UFC looking to land in Aloha State later this year
In the past UFC President Dana White had expressed his desire to see the UFC make an appearance in Hawaii with former champion (and popular islander) B.J. Penn taking a headlining spot on the card. However, even despite Penn’s continued retirement, it appears White is still planning on taking his fight promotion to Hawaii in the near future. The UFC card would take place inside Aloha Stadium, a venue... [Read More...]
B.J. Penn open to comeback if situation is right
B.J. Penn, a former double-division UFC champion, shocked many in the MMA world when he announced his impending retirement from fighting after a loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 137 last month. Now, after taking some time to think about his career, “The Prodigy” might be having second thoughts. After Penn dropped his UFC lightweight title to Frankie Edgar, he says his own coaches asked him to take some... [Read More...]
A Plea for Penn to Prove Himself Again
Former UFC champion B.J. Penn announced his retirement from the Octagon Saturday night after falling to Nick Diaz in the main event of UFC 137. However, “The Prodigy” has plenty yet to finish before he actually exits the cage for good. Penn, who fought to a draw with Jon Fitch earlier this year, needs to finish off their war after the two called each other out. Penn and Fitch are two of the greatest... [Read More...]
B.J. Penn sees some of himself in Nick Diaz
B.J. Penn had no plans to fight Nick Diaz inside the Octagon anytime soon, if ever. However, after several problems arose in trying to put together Saturday’s UFC 137 card, the two former training partners were paired up and will face off across from each other in just a few short hours. UFC 137 is set for tonight from Las Vegas, Nevada’s Mandalay Bay Events Center with the PPV also featuring Matt... [Read More...]
UFC 137 Countdown breaks down B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz
When B.J. Penn painted the canvas crimson with Joe Stevenson’s blood at UFC 80 en route to becoming lightweight champion few could have imagined he’d be headlining an event three years later against a welterweight who hasn’t lost since the title-winning performance (or at least one not named Georges St. Pierre). However, Penn will find himself in that very situation this weekend when he stands... [Read More...]
B.J. Penn focused on winning fights, nothing else
Change of opponents? Check. Last-second bump up to the main event? Check. Ten-month layoff entering said bout? Check. An opponent with a history of talking trash and shirking media obligations? Again, check. While there might be a million things B.J. Penn could be concerned with going into this weekend’s headlining fight against Nick Diaz at UFC 137 there is only one thing on his mind – winning. Penn... [Read More...]
B.J. Penn requested rematch with Jon Fitch before being given Nick Diaz
Former UFC lightweight champ B.J. Penn‘s welterweight quest has been one filled with plenty of highs, but, Penn wants to avenge a sore subject in the form of a February Draw with Jon Fitch. After finding out his original UFC 137 opponent, Carlos Condit, had been called up to fight UFC welterweight title-holder Georges St. Pierre, Penn was hoping he would get his rematch with Fitch. Instead, Penn... [Read More...]
B.J. Penn says Nick Diaz fight was news to him, tried to get different opponent
When the UFC yanked Nick Diaz from the main event from UFC 137, replaced him with Carlos Condit, and then inserted the former Strikeforce welterweight champ into Condit’s place against B.J. Penn, the news caught a number of people off-guard including Penn himself. The popular Hawaiian recently opened up about the situation in a video series through sponsor RVCA where he explained he was far from... [Read More...]
UFC 137 switcharoo complete as Nick Diaz fills vacancy against B.J. Penn
MMA has always been an “anything can happen” sport coated in “never say never”, a fact given credence Thursday night when UFC President Dana White announced Nick Diaz would face B.J. Penn at UFC 137 a day after Diaz was pulled from the main event against Georges St. Pierre based on his failure to follow through on a few media commitments. “This is crazy but here we go again! You wanted it... [Read More...]
Carlos Condit, not Jon Fitch, likely next up for B.J. Penn
It appears top welterweights Jon Fitch and B.J. Penn will have to wait a little longer to settle the score from their Draw this past February after already watching a July rematch fall apart for health-related reasons. However, injuries are not the culprit this time around as it appears dwindling fan interest will dictate the delay in the two talented 170ers throwing down a second time. The surprising... [Read More...]
