He will try to make history Saturday at UFC 94 when he battles reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre for his title, aiming to become the first UFC fighter to hold belts in two different weight classes at the same time.
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Eric Schafer from Wisconsin, USA, right, defeats Brazil's Antonio Mendes, center, in the Light Heavyweight bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship event, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
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Martin Kampmann from Nevada, USA, left, lands a kick on Brazil's Alexandre Barros, right, in the Welterweight bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship event, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
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Eric Schafer from Wisconsin, USA, foreground, reacts after defeating Brazil's Antonio Mendes, bottom center, in the Light Heavyweight bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship event, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
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Jeremy Horn from Utah, USA, top, competes with Brazil's Rousimar Palhares, bottom, during the Middleweight bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
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Dennis Silver, left, from Germany fights against Nate Moher of Illinois, USA, during the Lightweight bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)
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Mike Wehrs, MMA President & CEO (Photo: Business Wire)
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LAS VEGAS - JANUARY 10: UFC fighters CB Dolloway (L) and Ryan Bader arrive at the 26th annual Adult Video News Awards Show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center January 10, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** CB Dolloway;Ryan Bader
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Recording artist Pink attends UFC 92, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
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Wanderlei Silva begins to fall after a knock out punch by Quinton Jackson, right, during their UFC light heavyweight mixed martial art match Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
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Quinton Jackson celebrates his first round KO over victory over Wanderlei Silva during their UFC light heavyweight mixed martial art match Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
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The confident Hawaiian discussed being a new father, his family's humble beginnings and his unusual start to the world of mixed martial arts in an exclusive interview with FanHouse.
FanHouse: Do you think you should have won your first fight against Georges St. Pierre?
B.J. Penn: I didn't get hurt. I didn't feel like I got beat up. If he won by points, I'm OK with that. He was more prepared than I was. He won so that's life.
FH: What do you think was the difference? GSP's ground game or something else?
BJP: He was more prepared than I was, and he was in better shape.
FH: How have you improved since that fight?
BJP: I'm very prepared this time for the fight. I feel good, and I don't know man, I'm going to win this one.
FH: Your UFC Primetime comments made a lot of waves about how you're going to fight to the death and kill GSP. Do you regret those at all?
BJP: They asked me what I am going to be thinking when I'm going to be standing across the ring from him when they're announcing our names. If you're not thinking that, what the hell are you doing in the Octagon?
FH: What do you think of your experience with UFC Primetime as a whole?
BJP: You know all and all right now, I got no bad feelings towards it.
FH: I read some reports that you weren't happy with how you and your family were portrayed in that first episode. Is that true?
BJP: All that stuff is true, but I can't sit there and dwell on that. I was mad in the moment, but now it's time to move on.
FH: How would you describe your relationship with Dana White?
BJP: It's always up and down, but we will always be friends.
FH: The show made a big contrast between yours and GSP's childhoods. What was yours really like and what got you into mixed martial arts?
BJP: I lived a good life. Actually, my parents and my two older brothers lived in a bus. They worked real hard and saved all their money trying to move up through the world. Me and my younger brother were then born into the family. I lived a good life. They took good care of me and they were never really around as much because they were working so hard. All they did was dedicate the whole life to working and they are really hard workers.
I went to Hilo High School, and I kind of fell into jiu-jitsu. My dad kind of pushed me into jiu-jitsu. I wasn't really excited about jiu-jitsu, but everybody said I was good. They kind of just pushed me in and here I am today. I guess everything happens for a reason.
FH: What did you like about jiu-jitsu early on?
BJP: I was good at it. I really didn't care, but I was like, whatever, it wasn't going to be my life or anything. Here I am today fighting for another world championship so I guess it is my life.
FH: What would you have done if you didn't start taking jiu-jitsu?
BJP: I have no clue. I have no clue what I would have done ... Who knows? I guess this is the path I was supposed to take. I couldn't see myself doing anything else these last 10 years.
FH: One of the cool things about the show was how it showed the relationship between you and your daughter. What has your life been like since she was born?
BJP: It's awesome. Coming up to a fight I try not to think about her because I just want to be a fighter. I want to be serious about this fight. It's so awesome seeing her and like any parent you think she is the cutest kid in the world. I just love seeing her.
FH: How hard is it to balance training and being a parent?
BJP: Her mother actually took control a lot. She really took care of her while I trained for the fight. I took care of her during the daytime, but throughout the night her mother did all the work.
FH: What do you do during your spare time since you likely didn't have much time with training and parenting?
BJP: I like to hang out at the beach, hang out with my friends, tell stories and joke around. That's all I do.
FH: How has the jump back to 170 pounds been for you? How do you feel right now?
BJP: I feel great, man. I have been eating a lot of food. I'm going to be really healthy and I'm going to kick his a**.
FH: What would it mean to you to be holding two title belts Saturday night?
BJP: That whole thing is awesome. I'm glad I'm going to be able to win it from Georges. You want to win it from a real champion and not a paper champion.
