Gomi, Kid Yamamoto And Others At UFC 94

There are always a number of stars that come out for any UFC event, but tonight in Las Vegas the royalty of Japanese mixed martial arts has come out to see Georges St. Pierre battle B.J. Penn.

Former Pride lightweight champion Takanori Gomi, prized bantamweight and featherweight fighter, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, Olympic Gold medalist Satoshi Ishii, and Caol Uno are all in attendance at UFC 94 to see the action at tonight's show.

UFC President Dana White has made it no secret that he wouldn't mind landing any or all of the above competitors. White has also mentioned top rated middleweight competitor, Yoshohiro Akiyama, as a fighter the promotion would like to add as well.

"Kid" Yamamoto was seen several times this week in Dana's blog, and the top ranked Japanese fighter stopped for a photo opportunity in the Octagon with the president.

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What happens 1st

First score in Super Bowl 1/2

BJ Penn/St Pierre fight finishes 3/2

Number of tapouts at UFC 94 5/6

Number of TDs at SB XLIII 5/6

Number of Fights that go the distance at UFC 94 5/6

Number of FGS at SB XLIII 5/6

Most Likely to happen

Willie Parker gets MVP of the SB XLIII 10/13

Nate Diaz gets "Submission of the Night" 10/11

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Georges St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn UFC Video Game Trailer

(Courtesy of THQ and the UFC)

Fighters And Managers Weigh In On GSP vs. Penn

The MMA Insider spoke to several top MMA fighters and managers to get their picks on the upcoming UFC welterweight title fight pitting Georges St. Pierre against B.J. Penn.

Here are the picks:

Josh Thomson: "Penn, Penn, Penn, Penn, Penn, Penn, oh did I mention B.J. Penn to win?

Eliot Marshall: "GSP"

Dustin Hazelett: "I'm actually undecided. I believe the early rounds favor Penn, but the later rounds will favor GSP."

Marcus Davis: "B.J. Penn by the 3rd round. Not sure what, but some kind of stoppage"

Heath Herring: "Not gonna touch that one!"

Jason Genet (Magnetic Marketing Associates): "I think that GSP will be too big for Penn, who is easily one of the greatest MMA fighters of our time."

Jeff Curran: "I really don't know. Personally, I think you are better off rolling the dice!"

Ken Pavia (MMA Agents): "GSP late by conditioning."

Brian Stann: "GSP. My teammate, you don't need to ask!"

THQ Launches UFC Undisputed Video Game Website

THQ Inc. today announced the launch of its official Web site for UFC 2009 Undisputed, the company's highly anticipated videogame based on Ultimate Fighting Championship. The site is now live at www.ufcundisputed.com.

The site will go live with in-game images of Welterweight Championship contenders Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn, who are scheduled to meet in the Octagon this weekend for UFC 94, along with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin featured on the main page. www.ufcundisputed.com will feature up-to-date game information and assets, including videos, screenshots and fighter renders. In addition, the site will include detailed information about specific game features, deliver content in step with UFC's upcoming Pay-Per-View schedule and reveal individual fighter profiles leading up to the game's launch in Spring 2009.

The site will also offer an extensive community experience. Branded as The Octagon and accessible via www.ufcundisputed.com, the community portal is slated to feature in-depth information about UFC 2009 Undisputed, including developer blogs and other exclusive content. In addition, readers may participate in discussion forums, as well as take advantage of contests and polls surrounding UFC's Pay-Per-View schedule and UFC Fight Night programming on Spike TV.

Dana White's UFC 94 Video Blog (Bonus Blog)

Dana's latest UFC 94 video blog takes fans to his E60 interview, the Ultimate Fighter gym, his meeting with Kid Yamamoto, and more.

GSP Open For Return To ADCC

Back in 2005, Georges St. Pierre was only 4 fights into his legendary UFC career. Little did the Abu Dhabi Combat Club know what kind of future star they would feature when GSP entered the 2005 competition in the 66 to 76kg weight class on short notice when invited to the tournament.

In his first round match-up, St. Pierre out wrestled and used superior technique to defeat Otto Olson on points. His next bout against Leo Santos didn't go as well as the Canadian was forced to tap out after getting caught in an armbar.

Since that time, St. Pierre has gone on to become a 2x UFC welterweight champion while also gaining fame as possibly the top pound for pound fighter in the sport of mixed martial arts.

Regardless of titles or accomplishments, St. Pierre is a competitor and he said during a recent interview with MMAWeekly Radio that if the timing worked out, he'd love the chance to compete in the Abu Dhabi tournament again in the future.

"If I have time and the timing is good, I will do it, of course I will," St. Pierre said. "I love competition, I'm a true mixed martial arts man, and I don't only like MMA. I like grappling, I like wrestling, I like jiu-jitsu, I like Muay Thai, I like everything. But of course my main job is MMA."

