Sherdog.com’s 2014 Beatdown of the Year

2. Frankie Edgar vs. B.J. Penn 3
“The Ultimate Fighter 19” Finale
July 6 | Las Vegas

The first bout between Edgar and Penn in April 2010 was a stunning and somewhat controversial upset that signaled a major power shift in the lightweight division. The pair’s second fight, four months later, yielded a far more convincing decision for Edgar. Given the outcomes of their past meetings -- combined with Penn’s fading powers and 18 months away from the cage -- few picked “The Prodigy” to win his third bout with Edgar in July. Even so, it was hard to envision the future UFC hall of famer on the receiving end of the one-sided beating he was dealt at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Perhaps in an attempt to capitalize on a three-inch height disparity, Penn developed a new standup style, a bizarre, tiptoeing stance which saw the former two-division champion perched high on the balls of his feet. Though they met this time as featherweights, Edgar carried with him the same speed advantage he had in his first two bouts with Penn. As is often said in the fight game, speed kills, and Penn’s unusual posture did nothing to protect him from Edgar’s snappy combinations. The New Jerseyan’s hands came hard and fast down the center, splitting Penn’s guard, and when Edgar opted for takedowns, there was little the vertical Penn could do to stop him.

Edgar started the fight strong, but it was the second and third frames of the scheduled five-rounder where “The Answer” began pouring on the punishment. Toward the end of round two, Edgar seemed to lose any fear of Penn’s once-dangerous guard and started smashing on the Hawaiian with heavy punches and elbows. Penn emerged for round three sporting damage beneath both eyes, plodding forward and offering up almost no offense as Edgar worked circles around him. Two minutes in, Edgar hit what would prove to be the last takedown he needed and shortly thereafter cut open Penn with slicing elbows. Penn’s bloodied and contorted face said it all as Edgar thumped him with nonstop right hands until referee Herb Dean intervened, putting an ignominious end to one of MMA’s most storied careers.

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