UFC Planning Event in Hawaii, Wanted BJ Penn to Headline
The UFC is still planning to visit Hawaii in the near future, but its hopes to have former champion BJ Penn headline a stadium event were dashed when the Hawaiian decided to take time off after being dominated by Nick Diaz at UFC 137 in October.
“We’re still working on that, but we want to do it. I was kind of hoping to go to Hawaii again and do a B.J. (Penn) fight at the Aloha Bowl, but B.J. wants to take some time off. He’s going to relax for a while,” White recently told MMA Weekly. “We’re coming regardless. But that was the fight I really wanted to do there.”
Penn immediately retired after losing to Diaz, but reconsidered in the weeks following the loss and said he would return if fighting excited him again. Now, with the UFC planning its first event in Hawaii at a 50,000 seat stadium, there may not be a more exciting time for Penn’s return.
After going just 1-3-1 in his last five fights, with a 21-second knockout of Matt Hughes between a pair of losses to Frankie Edgar for the lightweight title and a draw to Jon Fitch before the loss to Diaz, the biggest question besides whether Penn returns is who he would fight if he does.
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B.J. always needs “time off”…how tiresome.
If he does return, he should consider going back to 155. Then, there’s a whole host of possibilities…..
Im Sure if he comes back he fight at welterweight. It will be to much weight to cut and hes not going to want to put the time in an effert to go back to 155. Im sure he has put on some weight prolly walking around close to 180-190. I would like to see Diego and Bj at 170!
diego vs penn would be the perfect matchup especially since diego is likely to lose to ellenberger
Rick:
You know, that makes sense. But only if Diego beats Ellenberger, in my opinion.
Why should BJ get Diego if Diego was to beat Ellenberger? BJ is 1-3-1 while Diego would be 3-2 in his last 5 with a win.
why should he fight diego has already whipped him once
They could put him vs Maynard.
Have him fight Matt Serra. That way he gets a “name” fighter who’s a former champ and they could both retire afterwards.
I like the idea against serra. There both in the same points in their careers and they have both had time off. Serra isnt making any sort of title run so he can retire as a former welter weight champ and the last one to beat GSP as this point.
BJ must ONLY fight at 155, no exceptions. He will not have success at 170.
Lets do the unfinished business -Penn vs DryHump II
BJ vs (reinstated)Rumble @ 192lbs
Lol fcfighter.
I really want him to come back as he’s one of the best of all times, but yes at 155 please!
He just needs to get some real training instead of his brothers in Hawaii. If he were to go to Greg Jackson that would be ridiculous how good he could be. And I wouldn’t mind Penn/Serra as a little tune up for him.
considering his recent record and the fact that if he did fight again it would prob b his last he is unlikely to drop to 155
and serra hasnt fought in years and could unlikely make 170 so i think diego at 170 would b the best option(only if diego loses)cuz u know diego would make it a fun fight
I’d like to see Penn drop back to 155 where he belongs, get some good training from a top trainer (like Greg Jackson) and take one more run. He’s got all the skill and most of speed, hell he even beat up I much bigger diaz in round 1, and if he would’ve kept a game plan he could’ve maybe won that fight. Same with the fitch fight. So I’d love to see him back and fighting a top guy like maynard or even melendez.
he should drop back down to 155 and fight anthony pettis