Many other top MMA stars still compete regularly in grappling tournaments and a great many of them are expected at this year's Abu Dhabi championships. If timing worked out, St. Pierre would be a huge addition to the show.

And just like everything else GSP puts his mind to, he'd probably be a force in the tournament as well.

How B.J. Penn Makes The Move Back To 170

Always considered one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world, B.J. Penn will once again venture back up the welterweight division for his upcoming showdown against Georges St. Pierre at UFC 94.

The last time Penn fought at 170lbs was in September 2006 in a loss to former UFC welterweight champion, Matt Hughes.

Since then Penn rededicated himself to a rigorous training plan, while making the move back down to 155lbs where he's won 3 straight fights including a title win and title defense.

So now going back to 170lbs, what is Penn doing to ensure that he will be in the same physical condition that got him to the pinnacle of the lightweight division?

"I'm lifting weights, but nothing extraordinary. I'm training hard, a lot of real work in the ring or in the cage, a lot of real practical work and training hard, and just eating a lot of rice and a lot of fish and a lot of oatmeal," Penn told MMAWeekly Radio recently. "That's pretty much what I'm doing preparing, I'm not doing anything drastic. I'm just getting ready and whatever my weight falls on, that's where I'll be for the fight."

It looks like Penn is ready to back up his move to 170lbs with a tremendous amount of skill and no worries about moving up in weight to accommodate the division.

UFC Primetime Episode 3 (Pt 2)

UFC Primetime Episode 3 (Pt 1)

Georges St. Pierre...Canada's Van Damme?

Mixed martial arts will always be the first love of UFC welterweight champion, Georges "Rush" St. Pierre, but when the Canadian champion isn't dominating in the Octagon, he's picking up a few new skills in front of the camera as an actor.

St. Pierre recently filmed scenes alongside other fighters such as Anderson Silva, Heath Herring and ironically enough, B.J. Penn, in a movie set for release in 2009 called "Never Surrender."

"It was great," St. Pierre told MMAWeekly Radio recently about the movie experience. "I liked it and I actually have another filming planned for February after my fight. I'm very excited about it."

According to online movie resource, IMDB.com, St. Pierre is set to star in two new movies, one called "Hell's Chain" and another titled, "Death Warrior."

The 2008 Canadian Athlete of the Year admits that acting can be fun, and it takes him back to his childhood, and he hopes one day he can be as iconic as the "Muscles from Brussels."

"It's pretty fun, I like it. It's like make me remember when I was a kid, playing games, it makes me remember those days," St. Pierre commented. "It's a little bit like come back as a kid and play games, and I when I do it sometimes I feel like the Canadian version of Jean-Claude Van Damme. It's pretty funny."

Unless Van Damme pulls out the Dim Mak from his movie "Bloodsport" he probably wouldn't stand much of a chance against St. Pierre in a real fight, but the 170lb king says he still has a lot to learn in the Belgian's medium as well.

"Maybe I'm better in the Octagon, but I still have a lot to learn on the camera."

ESPN MMA Live UFC 94 Preview

Penn Says Boxing Was His First Love

Throughout his career, B.J. Penn has always been thought of as one of the most dangerous fighters to deal with in any facet of the game. With a phenomenal jiu-jitsu game at his disposal, Penn has perfected a deadly striking arsenal to use against his opponents as well.

Just recently, famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach had stated that he believed Penn had the best stand-up of any fighter in MMA and Penn takes that as a huge compliment.

"Knowing all of Freddie's accomplishments and the people he's been around. Freddie's held the mitts for me a few times, and worked a few things with me and wow that's an awesome thing that Freddie said that," Penn said recently.

In his fight with former UFC lightweight champion, Sean Sherk, it was the Hawaiian who controlled the biggest part of the bout with a devastating jab that pummeled his opponent all the way to the finish.

"I do work the jab a lot, but it's not like I work it more than any other punch. It's like when I get in a fight I end up jabbing more than anything," Penn said. "I don't know why, I don't know how it happens. Even with (Takanori) Gomi, I remember it was a battle of jabs. I always remember I had a pretty stiff left jab when I was a kid growing up."

The current UFC lightweight champion admits that his love of boxing goes back to his youth, even before he discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

"I try to work on my striking, actually boxing was my first love before I even found jiu-jitsu," Penn stated. "I was always about the kind of guy you can hit me, I can take your best punches, hit you back and eventually you'll give up. I was one of those guys."

"Boxing has always had a special place in my heart."

Dana White's UFC 94 Video Blog (Ep 4)

UFC president Dana White presents the latest edition of his video blog. In this episode, Dana takes you to the UFC 94 press conference, and then heads back to the office to do a little personal "remodeling" of his very own.

