BJ Penn: Randy Couture is the best fighter of all time
Ron Kuck: When you finally decide to hang it up,would you like to go out the way that (Randy Couture)…
Ron Kuck: When you finally decide to hang it up,would you like to go out the way that (Randy Couture) did? Because a lot of times, in any sport, athletes really don’t get to pick … Do you think he retired the right way and in a way that you would like to finally retire one day?
BJ Penn: A lot of other fighters out there, they probably would have went and picked a fight that they would have known that they would have won and leave on a high note. But, that’s Randy, that’s the only way he would have gone out, like that and I probably would kind of think for myself the same. If Randy would have won, he would be fighting for the title. He wouldn’t have left … We lost so many times over the years, we all know that’s not the first time Randy got knocked but that’s probably what it’s going to, probably going to take a knockout or a bad beating to make someone like Randy or someone like me or a couple other fighters that I know in the UFC say, OK, you know, I can take it, I’ll walk away now.’
RK: Personally, how long would you like to keep fighting?
BJP: You know when I was in my 20s I said I’ll fight until 40 and this and that… and I don’t know, everything’s just a blessing now. As long as I keep winning fighting and fans want to see me fight (and) I’m not hurt, I’ll fight as long as I can. I’d love to fight until 40, I don’t know if it’s a reality but I’d love to.
RK: You’ve been in the Octagon with the sport’s best, the top of the top. You don’t have to call anyone out or anything like that, but is there a fight that interests you before you retire? Maybe, you know, a rematch with someone or somebody new, maybe an up-and-comer?
BJP: You know what? People might think it’s a long shot from this point out, but I really would like to be the world champ again at 170 pounds, and try to hold out as long as I can and when I get knocked off, because everyone’s going to get knocked off, I’d love to go back to 155 and win one more time. If I could do that, I can go to sleep at night. It would be much easier, you know, I don’t know any specific names or whoever the champion is at that time, you know. … I really want to be world champ again. I was watching Soul Surfer movie the other day, the girl (Bethany Hamilton) who lost her arm… and if she can go out and keep surfing professionally, I can go get another world title.