B.J. Penn - I'm not doing this again

I'm a huge BJ Penn fan. He's one of the fighters I actually get emotionally invested in the fights. I have rationalized my way into truly believing he was going to beat GSP in the rematch, Frankie in the rematch, Fitch, Diaz and Rory (kind of)... but I just can't do it this time. It's too far fetched. I have absolutely NO REASON to believe BJ is going to win this 3rd fight with Edgar.

Here are some good things in Penns favor:
1. He is going to be coaching the Ultimate Fighter. So he's going to be around young, hungry, motivated fighters constantly and training with them, also teaching them. That will sharpen him up and get him in shape.
2. The fight is currently set for 145, even if it moves to a catchweight of 150, still means Penn has to burn his chub and love handles off. He'll be in better shape than he was against Diaz and Rory that's for damn sure.

Here's the bad things:
1. Penn has lost the motivation, hunger and determination for greatness he used to have. THAT is almost impossible to ever get back for a fighter who has celebrated his success and glory already.
2. Edgar is a horrible style matchup for him. Simply stated, he's too quick on his feet.


I'm not setting myself up for a let down again. I'll enjoy the show, but by no means am I going to start believing Penn is going to win this fight :nono

Thoughts?

 

I can see a few reasons for this going on:

1. Penn wants back, but with the amount the UFC has to pay him and his ego, The UFC or Penn don't want him fighting mid-tier guys, or no-names. It's too much of a risk. If he loses at this point to a mid-level guy, he's really done. But if he loses to an elite fighter, it's not that bad and it's happened already.

2. Penn fighting at 145 is good for two reasons. IF he wins, The UFC has a new star to help build a division that's loaded with talent, but not with recognizable stars. If he loses, they can always con the public into thinking he has lost his last 3 fights because he hasn't been fighting at LW. Boom, move him to LW, the fight sells again.

3. He agreed to do the tv show. He is a charismatic and interesting guy, and they need to put him with someone he has history with. No other lightweights fit, so there is Frankie. Only Frankie is at FW, and isn't going to switch back to LW for Penn's sake.


It kinda makes sense...

 

Well, obviously I'm not for this move either. But at WW, he weighed in at like 168 with his jeans on. He didn't cut any weight, and he was pudgy.

 

The most absurd quote I've ever heard from a professional fighter. In the build up to BJ's fight with Rory. They were interviewing BJ and asked about the fight being post-poned due to Rory's injury. Penn's response was ridiculous. It's not word for word, I don't feel like researching the quote:
"It actually worked out perfect. It was a blessing. You know, I was just going to train a little and go in there and see what happens, you know. But now, I have all this extra time and motivation. I'm really going to get in shape, I'm taking this serious now..."

atsch

This guy not only was headed into a fight with arguably the second most talented and athletic WWs in the world, and a guy who is naturally large enough to contend at MW, but he ASKED FOR THE FIGHT. And he was "just going to train a little, go in there, and see what happens..."????

That and Ariel Helwani exposing that when he or someone else visited BJ, before BJ's fight with GSP, BJ wasn't even training hard....and as the show showed that he took a "vacation" a few weeks before the fight.

If BJ isn't motivated or smart enough to get into the best possible shape of his life vs GSP or Rory at WW, then I have no confidence that he can do it against any opponent.