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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Their first meeting ended in a razor thin decision that many felt went the wrong way, but UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar effectively killed the division's "B.J. Penn Era" on Saturday night in Boston with a dominant display, earning a second unanimous decision victory over "The Prodigy."
Edgar was a clearly improved version of himself from the outset. After struggling with takedown attempts in the first fight, Edgar had no problem taking Penn to the canvas in this fight, and through five rounds Edgar proved he was the best lightweight fighter in the world.
For the first couple rounds, and then the fourth round, Penn looked much better than he did in Abu Dhabi, landing good strikes and stalking Edgar down. The fourth round saw Penn get a takedown and nearly establish the mount, but Edgar was able to get out of the precarious position, as he did throughout the fight.
Edgar's striking and takedowns were much more effective and convincing than in their UFC 112 fight in April, and he just seemed to have Penn's number in this fight.
Penn, on the other hand, was never able to really get established in this one. He effectively landed punches and kicks in the first two rounds, but he wasn't able to figure Edgar out in this fight.
It was an incredible performance by the Champion against the fighter many held as the very best this division has ever seen. That has been the case for so long it now seems that era has come to an end.
Edgar looks ahead to a fight against the only man that holds a win over him in Gray Maynard. Edgar looked much better than he did in his fight with Maynard the first time around, and he'll need to show off an improved takedown defense and ground game or he could be in for a really long night against "The Bully."
As for Penn, there's no telling where he goes from here. He's got a fight against Takanori Gomi in the lightweight division that could be highly entertaining, or he could choose to move up to the welterweight division. Whatever he chooses, he certainly wasn't the dominant "Prodigy" he has been in the past.
Penick's Analysis: Frankie Edgar proved me and hundreds of thousands of doubters wrong tonight. When he got out of being nearly mounted in the fourth round any hope of a Penn win went out the door, and Edgar proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's the best lightweight fighter in the world right now. Beating B.J. Penn twice in consecutive fights, and looking immensely improved and even better the second time around, is no small feat. Frankie Edgar now deserves that Championship belt around his waist, but the UFC cannot be looking forward to the Edgar vs. Maynard title fight they've got on their plate now. They'll have to team it up with another title fight. The best thing for them would probably be to put that fight with the Georges St. Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck fight coming on December 11.
Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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