Finnsidious

I don't think he was playing with BJ, he was just a little overly cautious. He knew a Hail Mary shot was the only way he could lose, so he made sure it didn't happen.

I still thought he should have finished BJ, especially the second time he staggered him, with the body shot, BJ was obviously ready to pack it in there.

BWoods

I agree with this. It seemed that Rory did as much as he could to steal all of the wind out of BJ's sails and when he realized he probably couldn't finish Penn outright he decided to just embarrass him instead of risking any more exchanges. By the midpoint of the second round BJ was pretty much done, he threw a hand full of punches but nothing that was dangerous.

While I think Nick Diaz beat Penn up worse, Penn NEVER had a chance against Rory. Too big, too strong, too skilled, too everything. Probably one of the most one-sided fights this year.

Brydon

I highly doubt he took it easy. However it certainly did appear so. Right as he had BJ really badly hurt and buckled over and Herb Dean was really close to stopping the fight he seemed to back off. As others mentioned he probably was pacing himself, but I believe most here would agree that was not the time to hold back. One or two more barrages and BJ was going down to get finished by GnP.

ptw

I think Rory took it easy on Penn. You could see it in the 2nd BJ was pretty much done, and the third Rory just kind of paced himself and never looked to be going for the finish. I don't think Rory wanted to embarrass Penn because if you ask me Penn embarrassed himself. Penn's the kind of guy who buys his own hype, and the games past that point; you need to fight because you want to know whether you're the best or not, and not because you want to prove to people you're still the best. He's gotta re-invent himself, that's it. He was the best because he was unique at one point in his career, he brought things to the table other fighters didn't, but right now he's still the same BJ Penn as before. Look at fighters like Rory, Jones, GSP, everytime they step foot into the ring we see they've changed something about themselves and what they do. That's what BJ needs to do. His problem is all in his head, he thinks he has it all figured out, he needs to just take a step back and re-evaluate the situation, find himself, and re-invent himself.

Rauno

I thought so too. He was going for it and suddenly stopped when i was pretty sure it's ending soon.

__________________

ClydebankBlitz

I just htink he wasn't taking any chances.

__________________

FFL
A. Overeem : G. Nelson : R. Khabilov : T. Means : C. Mills

joshua7789

He might have been worried about running out of gas and getting stopped in a fight he was clearly winning. That is what happened to him when he fought Condit and it might have made him a little hesitant to go for the kill.

Judoka82

If he really was afraid of all these things it amazes me at how different a perspective the fighters probably have compared to any outside spectator. Which is completely understandable. BJ looked utterly and completely defeated not to mention harmless.

Ming Fu

This fight made me dislike Rory because off all the points everyone is bringing up. The great ones always go for the the finish when they see it. There were so many opportunities where Rory could have pounced and ended it but chose not too. I thought he was doing it to play it safe, but if he just wanted to embarrass Bj to a decision, then I dislike him even more.

Woodenhead

I think he went a bit easy on him, plus wasn't taking chances:

"Like I said to BJ after the fight, he was the one guy I really really looked up to growing up. He's a hero to me." - Rory MacDonald