Frankie Edgar shocked the world with his controversial split decision win against BJ Penn in April. Though many believe Penn did enough to retain his belt, it was a razor-close duel that could have gone either way.
Four months on and less than two weeks from a highly anticipated rematch, debate still rages about whether Penn – the greatest lightweight fighter of all time at a canter – was somehow the author of his own demise.
It wouldn't be the first time. The mercurial Hawaiian has a storied, checkered past when it comes to preparation. Indeed, Penn himself admits that early in his career, he took pride in being able to win without amassing too many hours in the gym.
No other fighter could have coasted in this manner and retained elite status. Penn though, is a unique athlete. He was christened 'The Prodigy' after winning the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world championship at age 20, a mere three years after first donning a Gi.
To put that in perspective, imagine winning The US Open three years after first picking up a golf club, or triumphing at Wimbledon three years after first taking hold of a tennis racket. It's a level of talent that is hard to fathom.
So what must prospective opponents have thought when Penn exploded upon MMA in 2001 and began terrorising the lightweight division, not with his world champion BJJ credentials, but lethal striking. All three of his first opponents (including respected veterans Caol Uno and Din Thomas) were knocked out in round one.
Never had there been such a complete MMA fighter, and therein lay the problem: it was all too easy. Iron-chinned, impossible to take down, heavy-handed, a wizard on the ground – why train?
Bored at lightweight, Penn increasingly began seeking challenges at welterweight and higher. He won the UFC welterweight title in 2004 by submitting Matt Hughes, who was thought unstoppable at the time. He even fought Lyoto Machida to a decision at heavyweight, which beggars belief.
But during this period, Penn sometimes appeared doughy and out of shape. Before UFC 112, his last three losses (a Matt Hughes rematch, and two bouts with George St Pierre) all bore traces of a cardio deficiency.
Yet parallel to his patchy form north of lightweight, Penn always maintained an aura of invincibility at his natural weight. A who's who of contenders tried and failed to stop him cleaning out the division.
Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, Takanori Gomi, Joe Steveson, Diego Sanchez – not all merely beaten, but all trounced and stopped in brutal fashion.
On paper, it's hard to see what Frankie Edgar brings to the table that his predecessors did not. He's a good wrestler, but small for the weight class. He's a quick striker, but hasn't knockout power or a notable submission game.
So the question is, did Penn beat Penn at UFC 112? Having rejuvenated and rededicated himself under famed strength and conditioning coach Marv Marinovich, did Penn take Edgar lightly and lapse into old habits? Penn bristles at the suggestion. "If anybody thinks I'm in Hilo sitting on my ass, they're crazy," he says.
Harsh as it may be, Edgar will have to repeat his heroics on 28 August to convince people his win at UFC 112 was no fluke. But if BJ shows up in shape and focused, there still isn't a lightweight on the planet who can hang with him.
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