Jay Hieron vs Jason High To Air on HDNet's Inside MMA

Due to a timing problem at the Affliction: Day of Reckoning preliminary show airing on HDNet prior to the pay-per-view broadcast, former International Fight League welterweight champion, Jay Hieron, and his fight against Jason High, was pushed back to take place after the main event fight featuring Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski.

Hieron came out on top in the bout, knocking High out at 1:04 of the first round to get the win, but unfortunately unless in attendance at the Honda Center in Anaheim that night, nobody has had a chance to see the fight yet.

That will change on Friday night as HDNet's Inside MMA will feature Jay Hieron on the panel of their guest list, alongside UFC fighter Steve Cantwell and Tank Abbott, and the program will show Hieron's fight in its entirety.

Obviously with the bout missing out on the televised broadcast, Hieron also missed the chance to promote his sponsors for the fight, so in coordination with his management team at MMA Agents, the Xtreme Couture fighter will give away items to his fans as a special promotion.

Fans can log onto MMAAgents.com and proceed to the news section where they can answer Jay Hieron trivia.

The first six contestants to e-mail the correct answers to info@MMAagents.com will receive a prize package, including products from Bulletproof Athletics (www.bulletproofathletics.com), Hoodlum Fight Gear (www.hoodlumfightgear.com), Evo Energy Drink (www.drinkevo.com) as well as Gammo-O (www.gammao.com).

VIDEO: BJPenn.com Show 8

Episode 8 (five parts) of the BJPenn.com Show...

BJPenn.com Show 8 - Segment 1



BJPenn.com Show 8 - Segment 2



BJPenn.com Show 8 - Segment 3



BJPenn.com Show 8 - Segment 4



BJPenn.com Show 8 - Segment 5
Find more videos like this on BJPENN.COM

Quinton Jackson Title Shot With a Win Over Jardine

"Yeah, I think if Quinton beats Jardine, he'll get the next shot at the title," said UFC president Dana White following Wednesday's UFC 94 pre-fight press conference in Las Vegas.

And that is regardless of the outcome of a key battle at UFC 94. Lyoto Machida, the No. 4 ranked light heavyweight fighter in the world, and No. 10 ranked Thiago Silva are slated for a showdown in the top undercard fight at UFC 94. Both have been on a tear through the 205-pound division and both are undefeated.

But while the winner of Machida vs. Silva is likely to narrow the field of contenders to the title currently held by "Sugar" Rashad Evans, it appears that Quinton "Rampage" Jackson -- with a win over Keith Jardine at UFC 96 on March 7 -- will jump to the head of the line.

White has stated in the past that Jackson vs. Evans might have already been on tap, but Evans was not fully recovered yet from his title victory over Forrest Griffin at UFC 92, so they put Jackson and Jardine together for the Columbus fight card.

Dana White's UFC 94 Video Blog (Ep 3)

UFC President Dana White presents the third episode of his UFC 94 blog. In this edition, Dana heads to CNBC to talk about the new UFC branded gyms and much, much more.

Thomas Schulte Signs With Bellator FC

Submission specialist Thomas Schulte is the latest veteran to sign with burgeoning fight promotion Bellator Fighting Championships.

The signing was announced in a press release on Wednesday.

Schulte trains out of Fit NHB in Albuquerque, N.M., and carries a professional record of 18-6, with most of his wins coming via submission. He joins seven other 155er's scheduled to compete in Bellator's tournament-style events. The first bracket of the tournament is set to do battle on Apr. 4 for ESPN's Deportes channel.

"Thomas' world-class submission skills make him a very tough match up for anyone in our 155 tournament," said Bjorn Rebney, CEO of Bellator Fighting Championships. "His training at NHB with Tom Vaughn over the last 3 months has been focused on our April premiere, so he should be well prepared to threaten in our Lightweight division."

St. PIerre Plans Trip To Thailand After Penn Fight

Always willing to go the extra mile to learn new techniques, UFC welterweight champion, Georges St. Pierre, is once again about to step up his training as the fighter is planning for a trip to Thailand after his title fight on Jan 31 to work with top Muay Thai fighters from the area.

St. Pierre has famously worked alongside many top trainers and training partners, and has previously traveled to Brazil to train with top jiu-jitsu coaches and athletes. The Canadian star will add to his resume and passport when he makes a trip to Thailand after his fight against B.J. Penn.

"I plan to go after my fight actually," St. Pierre said about a trip to Thailand. "That's another thing that I want to do is go to Thailand. After my fight I might also go to France, I have a lot of friends in France and a very good Muay Thai fighter who comes from France."

"Some of them have come to help me train for this camp, so I'm going to go see them after my fight. They have a lot of good fighters out there."

St. Pierre recieved his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a few months back and the top welterweight stand-out also holds black belts in several other martial arts disciplines as well.

Still willing to be the student, St. Pierre may just add another weapon to his arsenal when he travels to Thailand to work with some of the top strikers in the world.