Superfight one-sided but still entertains

One of the first questions at a news conference Wednesday to preview the Ultimate Fighting Championship 94 card was directed at UFC president Dana White.

A reporter asked if White thought staging such a superfight as Georges St. Pierre against BJ Penn was a good thing, given there are perhaps contenders in some weight classes who have waited too long for a title shot.

It obviously was a case of the reporter either popping a few too many Tylenol PMs and feeling droopy or being a member of one of those contender’s camps.

White’s answer: "Who gives a (bleep)?"

He was too kind.

A sold-out arena at near capacity to view bad and boring preliminary fights before the main card begins is a good thing and a sight you rarely, if ever, would see in boxing.

Watching the brilliance of St. Pierre a few hours later is even better.

What is it about the MGM Grand Garden and mismatch superfights of late?

And you thought Manny Pacquiao gave Oscar De La Hoya a beating here in December.

The names and discipline were different, but the result was like looking in a mirror. What they said was the biggest UFC matchup in history on paper instead resulted in this reality:

Penn at 170 pounds is not in the same league as St. Pierre. On Saturday night, he wasn’t in the same universe.

St. Pierre retained his welterweight title when doctors agreed with the masses after four of five rounds, recommending the bludgeoning cease and Penn be spared more damage.

Nothing was overly technical about the rout, which read 40-34 on two scorecards and 40-35 on a third when the fight was stopped. Bigger and stronger won out in every way. Bigger and stronger and much, much better.

St. Pierre walked into the octagon near or at 185 pounds, at least 15 more than Penn. This is what some can do 24 hours after making weight in a 170-pound class. They can bulk up like crazy.

St. Pierre did, looked terrific, beat Penn in stand-up early, eventually got him to the ground and punished the smaller Hawaiian thereafter.

Penn owns one of the sport’s best guards against others’ hands. St. Pierre cut through it like scissors through paper.

"I have been training for this fight since September," said St. Pierre, who probably had thought about it since his split decision over Penn in 2006. "I had a lot of pressure. This time, I really wanted to take him out. I’m glad that I did. He is very tough."

He also was very tired.

How good is St. Pierre?

Penn trained for this fight like none other in his nine-year UFC career. He said Wednesday that it has been six months since he drank alcohol. He wasn’t staying out late, wasn’t partying, wasn’t taking one inch of this fight for granted.

He was dedicated, assured that finally mixing a strict training program with his natural skill would allow him to add the welterweight title to the lightweight one he owns.

He was gassed by the second round.

St. Pierre had more to do with that than anything. It got so that Penn’s only chance after a few rounds was to somehow maneuver a submission, but the chances of him doing that against such an elite opponent rivaled that of White not cursing for the next six months.

"He’s not very quick," St. Pierre said of Penn. "I knew if I could wrestle him, he would become stiff. I’m a world champion. I’m a proud champion."

You never can predict a night’s best fight in the UFC. It easily could be the first as the last.

Before the main event, the most impressive showing belonged to Lyoto Machida, still undefeated at light heavyweight after knocking out Thiago Silva with a second remaining in the first round.

The more Machida wins — he is 14-0 — the more entertaining he becomes. Before Saturday, I wasn’t even sure he could speak.

But continued success and being perhaps a step from a title shot has awakened the Brazilian.

"I was better than him," Machida said of Silva, who took his first loss in 14 fights. "I’m very happy to be here. I love Las Vegas and America. When I fight here, I feel at home."

Home also is where St. Pierre seemed, if home means on top of an overmatched foe who had no answer for anything the champion threw.

Yes, superfights are a good thing, no matter how one-sided they become.

Which has been the case around here of late.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at 702-383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.