Unhappy With Portrayal, BJ Penn Stops “Primetime” Taping
UFC 94 St-Pierre vs Penn 2 Poster
Unhappy with the way he was portrayed in the first installment of the UFC’s “Primetime” series, which hypes his January 31st bout against welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, lightweight champion BJ Penn has abruptly decided he no longer wishes to be involved with the show, according to MMAJunkie.com:
“…B.J. Penn recently shut down a taping and interview session for the series and no longer wants involved in the project.
During the Jan. 14 debut, Penn was sometimes portrayed as a fighter who didn’t take his training too seriously – a reputation that’s long dogged the 30-year-old fighter.
In the latest taping segment for “Primetime,” Penn cut short taping just eight minutes into an interview, the source said.”
Last week’s debut episode of Primetime, which models the popular HBO Boxing series “24/7″, was a major success, attracting 880,000 viewers, the most to ever tune in for a UFC preview show.
The second installment of the series airs tonight on Spike TV at 10pm ET.
Tags: BJ Penn
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Good for you BJ!!!
not good for him he did it himself. he knew he wasnt training and he didnt pick up dana’s phone call. he is just rich and thinks he is the best. we will see next sat
hmm, It looks like he didn’t like the way he represented himself, or that he can’t handle the fact that they can edit footage to go any way they want.
I still find it funny that BJ called GSP a quitter when he bailed out of training because he was getting soar. Or it was a master plan for his peaking phase?
I am 100% routing for GSP and do believe he will win, but I will never say he’s got it in the books as I still believe if Penn wins it will be within the first two rounds and it will be by KO.
My Firefox is finally acting correctly, the new layout is sick!
I think its a bit of short notice to re-edit tonight’s episode. I can’t say that I necessarily blame BJ for getting upset, but he put himself in that position by skipping out and taking the vacation, as well as by not answering the phone when Dana called.
I have read however that “Dana said they take footage as recent as the day before and literally don’t finish editing it until a couple hours before it airs.”
Another writer believes its all a performance.
You are only portrayed the way you represent yourself, you didnt see GSP laying down or goin out grocery shoppin. He’s in the gym training his ass off, Penn is a whiner and I hope his ass gets splattered next sunday
Whats wrong with going grocery shopping? And you’re right, they did not show GSP grocery shopping. Instead, they showed him partying in a dance club.
Danny- GSP did go out to that club that night. Now granted, it wasnt for a few days he was there like BJ in Kona, but all fighters need some time away from the gym. Up to the fighters discretion on how long.
my point is you are portrayed the way you represent yourself
True he went to the club but he also stated that he doesnt drink or do drugs. No different than going to the movies or hanging out at home with your friends. A lot different than taking a few days off of training to go to Kona with your girlfriend.
Dana said, ” He better not be in Kona with his girlfriend”, but there was no sign of any chicks at all. Just two yahoos sitting in the water. Personally to me, time off is a good thing. clears your mind and gets you back to the original reason why you do it in the first place.
Exactly, give the muscles time to heal, mind time to rest. And with all reality shows, they take several days/weeks of taping and edit down to a few hours. They only show what is going to sell and grab the viewers attention.
Plus, BJ is known for his layed back style. Isnt it a requirement to live in Hawaii? I would constantly been on the go if I lived in frigid @$$ Canada also, just to stay warm!!
GSP will ground and pound BJ into oblivion. The only reason BJ beat Sherk was because of his reach advantage. The guy is so overrated its ridiculous. Once he gets destroyed by GSP he will then most likely get knocked out by Kenny Florian and lose his lightweight belt.
Wow, if you really believe that, give Eddie Bravo his bong back and step away from the keyboard. BJ beat down sherk because sherk tried to stand with BJ and he has no striking skills what so ever, and how can you boy have a reach advantage against sherk. Guy has trex arms. Everyone but you seems to know BJ is without a doubt the best LW in the world. Thinking florian is going to destroy BJ is laughable.
*replace boy with not* sorry black berry sure type crap.
TV and editing are powerful tools. We all know this is for sure the biggest fight for BJ, and perhaps GSP also. I think it did portray him in a some what negative light. But I dont think this has made him lose focus on the prize. Still a BJ fan and always will be. Smart move by him to stop taping, even though I was really into last week. We shall just wait and see what BJ shows up that night. But when he does win, i think he should pull out the, “I told you so finger” and aim it right at Dana!
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Has a girlfriend and a daughter, so not a fag. I don’t think GSP will smash him, will be one helluva fight with BJ getting the deserved win this time.
