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Following UFC 106’s dismal pay-per-view numbers, the UFC received an early Christmas present from fans in the form of 620,000 buys for UFC 107. From Dave Meltzer via MMA Payout:

BJ Penn opened up a canyon on Diego Sanchez’s forehead 11 short days ago. You would think it would take awhile to heal, but thanks to modern medicine and a plastic surgeon, the gash is already 90% healed.

I just want to take the time to thank god for giving me a great plastic surgeon and healing me so fast I’m 90% healed with no scar. wow god is great and also thanks to Dave sales my chiro who did cold laser on the scars and hooked me up with metagenics vitamin e for the scars . Thank you Jesus!

HT: Middle Easy

Funny Diego Sanchez video via Fightlinker. And to think this is the man who once said he greatly admires Fedor Emelianenko for how calm and relaxed he is during his ring entrances and fights.

On this week’s edition of Fox Fight Game, Mike Straka and crew recap UFC 107 and preview Strikeforce “Evolution.” Kenny Florian stops in for an interview.

On this week’s edition of ESPN MMA Live, Jon Anik and crew recap UFC 107 and preview Strikeforce “Evolution” and WEC 45.

Fanhouse has clips of BJ Penn and Frank Mir from the post-fight press conference. Ariel Helwani caught up with Dana White, Kenny Florian, Jon Fitch, Stefan Struve, Alan Belcher and Matt Wiman following the event. Even if you don’t watch them all, you might want to check out the Belcher interview. He says he’s “one of the best fighters to ever fight.” Also, Mike Straka of Fox Fight Game made the rounds.

Yes, you’re reading that correctly. BJ Penn landed 150 total strikes to Diego Sanchez’s 8 according to the Fightmetric report. In fact, Penn landed more strikes on himself in his post-fight celebration than Sanchez did the entire fight. The percentage of strikes landed was equally disproportionate — BJ’s 70% to Diego’s 7%. What’s even crazier is Diego was 0-27 in takedown attempts. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

It was the type of fight that would mentally break most fighters in the early rounds, so if nothing else, you gotta give Diego credit for hanging in there and fighting till the very end.

Update: Here’s another little fun fact courtesy of FightMetric.

Question: When was the last time that BJ Penn got taken down while fighting at 155 pounds?

Answer: You have to go back more than six years to Penn’s fight against Takanori Gomi. Lightweight opponents are 0 for their last 39 takedown attempts against BJ.

With maybe the exception of BJ Penn, no one made a statement last night quite like Frank Mir. He obliterated Cheick Kongo with a left hand and choked him out in 1:12. It was a message sent loud and clear that he wants Brock Lesnar and he’s willing do whatever it takes to get the rubber match.