UFC: Conditioning > Fighting
I’ve been an avid Mixed Martial Arts fan for quite some time now. After watching yet another lack luster UFC Pay Per View Event tonight, I’m quite disappointed. BJ Penn lost the fight to Matt Hughes after the third round of fighting. BJ was clearly the winner of the previous two rounds, but Matt pulled it off in the third round because he had more “gas in the tank” than his opponent had. It seems to me that the UFC has become a game of who is the better “conditioned athlete” than the better “fighter”. I have to agree with George St. Pierre’s comment to Matt Hughes at the end of the fight, “I wasn’t impressed by your performance.” BJ Penn clearly was the better “fighter” displaying his superior striking, submissions, and take down defense. But because Penn worked and fought harder in the early rounds, he tired out in the third, dropping his guard and allowed Matt to take the win. All Matt had to do was weather the BJ storm for two rounds and he knew he could get the victory in the third. Watching UFC lately is like watching a marathon. I’m glad PRIDE FC is coming to the US. What a breath of fresh air. UFC should be changed to UCC, Ultimate Conditioning Championship.