FH: Do you respect Georges as a person and a fighter?
BJP: I respect Georges. After the fight, I will shake his hand.
FH: What do you have planned after the fight? After all the months of training?
BJP: After the fight, I'm just going to go home. I don't drink after the fight anymore. I'll just go home and enjoy the victory and be happy about it. Maybe go back to Hilo, and go party with some of my friends, and go enjoy hanging out with my daughter.
Comments (Page 1 of 2)
BJ, pack a lunch kid. GSP is going to destroy you!
Agreed. BJ has about as good a chance to win as Arizona, haha.
Sounds like somebody forgot how much of a bloody mess GSP's face was in the first fight!
People have been doubting BJ his entire career. All he has ever done is proved them wrong at every step of the way. I think he is at a good place in his life right now and there is no doubt in my mind that he will stop GSP. He will not have to go to a decision like last time where he got robbed. This time I belive he will stop GSP from strikes.
People need to remember this show basically condensed his entire training camp into rought 45 minutes of footage (the show was a total of 1.5hours). People who think he haven't been working have another thing coming to them.
GO BJ PENN!! BEAT GSP THE QUITTER!!
Ah yes. The girls from MMA are at it again. LOL Hey BJ, show some of that "punching power" in a sport where skill and stamina are required. Plus, IF you are good enough, you can make some SERIOUS Money! LOL The girls of MMA, ya just gotta love the crap that comes out of their mouths! LOL
heh heh heh whiners and diners heh heh heh
Dude. Really with the "lol"? What are you an 8 year old little girl? You must be a Jones brothers fan and love Barbie. You also must be a confused boxer who thinks he can stand toe to toe with an MMA elite fighter. I'll tell you this, a boxer is skilled in one faction. Standup hands throwing. That's it nothing more nothing less. An MMA fighter can take a boxer to the ground, stomp his ass, than break either his leg or arm like a strand of dried spaghetti. My uncle was a gold glove champ in the 80's. I was around the sport for many years and trained with my uncle, that's where I cut my teeth. I started MMA in 93. Being around both sports, I have to say MMA is more grueling and much more technically demanding. I take nothing away from boxing, I love the sweet science of the sport, but there is no comparison to the mental and physical demand of MMA.
I like both BJ and GSP but it's about prep, mindset, skill and match up of styles... I'm rooting for GSP to finish ground and pound.
I like both of them ,they can both kick ass ,but for some reason i'm kinda leaning towards G.S.P .I won't tell my husband that! :)
bj wins by naked choke
If I was Dana White, I'd be more concerned that divas/ actors like Brock Lessner discredit MMA and the "phantom punch" delivered by Ali was a lot like BL's winning shot in his championship match.
I've worked for fight promotions as a lighting tech, kinda gets you when you're walking to dinner across the arena floor and find a "x" made from athletic tape and on the tape is written," surprise attack." (this allows the cameraman to preset the camera for a good shot of the surprise attach.
Randy C, you took a dive you douchebag diva.
Your statement of Randy taking a dive is that of a liar. Your statement of MMA fights such as the UFC being staged is also a lie. Be very careful what you say in a public domain. If you have actual proof you wouldnt be on here yapping. You would be out there selling your lies to the highest bidder because you are a scumbag
Go under dogs Penn and Arizona will win this weekend!
BJ shows "every step of the way"? Did you forget about when Matt Hughes ground and pound him? GSP will win this fight, and he won't get bloody doing it. You are a light weight BJ.
I respect both fighters, but I hope BJ takes it. He's a modern day warrior. Bad A**. I also want to see Fedor wup Brock but I have a feeling Mir will do the job. Then Mir vs Fedor. Come on Dana get Fedor to the UFC stop f'n around with Lesnar
Hey BJ you suck go @#*@# yourself
GSP's face looked like a pizza after the last fight, BJ was barely winded. Maybe the judges will get their heads out of their butts for this one.
All you guys bashing on BJ. Boo Hoo. Did You guys get stomped by a Hawaiian sometime in your life and you think GSP will take your revenge. You guys sound like bitter little Bi****s. You think BJ is good. There's guys like BJ everywhere in Hawaii. Everywhere. If you guys like to fight, come to Hawaii, we will give you everything you're looking for. If you can't afford the ticket, we got Hawaiians spread out all over the U.S. You can probably find one in a gym nearby.
what is everybody's problem with brock lesnar anyway, sure he was a great entertainer in the wwe, but he also kicks ass in the octagon, you people wonder why he's running through the competition like a mack truck, it's because of people's disbelief that he is a real live contender. would make anybody want to prove you guys wrong.
Run threw the competition???? He's had 3 fights and won 2 and lost 1 big deal. He's just big thats it. You mean to tell his patented move the "I'm an angry 4 year old punching" is talent. Let me guess you started watching MMA when Brock came to the seen. You worshiped him in the WWF or WWE whichever. Brock is big that it. His time will come is he will get beat twice in a row and you will never hear from him again.