Morning Report: B.J. Penn talks 'expanding his arsenal' with Greg Jackson ahead of bout at UFC 197

"Motivated B.J. Penn" wouldn't be a meme if not for the dreaded "Unmotivated B.J. Penn."

After drawing with Jon Fitch at UFC 127 in 2011 Penn dropped three straight bouts to Nick Diaz, Rory MacDonald and Frankie Edgar before hanging it up in 2014.

Penn's introverted training routine in Hawaii didn't appear to be doing him justice years ago and it's exactly why he's joined up with Greg Jackson and his elite camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

"The plan is 100 percent to stay in Albuquerque the whole way," Penn told UFC commentators Kenny Florian and Jon Anik on their podcast. "It's not fair to myself and my family for me to go and not take this as serious as it is. These people are hungry and tough. These people will knock you out if you mess around. There's no way I'm going to train anywhere else if I'm going to step in the ring. I'm here the whole way."

Penn contacted Jackson in late December to discuss a possible comeback. A visit to Jackson's morphed into a solid commitment and now Penn is about three weeks into his first training camp in years.

Penn is already feeling the effects of training at altitude in Albuquerque, but seems more excited about the diverse group of training partners now available to him.

"They're really trying to evolve me and take me to a new level," said Penn. "Everybody's got a pretty good idea of what B.J. Penn is coming with. I think they're really trying to expand my arsenal. They're improving my cardio, my strength, too, but I really think they're expanding my arsenal.

"Greg looks at this like a three, four, five-fight thing but I'm not letting this guy standing across from me beat me. I think they're in this for the long haul."

Aside from pure technique, Penn already credits Jackson for helping to overhaul his mentality.

"The talks Greg and I have together, he tells me, 'B.J., if you're going to go out there and do something that no one else has done and win these three belts you're going to have to put in [the work]. You're going to be sitting in the apartment bored, looking at the ceiling and you're going to have to go through all these emotions.

"It's starting to happen already. I'm getting further into camp and see the monotony and receptiveness take place. That's why I stepped out of the sport before. All those mental mind games. It's all how you handle it. Being tough mentally. You're only as good as you think you are."

Penn wouldn't confirm who exactly he'll face in his return, but it sounds like he'll be part of a stacked UFC 197 event in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"As far as I understand the opponent is already chosen and everybody is working for that goal on March 5," said Penn. "I talked to Dana and we're going to see how this all plays out."

5 MUST-READ STORIES

'I was already injured.' After Cain Velasquez withdrew from UFC 196 with an injury, Fabricio Werdum follows suit.

'I'm willing. I'm capable. I'll fight Stipe.' With late replacement heavyweight contender Stipe Miocic left hanging, Josh Barnett says he'd step in to fight him for the interim belt.

'He will only fight for the belt.' Jose Aldo's manager says the former UFC featherweight champ is willing to sit out a year and wait for a title fight.

Contenders. Matt Brown vs. Demian Maia added to the UFC Fight Night event in Brazil on May 14.

'I got a little bit of fire in me.' Free agent Chris Leben isn't "ruling out" a return to fighting.

Watch The MMA Hour with Luke Rockhold, T.J. Dillashaw, Miesha Tate, Tony Ferguson, Paul Daley, Aaron Simpson.

MEDIA STEW

Josh Barnett pitches himself against Stipe Miocic and breaks down the UFC heavyweight shakeup.

Highlights from ONE Championship 37.

Jon Jones talks Conor McGregor, Holly Holm, cleaning out 205 and more.

Road to the Octagon - Josh Barnett vs. Ben Rothwell.

Ben Rothwell on the art of the KO.

Conor McGregor teaches you how to win a bar fight.

Long watches.

...

...

TWEETS

Now we wait.

To be honest I wouldn't want to fight me either you guys.

— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) January 25, 2016

' @stipemiocicufc don't speak to fast, because the storm is headed your way soon enough...

— Big Ben Rothwell (@RothwellFighter) January 26, 2016

I'm ready to give the fans of @ufc 196 a heavyweight championship fight for the night. @stipemiocicufc & me will bring the thunder. #UFC196

— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) January 25, 2016

Fallout.

Stipe vs Rothwell for interim title #connormacpolicy https://t.co/jrEn3xk9we

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) January 25, 2016

Jon jones v stipe!

— Julie Kedzie (@julesk_fighter) January 25, 2016

Werdum pulling out is the biggest tuck in @ufc history . He didn't like match up and bailed , it's that simple @stipemiocicufc #UFC196

— Brian Rogers (@BRogthePredator) January 25, 2016

Ha ha @stipemiocicufc has scared the fight out Werdum...

— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) January 25, 2016

He is just playing the cards so he can make more paper ppv money fighting Mexican fan favorite in rematch #WAYMORE$ https://t.co/7evtZrVKoS

— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) January 26, 2016

Days like this are a good reason Joe Silva is not on twitter, catching zero breaks

— Brian Stann (@BrianStann) January 25, 2016

Fucking pussies

— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) January 25, 2016

Smart move to be honest https://t.co/Zv9ckKczT1

— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) January 25, 2016

I'd watch Stipe-Jones.

If it was for the actual title I would totally do it https://t.co/ur2Rq1ycOI

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) January 26, 2016

Tested.

And just like that an army of scientists show up at the gaf. #RandomDrugTest #USADA #SorryImLateCoach pic.twitter.com/mAHvqtfrJ7

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 25, 2016

6 am @usantidoping testing! I'm glad the sport is getting cleaned up. I was having badass dream though while they pounded on the door

— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) January 25, 2016

Joanna Champion.

And so it begins.... make sure to tune In in april #tuf #tuf23 #teamjoanna #JJ #JJchamp #... https://t.co/xq7GwXPDRT pic.twitter.com/vz4Ubxgr7t

— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) January 26, 2016

Bless you.

I'll be in Albany, Syracuse, Rochester & Buffalo this week trying to bring @UFC to my home state. Who's with me? pic.twitter.com/rI60VD3pdE

— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) January 25, 2016

Get well soon.

Medically cleared to #KICK dance , run .... ✔️ #vamoscomtudo rapaziada

— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) January 25, 2016

Scratch my dang cornea. #MondayFunday

— Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) January 25, 2016

I scratched my cornea at wrestling practice... Can you see it? #mondayfunday #wrestlingpractice #stuffhappens

A video posted by Will Brooks (@illwillbrooks86) on Jan 25, 2016 at 10:38am PST

Here we go.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Jan. 25 2016)

Matt Brown vs. Demian Maia at UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Souza

Ross Pearson vs. Abel Trujillo at UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Mir

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