Harrie Nak
15-05-2010, 07:30
The UFC 118 (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/UFC+118/) lightweight title rematch between newly crowned champion Frankie Edgar (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/Frankie+Edgar/) and challenger BJ Penn (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/BJ+Penn/) is signed and sealed.
MMA Fighting has confirmed that both fighters have signed bout agreements to do it one more time, this time in the main event of UFC 118 at TD Garden in Boston.
The first fight, held at UFC 112 (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/UFC+112/) in Abu Dhabi, was a razor close affair, ultimately ending with Edgar earning the stunning upset via unanimous decision.
Edgar (12-1) was a massive underdog the first time around, but used crisp boxing and sprinkled in a few rare, successful takedowns against Penn to score points with the judges, who scored the fight 50-45, 48-47 and 49-46. In reality, the fight was closer than the final scores indicated.
Once thought to be unbeatable as a lightweight, Penn fell to 15-6-1 with the loss. After congratulating Edgar on the victory, at least one member of his camp suggested that Penn was not fighting at an optimal fitness level after suffering a sinus infection during his training camp.
In the wake of the mild controversy, UFC President Dana White quickly decided upon a rematch, and now both sides are officially on board.
The Edgar-Penn fight will be the main event of UFC 118. In addition, as MMA Fighting reported earlier this week (http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/05/11/couture-toney-ufc-118-fight-nearly-set-weight-issue-last-hurdle/), the UFC is very close to putting the signatures on its co-main event, which will feature the MMA debut of boxer James Toney (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/James+Toney/) against five-time champ Randy Couture (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/Randy+Couture/).
MMA Fighting has confirmed that both fighters have signed bout agreements to do it one more time, this time in the main event of UFC 118 at TD Garden in Boston.
The first fight, held at UFC 112 (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/UFC+112/) in Abu Dhabi, was a razor close affair, ultimately ending with Edgar earning the stunning upset via unanimous decision.
Edgar (12-1) was a massive underdog the first time around, but used crisp boxing and sprinkled in a few rare, successful takedowns against Penn to score points with the judges, who scored the fight 50-45, 48-47 and 49-46. In reality, the fight was closer than the final scores indicated.
Once thought to be unbeatable as a lightweight, Penn fell to 15-6-1 with the loss. After congratulating Edgar on the victory, at least one member of his camp suggested that Penn was not fighting at an optimal fitness level after suffering a sinus infection during his training camp.
In the wake of the mild controversy, UFC President Dana White quickly decided upon a rematch, and now both sides are officially on board.
The Edgar-Penn fight will be the main event of UFC 118. In addition, as MMA Fighting reported earlier this week (http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/05/11/couture-toney-ufc-118-fight-nearly-set-weight-issue-last-hurdle/), the UFC is very close to putting the signatures on its co-main event, which will feature the MMA debut of boxer James Toney (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/James+Toney/) against five-time champ Randy Couture (http://www.mmafighting.com/tag/Randy+Couture/).