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09/03/10 - Dana talking to BJ Penn about welterweight fights in 2010
UFC president Dana White has talked to lightweight champion BJ Penn about moving up to the welterweight division this year. Penn revealed the talks in a video posted to his personal website, BJPenn.com.
“Dana has expressed some things to me that he would want to see this year, maybe me in the welterweight division. We will see. I have got a tough fight with Frankie Edgar coming up. [And] there is always good lightweight talent, there is a bunch of welterweight contenders up there. I guess I would just have to say I don’t have my mind set on anything yet…. I don’t want to jump the gun and give away all Dana’s plans!” Penn said.
The move is one that has been discussed by fans for some time, and Penn had a crack at the welterweight title last year when he fought Georges St. Pierre at UFC 94. That attempt was unsuccessful and the considerable size and build disparity between the two on fight night suggests the Penn would have to bulk up considerably for a second effort.
Regarding a potential move up in weight class and how he would fare against fighters like Thiago Alves, who walk around at upwards of 200lbs and then cut to 170, Penn said he was not fazed. For him the move is about testing himself, and being outsized is part of that.
“My weight right now - I just finally got a battery for my scale - I think I am about 167.5 or 168. You have got these big guys, they walk around [heavy] and they are strong. I don’t know if I am the only guy, but I think it is about pushing yourself and seeing how far you go and its about failing sometimes - and failing miserably sometimes -but standing up afterwards and realising what happened, and the mistakes that you made.
“But I think that I cannot picture myself becoming complacent, staying in one place. Not that I could defend the lightweight title for ever, I know that’s impossible, you can’t win every one. But I think there is nothing wrong with pushing yourself, seeing how far can you actually go.”
While happiest fighting at lightweight, Penn must be aware that he has cleaned out the division and there is a dearth of credible challengers for him to face. Diego Sanchez was the last man to try and take Penn’s belt but the former welterweight was outclassed for the duration of the fight and has now moved back to his old division.
In April, Penn will face Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. Edgar possesses good skills and a strong heart but he is the underdog by a country mile. If Penn retains his belt against Edgar, there are few names that jump out as likely next contenders at 155lbs.
That explains why Takanori Gomi is making his UFC debut against Kenny Florian, himself a recently unsuccessful contender. If Gomi can beat Florian, the UFC can use that and his status as a former Pride FC champion to make Gomi a title contender. If Gomi loses, finding the next contender may be more of a headache. Florian would love another shot but that fight was too recent to justify a rematch just yet.
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