BJ Penn On Future, Plans For DEC 27 Showdown |
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MMAcca
Heavyweight Champ
Career record: 176-94
Season: 46-24 (#607)
Location: North East of England
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In an exclusive video interview with MMAWeekly.com at last weekend’s International Mixed Martial Arts Expo, Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion B.J. Penn spoke about his future plans.
In a meeting with UFC president Dana White last week, Penn extended his UFC contract for “a couple more years,” and said a Dec. 27 return to the Octagon is imminent.
Penn returned to the gym recently after a two-month layoff. After realizing a gap between his talents and ambition, Penn poured himself into training over the last year and a half, delivering stellar performances against Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, and Sean Sherk in the process. Now the undisputed champion, Penn needed to take a break before his intensity compromised his health.
“It came to the point where it was like, if you don’t do this it’s going to hurt you really bad down the road,” he said.
Healed up from nagging injuries, Penn is again eyeing the welterweight and lightweight divisions for December. Two benchmark fights happen at this weekend’s UFC 87 event in Minnesota: Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch and Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta. The result of those contests could very well determine Penn’s next two opponents. He made it clear that his preference is for the 170-pound division, which means that he is watching the main event of UFC 87 very closely.
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Last edited 8/7/08 4:08PM by zephead
Edit note/reason: All Caps Title
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Post #1 8/7/08 1:22:40PM
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xphycorx
Standup Guy
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Career record: 165-86
Season: 47-23 (#347)
Location: Boynton Beach, FL
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i wish he would just stay at 155. there a a few matchups i would like to see. obviously the first of those would be the winner of the florian/huerta fight. after that you have some other great lw's like tyson 'decision' griffin and maybe even nate diaz.
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Post #2 8/7/08 1:34:44PM
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Branwest
Standup Guy
Career record: 111-50
Season: 30-16 (#4585)
Location: on top of Rachelle
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155 is perfect for BJ, although I would like to see him fight GSP again. First though, I would rather see him fight the winner of Florian/Huerta, then I'd like to see him possibly fight Frank Edgar, if Edgar wins his next fight, which as far as I know isn't scheduled yet. BJ wants to avenge his loss to GSP, which he feels he won (I don't) and wants to work on his legacy. He's a great fighter and one of the best jj fighters in mma. I think Florian would be a good matchup for him though, but I still expect BJ to come out on top.
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Post #3 8/7/08 1:39:50PM
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supatolacyl
Learning to Sprawl
Career record: 141-102
Season: 42-28 (#1202)
Location: Missouri
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Penn shouldn't get a title fight at WW as his first fight back into the div. Alves should get the next title fight if he gets past sanchez. Penn should have to fight ethier Parisyan or Kos. first, as they are in the process of working thier way back into title contention. Who knows though, because the UFC isn't always the greatest at making decisions. IMO Penn should stay at LW, I hate the thought of a belt being tied up so the guy could go up and fight in another weight division, unless your name is anderson silva, cuz he can do it without getting hurt and fight 30 days later.
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Post #4 8/7/08 1:44:34PM
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prozacnation1978
MMA Sensei
Career record: 174-77
Season: 49-21 (#254)
Location: san diego
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i just payed for my flight and hotel already for the event,
can't wait should be a great card
wanderli
shogun vs coleman probably
big nog vs mir for the title
penn vs winner of st pierre/fitch
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Post #5 8/7/08 1:55:39PM
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jae_1833
MMA Sensei
Career record: 146-94
Season: 38-32 (#2004)
Location: cali
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I just hope Penn knows (like A Silva does) that it is his duty to uphold and defend the LW title at all costs. Even if it means he doesn't get his dream rematch with GSP.
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Post #6 8/7/08 2:24:17PM
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nastshabast
In Full Mount
Career record: 159-92
Season: 41-25 (#1271)
Location: Lethbridge Alberta
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Posted by jae_1833
I just hope Penn knows (like A Silva does) that it is his duty to uphold and defend the LW title at all costs. Even if it means he doesn't get his dream rematch with GSP.
Gotta agree with ya on that
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Post #7 8/7/08 5:06:05PM
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