B.J. Penn is quite a character.
The UFC's current lightweight champion is one of those proverbial guys you love to hate. Or just plain hate. At least, that's how I used to feel about him.
I saw Penn as a brash dude who takes trash-talking to the extreme. He had his feud with Jens Pulver on The Ultimate Fighter which culminated in him holding onto a rear naked choke a little bit too long when they finally fought.
He constantly called lightweight champion Sean Sherk, scrutinized following a positive steroid test, a "cheater" before the matter was ruled on and claiming his belt wasn't "real."
And when Georges St. Pierre defended his belt against Jon Fitch, Penn came into the Octagon and attempted to steal the spotlight from St. Pierre, imploring him to accept a rematch with him before St. Pierre could even finish talking about his win.
However, my perception changed a bit when I went to the UFC's news conference in Toronto promoting UFC 94. There were a few hundred proud Canadian fans in attendance and I fully expected Penn to play the role of enemy. But he has plenty of support (one fan asked Dana White how he could do such a cruel thing as to pit his two favourite fighters against each other).
While the two did engage in some verbal garbs -- Penn had no trouble relishing the fact that after their first bout GSP spent the night in the hospital, a fact to which St. Pierre responded by saying he spent the following night celebrating in a bar. But there was also a great deal of compliments and gestures of respect given to each other.
As much as B.J. says things on the lines of wanting to "lick the blood" of his opponents, he also does commendable things. As one example, he was part of a tour overseas visiting the U.S. military troops in Afghanistan.
There's plenty more to him and his back story, which you'll get to see on the UFC's Primetime
preview show in January, which will feature both fighters ahead of their Super Bowl weekend clash.
After the news conference was over, I had the opportunity to interview both fighters. St. Pierre gave his usual, fairly generic, predictable answers. (He must take directly from Tiger Woods' play book on how to speak to reporters.)
Now for Penn. My first question: "You've said in the past you weren't thrilled about fighting Kenny Florian but after his performance Saturday (Florian had just made short work of Joe Stevenson at UFC 91) does that change your thoughts?
Penn: "I'm going to talk about Georges St. Pierre. You want to know any more, go to BJPenn.com."
Okay, that's not a good start. Of course, the response isn't surprising. For those who follow Penn closely, you know he has his website emblazoned on the back of his trunks, and he regularly takes opportunities to plug his site during post-fight interviews. Shameless, but, hey, if you can get the pub.
My second question: "For your fight with GSP, are you more disappointed that it's not in Hawaii or just glad it's not in Montreal?"
He laughs. (Ah, there's that Penn personality.)
Penn: "I'm definitely glad it's not in Montreal. When I heard it could be, I was like, 'Nah, man, that's bulls---.'"
He laughs again. Okay, we've got a rapport. Now I won't feel as awkward when we bump fists at the end of the interview.
Third question: "How long have you wanted this rematch?"
Penn: "It's not like I've been thinking about Georges every day of my life for the last two years, you know. I didn't like the fact that I lost a decision to him, but as soon as I got the lightweight title back, it started to creep into my head, maybe I should go back and get that welterweight title again. Just so I can get some closure with my life… I've got to go out and do the work but I get a chance to fight one of the best fighters of all-time Georges St. Pierre and I get a chance to get that title back.
Nice honest answer. So now I'm thinking, 'Why didn't I like this guy?'
Back to his website. While I'm not sure it is "the greatest educational and social platform on the web" (as it seems to boast), it actually has a lot of good stuff on there. Penn's first fight with GSP is posted here:
(You'll have to first sign up as a member. Don't worry, it's free. Just try to get past the part where it asks you to choose your "Orientation" -- Straight, Bi, or Gay.)
One thing you have to check out (and can do so without having to fill in the "detailed" questionnaire) is a take-off of Plain White T's song "Hey There Delilah." It's the third video in the rotation on the home page, whose first frame is of Georges St. Pierre in a hospital bed.
It's that kind of playful trash-talking -- at least I think it's playful -- that I love to see. Nothing mean, nothing degrading, and not taking things too seriously, since after all we are just talking about an MMA fight.
Though as far MMA fights go, it isn't just any. This is a championship fight, not to mention a rematch, and it will have huge consequences not just for the two but for the No. 1 contenders of their respective belts who are waiting in the wings.
I'm not sure who I would pick to win at this point. While I'm going to save my analysis for a later date, I will say that if personality were a factor, Penn would get my nod.
So GSP, it's time for you to put your new association with CAA Sports to good use. And while you're at it, get them to help you do something about your website, which is outdated, and, let's just say not quite as exciting as B.J.'s.
But don't worry you're still one of my faves. It's just that Penn is closing the gap.
