Highly motivated, BJ Penn faces one of his toughest tests in Rory MacDonald
Most MMA fans know the accomplishments of BJ Penn, a man who beat Matt Hughes for the UFC Welterweight title and then went on to enjoy a dominant run as Lightweight champion. But in recent years the news surrounding Penn has been anything but praise for his past accomplishments. Many have begun to define Penn by the talent and promise that he let slip through his fingers with reportedly lax training camps and losses in fights he could have won.
After starting BJJ training in 1997 Penn won the 2000 black-belt World Championship, an incredible feat. At times he has looked every bit of his nickname “The Prodigy.” Other times he appears uninspired and tends to gas out in pivotal match-ups. In his last fight, he came out on the wrong side of a brutal boxing clinic put on by Nick Diaz in October 2011. prompting his short-lived retirement. Yesterday Penn, speaking on the UFC on Fox 5 media conference call, addressed his new opponent Rory MacDonald ‘s comments about Penn was constantly showing up out of shape, and that he’d dominate him in a fight. Penn is never one to back down from a challenge, stating:
“That really lit a fire under my butt. I think I’m down under 10 percent body fat now. I’m ready to go. I’m expecting the best B.J. Penn that I’ve ever seen, so we’ll just see how this all plays out.”
Perhaps Penn is now fighting with a sense of urgency to save his legacy, as he released a video of his newly in-shape physique recently. He was once regarded near the top of MMA’s all-time greatest lists, but his lackluster performances would no doubt have him trailing fighters like Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre by a wide margin. Apparently Penn does not like this fact, and will fight Rory MacDonald next Saturday to further his legacy. Penn is never one to back down from a challenge, and he told Karyn Bryant of MMA H.E.A.T. about his new-found motivation:
“I was telling Dana, I watch all these interviews. No one says my name in the greatest fighters anymore and it’s my fault. I told Dana I have a real problem with that. I want to be known as one of the best. I have some things left to accomplish.”
Talking about motivation and actually being motivated are obviously two completely different things. After all, MacDonald is a huge Welterweight who many regard as a future champion. It is never wise to rile BJ Penn up, but does he have what it takes to beat the bigger, stronger man in MacDonald. Penn was twice mauled by the wrestling of MacDonald’s close training partner Georges St-Pierre, so that would have to have some bearing on the strategy advantage enjoyed by MacDonald. Penn is a legend in the sport, but does that just mean that time has passed him by? I don’t think so fully, but MacDonald is turning into a freight train, and until derailed, it’s hard to bet against him.
Penn did look truly in shape in his recent video, better than we’ve seen him in a long time, but I just don’t see him being able to control MacDonald here. He could catch him with a TKO as we saw Condit do, but I would say that the strength and size advantages will come into play here. Kudos to Penn for never backing down, but this is a very, very tough bout against an ultra-hungry contender. Penn’s legacy is on the line somewhat, will that propel him to victory? Who do you think will emerge victorious at UFC on Fox 5 next weekend?
