weeks approaching a fight. Not in a heavy capacity anyway, more lightweights for conditioning. I’m not saying deadlifts are a dangerous exercise, just all things being equal, he’d be a lot more likely to hurt himself on a deadlift then a leg curl.
Focusing on power for BJ would be like being able to try and beat Michael Jordan at any form of competition and picking basketball. No matter how much time he puts in between now and then on “power”, he will get destroyed if he tries to play that game with GSP.
and its apples and oranges comparing the ground games of GSP and BJ. GSP is a physical machine with relentless power and conditioning. BJ is a jiu jitsu, well, prodigy. He’s a freak. And he’s adapted BJJ better than almost anyone in the game (honorable mention to Minotauro). And he’s damn near impossible to finish (took a cracked rib to finally take him out).
January 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Besides the ham curls, I didn’t see any isolation exercises, unless your counting the hyper extensions… but that’s not really an iso. I honestly didn’t think the workout was that bad – anything with squats & deadlifts in the same session is going to be demanding. We don’t know where this workout fits into his overall program so we can’t judge how appropriate it is based on a 1 min clip.
I say BJ wins 3rd round submission… it could go either way though. Both men are excellent fighters. Should be exciting.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
That workout proves the saying – some people succeed despite their training.
I hear what everyone is saying, but I’m going with GSP in the second round, TKO, if not the first.
January 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Im certainly scratching my head over that clip.
Its only a 1 minute clip though and its 2 months old so heres to hoping things have been changed up a bit
Just for the record…GSP to win by TKO
January 15th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
If that’s the type of workout B.J. is doing then GSP is going to crush him.
I give it to GSP in the third round by TKO.
But no disrespect to B.J. Penn I think he is still a very dangerous and skilled opponent.
January 15th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I’m not a GSP fan; classy guy and talented enough to play any sport he wants but I just can’t get behind somebody who comes out to french rap music and wears a headband that he stole from Daniel Larusso. That said he’s going to destroy Penn. I’m waiting on the GSP/Anderson Silva fight; this is just a formality.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I can’t knock or praise a 1 min training video. Squats looked good, BJ has insane flexibility. I cringed a bit on the leg press, looks like he was using a ton of knee extension rather than the glutes/hams because of his leg placement. He can get away with it but I never could. I was under the impression that he was doing a high rep or circuit style training.
I like BJ,one of my favorite fighters b/c he is insane at BJJ and I think he really took the time to learn proper stand up. I will never vote against him but GSP is peaking and that dude always come into the cage in great shape where BJ can be suspect in that area.
January 16th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Yeah I agree watch his training compared to GSP and there is a huge difference. GSP does a lot better training with his strength and conditioning coach I think.
I do not see a huge real world translation so him doing a leg press and leg curl, hes a fighter why would you be making him do that shit.
-Matt Holmes