It’s official – BJ Penn is returning to mixed martial arts. He wants Conor McGregor’s belt, and is employing the help of the highly successful coach Greg Jackson.
“I want to go get that 145-pound belt,” said Penn. “That’s definitely a huge motivation for me. I believe with Greg Jackson’s help, I can get that done. And I believe that I will be able to walk away as the only man with three titles in three weight divisions.”
“I’ve been kind of thinking about it for a while. But, this is my last resort, and I’m going to give it everything I got,” Penn said.
“I would probably say I got two years left,” Penn said. “Two years left, 37 and 38. That’s what I would say. Who knows what happens? I’m a natural athlete. I’ve been a natural athlete my whole life. Maybe I did decline naturally. Maybe I just never gave myself the best opportunity that I should’ve, to go out and beat these guys. And the game changed so quick on me, Ariel. I’ll sit here as a man right now and I’ll admit that: the game changed so quick. These guys became so hungry, and all these different things added up.
“I’m coming back for honor. I’m coming back to do this, give everything I got, and when I look back, everybody is going to say: ‘you know what? BJ f—ing did it. BJ f—ing stepped up. He didn’t talk the talk and not walk the walk. He stepped up, and he gave it his best effort.’ A lot of people might say, ‘you should’ve done this 10 years ago.’ Hey, you know, there is a time and a place for everything. There’s a time and a place. I’ve only been fighting one fight a year for the last three years, and I think I saved a lot of myself there. I think I saved myself. How old are UFC champions? Werdum is my age. I think this is going to be good, Ariel. I think this is going to be good.”
Jeff Warsaw is the former executive editor of Long Island MMA Magazine, professional combat sports public address announcer for several NY/NJ MMA and kickboxing promotions, and a proud one-stripe white belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the famed Joe D’Arce. He is currently a musician, coffee enthusiast, and host of the Stranger In A Strange Land podcast on YouTube.