UPDATE: B.J. Penn drops out of UFC 132 fight, cites shoulder injury
It looks like BJ Penn will extend his vacation through the summer. Originally scheduled to fight Jon Fitch at UFC 132, Penn has officially dropped off the card with an injury that was originally undisclosed. UFC officials were searching for a replacement fight for Penn, and while welterweights Carlos Condit and Anthony Johnson expressed interest in taking on “The Prodigy,” neither fight... [Read More...]
B.J. Penn versus Blank Space
Having to unexpectedly replace injured fighters is as familiar a concept for MMA organizations as hiring attractive ring-girls and crossing your fingers Cecil Peoples hasn’t been assigned to score one of your bigger bouts. Any sport involving a high level of physicality inherently has more risk involved where maintaining its participants’ health is concerned so it goes without saying the occasional... [Read More...]
UPDATE: Jon Fitch injured, out of UFC 132 fight against B.J. Penn
It looks like fans will have to wait to see what would have happened if Jon Fitch vs. BJ Penn went to round four, five, and six. Fitch has been forced to withdrawal from the card after suffering an injury while training for his UFC 132 bout. The extent of the injury is not known but it is severe enough to keep Fitch out of action on July 2, 2011. No word yet on who will replace Fitch or if the bout... [Read More...]
UFC 132 taking shape with announcement of Penn vs. Fitch II, Sotiropoulos vs. Dunham, and more
True to form the UFC looks to again be providing fans with a talent-laden line-up for their annual Fourth of July Weekend event as the promotion has announced a trio of tilts scheduled for UFC 132 including a highly-anticipated rematch between B.J. Penn (16-7-2) and Jon Fitch (23-3-1). Also scheduled for the July 2 show, respected lightweights George Sotiropoulos (14-3) and Evan Dunham (11-2) will... [Read More...]
Winner of Jon Fitch vs. B.J. Penn will emerge UFC’s top welterweight contender
One man has gone 13-1 in the UFC at 170 pounds with his lone loss coming in the only title-fight he’s received thus far while the other is 2-3 in the division with a trio of opportunities to procure gold and a championship victory in the mix. However, when Jon Fitch and B.J. Penn meet at UFC 127 the two talented fighters will be equals in the sense the individual walking away with a win will also... [Read More...]
The Fab Fifteen – Lightweights
Lightweight is one of MMA’s most-interesting weight-classes to rank based on how the division’s top talent is spread out over multiple promotions rather than the lot, or even bulk, calling the UFC home. With DREAM, Strikeforce, and Bellator all having a stake in the “Top 5” it’s difficult to compare common opponents or know how each man would fare if paired against one of his elite peers... [Read More...]
Jon Fitch vs. B.J. Penn targeted for UFC 127
Fans wondering whether B.J. Penn would return to the division where he recently reigned as champion or remain at 170-pounds after overrunning Matt Hughes at “UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida” got an answer quicker than they might have envisioned, similar to the finish, when UFC head-honcho Dana White announced at the post-event press conference that “The Prodigy” would be facing perennial contender... [Read More...]
More than $300,000 in bonuses handed out at UFC 123
Former double-divisional champion B.J. Penn was one of four fighters taking home an $80,000 bonus for their respective showings Saturday night at “UFC 123: Rampage vs. Machida”. Penn, who finished welterweight great Matt Hughes by way of knockout less than thirty seconds into their co-headlining bout, was awarded “Knockout of the Night” and the additional cash for his dominant, tie-breaking... [Read More...]
UFC officially announces “Rampage” vs. Machida, Hughes vs. Penn III for November 20th
PRESS RELEASE / Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Detroit will be infused with adrenaline on Saturday, November 20, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to the Motor City for the first time since UFC IX in 1996. In the main event, two former UFC light heavyweight champions collide as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson takes on Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida at “UFC 123: RAMPAGE vs. MACHIDA”,... [Read More...]
BJ Penn vs. Matt Hughes rubber-match rumored for UFC 123
At UFC 46 in 2004, BJ Penn gave fans new hope by submitting then-reigning champion Matt Hughes in the first frame of their welterweight title bout. A little more than two years later, Hughes struck back by disarming a defenseless Penn en route to a third round TKO victory. This November, a classic trilogy looks to be in the making, as UFC 123 will apparently mark the return of the Hawaiian to 170-pounds... [Read More...]
