BJ Penn: Everything working out for UFC 197 fight
“As far as I understand the opponent is already chosen and everybody is working for that goal on March 5. I talked to Dana and we’re going to see how this all plays out.”
BJ Penn is three weeks into his first training camp in year; this time it is at Jackson/Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Penn spoke with UFC commentators Kenny Florian and Jon Anik on their podcast, and said everything points towards a return at March 5, which would be UFC 197 in Las Vegas, Nevada.?
“The plan is 100 percent to stay in Albuquerque the whole way,” said Penn, as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMAFighting.com. “It’s not fair to myself and my family for me to go and not take this as serious as it is. These people are hungry and tough. These people will knock you out if you mess around. There’s no way I’m going to train anywhere else if I’m going to step in the ring. I’m here the whole way.”
“They’re really trying to evolve me and take me to a new level. Everybody’s got a pretty good idea of what B.J. Penn is coming with. I think they’re really trying to expand my arsenal. They’re improving my cardio, my strength, too, but I really think they’re expanding my arsenal.
“Greg looks at this like a three, four, five-fight thing but I’m not letting this guy standing across from me beat me. I think they’re in this for the long haul.”
“The talks Greg and I have together, he tells me, ‘B.J., if you’re going to go out there and do something that no one else has done and win these three belts you’re going to have to put in [the work]. You’re going to be sitting in the apartment bored, looking at the ceiling and you’re going to have to go through all these emotions.
“It’s starting to happen already. I’m getting further into camp and see the monotony and receptiveness take place. That’s why I stepped out of the sport before. All those mental mind games. It’s all how you handle it. Being tough mentally. You’re only as good as you think you are.”
“As far as I understand the opponent is already chosen and everybody is working for that goal on March 5. I talked to Dana and we’re going to see how this all plays out.”