BJ Penn is pumped and ready to take on UFC welterweight title holder George St. Pierre. “I’m coming in, in great shape. I’m going to be real strong and real fast and great condition. I have got allot of stuff I am going to come after him with. I’m going to try to knock him out. I’m going to try to slam him on his head. I’ve got no secrets. I’m just going to go out there and grind this thing out and I’m going to win this fight.” The event will take place Jan-31-2009 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will also air live on PPV.

Last time the two fought each other was in March of 2006. BJ lost to a very close decision. I ask BJ what his best attribute was as far as fighting goes. He said, “My technique, George is a real athletic guy so you have got to be smart out there. You have got to be thinking, weighing everything out as the fight is going.”

With only 1 month left before the fight, I asked “The Prodigy” to explain what his training consists of. “I’m training 5 hours a day. I’m training really hard for 3 hours in the morning, 2 hours at night. I’m just going full blast. I do 12 rounds a day. I do calisthenics, running and sprints, eating healthy food and honest I could fight right now. I could fight right now, today, I’m ready to go!”

WOMEN’S MMA GETS A REALITY CHECK (Ultimate Women Combat)

When Elite XC folded back in October, many believed it to be the end of mainstream exposure for women’s MMA. No other mixed martial arts organization boasted a roster that full of female talent, nor gave them the platform on which to shine. There has been much speculation as of late over which organization, if any, would take over where Elite left off. Where would all the fighters go? Where and whom would they now fight? How will they be seen on television? For years I have heard talk about all women MMA reality shows happening, but they never did…until now. And as they say in life, timing is everything

A spectacular all women’s MMA reality show is currently in development for 2009, with plans to begin shooting at an undisclosed, exotic location by early February. “Ultimate Women Combat” will feature #1 ranked Tara LaRosa and U.K. fighting sensation Rosi Sexton as coaches, alongside jiu-jitsu legend Cesar Gracie. Model/actress Joanna Krupa and “Outside The Ring” presenter Marika Taylor will be the show’s hosts. Up to sixteen contestants will live and train together, fighting their way to become the UWC champion, with the final fight taking place back on U.S. soil. Although the format may sound familiar to other MMA reality shows, UWC has no intention of being a carbon copy of shows past. The level of female fighters showing interest in the show range from those with no professional experience, to established well-known fighters. With LaRosa, Gracie, and Sexton signed on, and the possibility of some big names being cast as contestants, this show could easily help propel women’s MMA to new heights.

Written by Penny Buffington

Fresh off the reality show The Ultimate Fighter Season 8 ,Heavyweight, Antwain “The Juggernaut” Britt headed down to the Dominican Republic where he caused his opponent to try and flee the ring after dealing with Antwains vicious ground and pound. Britt told me about the Dec 20^th 2008 event, “I fought for Combat Extreme, down in the Dominican Republic fighting Thomas Sonnen. It was fun, fun to go down there and get away from this cold weather. It was a classic striker verses jiu jitsu guy. He was a really well accomplished brown belt down there. But luckily the striker won this time. I ended up winning in the second round due to referee stoppage. He took a lot of facial damage. He was cut up pretty bad. The ref had to stop it because he could not see any more.  It was a good win for me.” With a chuckle Antwain explains how his opponent tried to flee the ring during the fight, “He was trying to go under the bottom rope.  It was good. We ended up on the ground a couple of times and my top game, my ground and pound, is pretty good.  So I was able to stay away from his jiu jitsu a little bit and kind of dominate on the ground also.  It was a really well rounded win for me. I’m really proud of it.”