Good call willy, but please lets not get on this “fag” thing again. went on way too long last time and lets not re-live it!
@bo702, For sure!
i think its a “buster ass move” if you don’t want people seeing you in a certain way….. then don’t act that way! did he think he could go on vacation and it not be part of the show? did he think they wouldn’t tell Dana? did he think he can look at his phone, say “its Dana” in front of a big ass camera and it wasn’t gunna be part of the show? i am being serious, what is he so suprised at? i just don’t get it?
I think he knows what his actions were, but at the same time the show focused more on his “going to the store” regimen and his “going to Kona” regimen than his training. I think we all know getting to the point where these fighters are at, the just didnt go on vacation all the time and shopping. But imo, the editing of the show made him look bad, and he put a hault to it!
I think bj is one heck of a fighter but GSP is on a mission and once he beats bj and it’s not gunna matter how he beats him he’s better all around in my opion… the pittbull is the fight that i wanna see… Bj needs to worry about the 155’s cause im telling yuh kenflow is know joke give the man a TITLE SHOT plzzzz…….
i hope they still do the show with old footage of BJ acting like a buster! i still think its 50/50 this might light a fire under BJ’s ars and might make GSP slow down a little put i doubt it!
but i doubt it!
I dont think anything will slow GSP. I will give him credit, he is being portrayed as the “Ivan Drago” of MMA, so lets see if this story turns out like the movie with a win from Rocky……I mean BJ!! lol
I have to read what I write before I post. Single handed the worst thing I have ever written!!!! lol
Full on GSP “I must break you.” He’s not a machine, he’s man!!
lol! I am a douche!!!!!
well i’m glad to know that MAYBE bj isn’t still as lazy as the first insallment portrayed him to be.I want to see a good fight,and that means an in shape bj.However i thing st pierre will beat a bj at 70% or 100%.hopefully we’ll see a flip side to bj tonight.
If they even show the new episode. since he stopped taping they might pull the new episode and air last weeks twice or somethin else. Or maybe the whole half hour on GSP!
I always thought these shows were recorded well before the debut episode.So i’m a little confused on the timeline,and i wasn’t observant enough last week to notice any dates given during the episode.Maybe someone can enlighten me.
You should probably read my earlier post, if you want to be enlightened on when they filmed it.
Doesn’t matter how he’s portrayed, doesn’t matter if he tapes the show or not, he’s in for a long awaited humbling. Can’t wait to see GSP vs Thiago.
Props to you Kris , love the new site.
In my opinion BJ is a little too vain, you have to be able to take critisicm in anything in life. Is he worried the portrayal is accurate, maybe the time used shooting this episode is time he now deems necessary for training. He better be in damn good shape against GSP who will continually take him down and it will be a very draining fight.
Action speeks louder than words, we’ll see very soon. BJ has never been a real cut toned physical speciman kind of guy, imagine if he was.
Thanks Mike!
One other question, does this denial to participate leave BJ in a breach of contract position, the UFC can’t be too happy about him not being a part of the promoting of this fight.
I can’t stand listening to bj talk all his trash, it makes him sound dumb an un-educated because he can’t find anything else to say. I just watched the second episode, they showed it early on a different chanel
So, I just watched the Primetime from tonight, it looks like they got their grievances settled, did a re-edit and BJs back on board. I’m so hyped up for this fight…but I still have to wait a week and a half.
I did, however, find it a bit odd that Cerrone, who is fighting Sunday was helping Georges train for his fight a week later. I guess we know who the more important fighter on that team is.
Justin,
Don’t you think that training with GSP would make The Cowboy that much better of a fighter. I love the idea. There is nothing that Varner can do to him that GSP hasn’t done to him already.
Yeah, training with GSP is going to make him a better fighter, for sure. The problem I had with it is that, he went to GSP, with the other guys. Then, at least the way it was portrayed, everyone was working to make GSP better, not working to make Cowboy better. It just seemed like it was all about GSP.
This episode was very good. I would like to say 2 things about the episode, GSP questioned BJ’s heart. but if look at BJ’s track record, hes been stopped only once,and that was when BJ had torn rib cartilage and was in a crucifix and getting pummeled, despite all of that BJ still didnt tap. I dont know how it is everywhere else, but in Hawaii you tap to strikes your a ****, plain and simple. the 2nd was GSP trainer saying how hes gonna walk through Bj and make him regret moving up. GSP doesnt finish fighters at his level and in their prime. couldnt finish Kos or Fitch (and he had Fitch badly hurt). hes stopped a washed up Hughes and a washed up Serra (and Serra he really didnt stop, still dont understand how that fight gets stoped via knees to the side). so could i see GSP winning this fight? yea, via lay n pray just like Kos or their 1st fight.
