BJ Penn responds darkly to Mike Dolce interview
BJ Penn to famed nutritionist and @&C coach Mike Dolce: “Keep talking, I’m gonna have a heart to heart talk with your glass jaw when I see you.”
On Monday the UnderGround released a video with Jonathan Shrager interviewing famed nutritionist and S&C coach Mike Dolce, that included questions about future UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn. Dolce worked for Penn in preparation for his fight with Frankie Edgar, and “The Prodigy” previously said that he would never hire Dolce again.
“I chose not to make any statement when BJ’s odd comments were made,” said Dolce. “And non-factual comments when they were made. I just kind of shrugged my shoulders and shook my head, and kept moving forward and staying positive.
“I know what I did. I know the effect of what I do. I know the work that I do. And I think the whole world knows what I do with athletes like Ronda Rousey, Johny Hendricks, Vitor Belfort, Nick Lentz, Thiago Alves.
“Never has an athlete had anything to say. And then oddly this one athlete says something negative. But this one athlete has a reputation for always saying negative things for people around them when things don’t go their way.
“And it was unfortunate. Those close to us, we know what happened. He knows what happened. And that’s good enough for me.”
“I like to work with hardworking athletes. Dedicated, diligent professionals. That’s when the blend is perfect. But when you have two different agendas, trying to go one way, you can’t drag an athlete along with you. And that’s unfortunate.”
Penn took offense, as noted by BJPenn.com:
This response from Penn is the first of its kind to Dolce, who has been lobbing insults towards the former UFC lightweight and welterweight world champion for the past several months.
Penn himself responded, via Twitter.
BJ PENN@bjpenndotcom
@TheDolceDiet Keep talking, I’m gonna have a heart to heart talk with your glass jaw when I see you.
Dolce responded in kind.
Mike DOLCE @TheDolceDiet
Wow, very classy! Where was all this aggression on the night of July 6th?? #BullyJ
Both Dolce and Penn are highly respected figures in the sport. Although fighting words are compelling content for the hardcore fan base, hopefully any further differences between the two can be worked out in private.