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16/03/10 - BJ Penn talks about possible permanent move to welterweight
UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn has talked more about a potential move to welterweight. He first revealed the potential move up in weight during a series of video interviews on his site at BJPenn.com and yesterday he expanded on it during a promotional interview for the forthcoming video game UFC Undisputed 2010.
He told IGN: "Yeah, I think there is a possibility of [moving to welterweight]. I don't in no way want to look past Frankie Edgar, he's a good fighter. You never know what could happen. But if I go back to welterweight, maybe I'll try to give it a run, maybe fight a couple of fights there, we'll see how it goes…I might try to do it permanent. We'll see, I just don't want to rush anything, just take my time and go out there and do my best."
Penn also said he would fancy his chances against the likes of Thiago Alves and Jon Fitch, despite the size difference. The prospect of another fight with former welterweight champion Matt Hughes also interests him.
“I think I could do good against some of the top welterweights. Yeah, pretty big guys, but you gotta live some times, you gotta step up sometime, huh? Yeah, you never know what could happen [with Hughes]. Let's see how him and Renzo go, let's see what happens there.”
Penn moving to welterweight would certainly open the lightweight division right up if he vacates the lightweight belt by doing so. Penn has dominated in his title defences and has generally looked unbeatable at 155lbs. If he vacated the belt and moved up, the top end of the division would look much closer with the likes of Kenny Florian, Frankie Edgar, Takanori Gomi and Gray Maynard all having a shot at claiming the top spot.
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