Penn misses ‘being the baddest man on the planet’
BJ Penn: “I don’t miss a three-month training camp. I don’t miss fight week. But I do miss being the baddest man on the planet.”
After an almost 30 professional fight career spanning thirteen years, BJ Penn retired in 2014 after his third consecutive loss. Asked recently if he missed being in the Octagon, Penn reflected he did miss fighting, but not really the training involved:
“You know what I don’t miss?” Penn told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I don’t miss a three-month training camp. I don’t miss fight week. But I do miss being the baddest man on the planet.”
Penn, 36, will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame next week before UFC 189 on July 11. It was an easy choice. “The Prodigy” is one of the greatest to ever step into a cage. He’s one of only two men in UFC history (Randy Couture being the other) to hold titles in two separate weight classes (lightweight and welterweight). Penn (16-10-2) was a pro MMA fighter for 13 years and owns wins over Matt Hughes (twice), Renzo Gracie, Matt Serra, Diego Sanchez and Kenny Florian.
The Hawaiian now only watches the UFC for big title fights, but has noticed the trend of older fighters — guys that many thought were washed up — coming back and vying for titles. Fabricio Werdum is the UFC heavyweight champion, Mark Hunt fought for the interim heavyweight belt and Robbie Lawler is the UFC welterweight titleholder. All were written off at different points in time.
“It does blow me away, though, when I see Werdum just got the belt at 37 and then you see Mark Hunt still fighting at 40,” Penn said. “All these different things. It is amazing. I don’t know. They’re out there, they’re doing it. It ain’t the technique, it ain’t the speed, it ain’t the power. It’s who wants it the most. Over time, maybe as you start getting into it, the people start coming along that love it more than you do.”