Dude, GSP slapped on 5 knees to the kidneys before they stopped the fight. I don’t know if you’ve ever trained or been hit hard there, but I’d rather take gnp shots to the face then someone laying full out knees to my kidney. Guaranteed Serra felt that more in the days after the fight then his bruises on the face.
yes, he kneed him repeatedly to his side, it wasnt on the kidney its was to his side. Above all else Matt Serra is a fighter and this is what hes trained to endure, he didnt look in to be in trouble at all from that position. it was a bad stoppage IMO. PS i believe knees to the kidneys are illegal.
Pardon my ignorance in anatomy, I was certain your kidneys were on your side. NOthing illegal about shots to the kidney either though…
Fouls: [Top]
1. Butting with the head.
2. Eye gouging of any kind.
3. Biting.
4. Hair pulling.
5. Fish hooking.
6. Groin attacks of any kind.
7. Putting a finger into any orifice or into any cut or laceration on an opponent.
8. Small joint manipulation.
9. Striking to the spine or the back of the head.
10. Striking downward using the point of the elbow.
11. Throat strikes of any kind, including, without limitation, grabbing the trachea.
12. Clawing, pinching or twisting the flesh.
13. Grabbing the clavicle.
14. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent.
15. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent.
16. Stomping a grounded opponent.
17. Kicking to the kidney with the heel.
18. Spiking an opponent to the canvas on his head or neck.
19. Throwing an opponent out of the ring or fenced area.
20. Holding the shorts or gloves of an opponent.
21. Spitting at an opponent.
22. Engaging in an unsportsmanlike conduct that causes an injury to an opponent.
23. Holding the ropes or the fence.
24. Using abusive language in the ring or fenced area.
25. Attacking an opponent on or during the break.
26. Attacking an opponent who is under the care of the referee.
27. Attacking an opponent after the bell has sounded the end of the period of unarmed combat.
28. Flagrantly disregarding the instructions of the referee.
29. Timidity, including, without limitation, avoiding contact with an opponent, intentionally or consistently dropping the mouthpiece or faking an injury.
30. Interference by the corner.
31. Throwing in the towel during competition.
Figs watch the fight again, unless the kidneys are around the armpit he isnt catching him their and thats still beside the actual point i made. GSP hasent finished anyone relevant.
BJ has been portraited for years about being lazy and not training hard. Yet somehow he beats the living hell out of all of his opponents. Tell me a fight where you have seen BJ’s face bloodied up. Who in the UFC has busted GSP’s face up like BJ did? The man is a killer! Who cares if he is spending time with his old lady, the man’s a player who beats peoples asses for a living. End of Story. BJ will beat that ass again!
The bottom line is we will see if BJ trained well on fight day. BJ is a natural lightweight while GSP is a natural welterweight. That being said, I think Bj is a better overall fighter (slighly) than GSP. I think BJ will need to train hard to get his cardio up because GSP is no joke and is probably better pound for pound at welterweight than BJ.
BJ also brings a mental game into the ring. How he protrayed himself might be part of his game plan and might be what he wanted GSP to see. GSP has shown in the past that his mind can effect his fights. BJ is not orthodox in his training and like other above, “if I lived in Hawaii…”
Watching their previous fight and their Hughes fights should at least bring people to the mind that this will be a close fight.
Sorry but Gsp is not a natural welterwight. He is hughe for welterweight and should be a middleweight. But other than that you are right.
Its definitly debatlable. I agree he is a big welterweight but I think he would be small for a middleweight (he is 5′10). His physique makes him a big welterweight but a small middleweight in my (non-fighter, huge fan) estimation.
yaaaaaah gsp walks around at 185-190 thats not a natural welterweight
yah i agree with what your saying he would be a small middleweight fighter
How BJ trains is up to him … why is Dana calling to make sure … they’re both bald, but I didn’t know he was BJ’s dad.
I’m rooting for GSP, and think BJ is way over the top (kill, to the death) but I agree with BJ’s decision. There is a big difference between shooting a lead up to the fight and letting the viewers take a position, rather than what UFC/Spike are doing which is editorializing (aka leading us in a certain direction/having an opinion to share).
These fighters are world class, and have they own ways of going about their business. BJ is smart to see what they are doing and UFC/Spike need to evaluate their approach.
I agree, they talk about the comparisons to HBO’s 24/7. well HBO stays very objective, while spike tried to add extra drama to this fight and the series.
Reality tv=Drama! More and more soap operaish, Oh No, BJ didn’t answer Dana’s call, what is going to happen?? BJ is taking a few days off to go swimming and rest, Oh No!! I understand the build up for most fights, but come on, GSP vs BJ Penn, really no need for much more. I just want the next 9 days to fly by so I can see the fight and not have the drama build-up.
Don’t fall into the trap people…That was totally staged..The cameras were on BJ & Dana & the exact time Dana decides to call BJ to check up on him??? Come on….
It was not a coincidence … Dana knew before the call (BJ not training), the cameras are following BJ constantly and then editing. BJ not answering was not staged, Dana telling him to get training is what was unnecessary. But I agree with Wyld – the fight needs no hype.
It was staged to get ratings. In a series like this there has to be some “unnessary drama” to get a buzz going (which it does not need like the guy before me said). Now everybody is like “oh BJ is not traing & he’s slacking off” which I’m sure is a bunch of B/S. I just hope GSP doesn’t believe all that hype b/c if he does he’s gonna end up slouched on the cage dazed & confused like the musscle-shark was…
i might be seeming bit stupid here, i havent been able to keep up with this the last couple days too well hard some tough life crap, but was the episode pulled? i cant seem to find it anywhere
No, it ran, they did a re-edit.
It looks like GSP and the jackson camp are in BJ’s head and have got “the prodigy” doubting himself. If you ask me, BJ’s talking all that childish $hit because he’s pissed off, and surprised that “the nice guy” gsp is actually talking back to him. SOmething bj’s not used, a guy who KNOWS he can beat him and has already. CAN”T WAIT TO FINALLY SEE MY BOYS GSP SHUT EVERYONE UP ESPECIALLY ALL THE BJ FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The last ! convinced me.
gsp is guna get a beat down come the 31st, we dont get to see the primetime thing so i dont no whats gone on, but i bet bj is training hard for this fight, gsp is a great fighter but bj imo is just a step up from him, plus gsp cant take a punch, dont care what any of u gsp fans says ur boy is getting tko’d on the 31st
dude gsp beat him down the first time and he has improved so much since then there is no difference in bj penn style from that first fight. all bj has done is beat stevenson,pulver,and sherk thats not really saying much pulver is a joke stevenson got manhandled by florian and sherk stopped using steroids so hes a joke now. gsp has dominated top elite fighters!!!!!
GSP beat him down? Have you seen the fight? I will be biased since I am a Penn fan and say BJ won the fight, but it was so close, it could have gone either way. That time, went to GSP. In no way could you say GSP “beat him down”. If anything, GSP was the one getting the beating, that’s why he had to go to the hospital after the fight.
“all bj has done is beat stevenson,pulver,and sherk thats not really saying much” So winning fights isn’t saying much? IMO the LW division isn’t stacked as much as the WW, reason why BJ is going up. There will always be debates between fans of different fighters, I love being the one smiling after the fight.
yah cause he got poked in the damn eye!!!!! gsp is a better fighter all around i know anything can happen in mma but gsp should win this fight he is the better fighter!!!!
yah bj might be able to take a punch but can he take a kick!!!!!
hahahaha yah ok i guarantee you will be in shock after this fight!!!!cause hes just how the show potrayed him
JohnBoy
Dude, Bj a step up from GSP? Please explain. In what way?
Ok ok Jeremy we got it you believe that Penn is arrogant and doesn’t stand a chance against GSP… Mind you there are people in this world that don’t see eye to eye with you, I for one think that Penn will win the fight and even tho I’m a fan of them both its going to be a great fight, and frankly anything can happen… Penn is an excellent fighter and has accomplished a lot in MMA, he has fought anyone at any weight, soo just chill out and get ready for next week because its going to be a great fight..
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i was looking at the ufc 94 card and it’s all amazing. Nobody’s talking about the machida/silva fight and that is going to be the number one contender fight. But one thing im kinda confused about is that jon fitch is on the god dam pre-lims. Thats not right, he just fought for the title and doesn’t deserve that he needs to be on teh main card still. I would rather see that instead of karo…karo is great but he’s lost his last couple fights not fighting for the title unlike fitch
yah i was thinking the same thing about fitch but i think it has alot to do with him leavin the ufc. yah that silva and machida fight is gonna be fantastic i think silva might do it just cause he looks stronger in his fights.
Fitch not being on the main card seems to be his slap on the wrist for the video game thing. I would for sure rather see him than Karo, but whatever. Maybe it’ll make it if some fights are short.