Rory MacDonald says he is going to hurt BJ Penn worse than GSP did
Already one of the UFC’s most dominating young prospects, Rory MacDonald has an ultra-valuable opportunity with his fight against BJ Penn at UFC 152 in Toronto, Ontario,Canada. The Welterweight has seen little opposition to his powerful style of fighting, aided by the expert tutelage of one Georges St. Pierre at the TriStar Gym. Penn has publicly expressed his dislike for MacDonald’s gym, and also recently backed out of the VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association) drug testing procedures that he had requested for the fight. On Tuesday, a press conference took place for UFC 152, but Penn was nowhere to be found. Not surprisingly, this prompted a response from the focused MacDonald, via MMAFighting.com:
“I’m training for the best BJ, you know what I mean? I’m preparing to be the best version, I’m going to come out evolved. I’m going to come out in good shape, explosive, exciting like I always do, and I’m going to be very technical. I’m going to be on point. I don’t know where B.J.’s at. He didn’t even show up to this. The last time I saw him he looked really out of shape. I don’t know where his head is at in this, but he better get serious or I’m going to hurt him very badly.”
MacDonald is pulling no punches leading up to his fight with Penn, and his words do make one wonder if the talented but sometimes unfocused Penn will be at the top of his game after coming out of retirement. As far as the drug testing issue goes, MacDonald had agreed to Penn’s insistence. However, Penn rescinded when the VADA would not let the results be released after the fight per his request. MacDonald questions Penn’s motives and focus. The voluntary testing could have possibly sparked a trend in MMA as well, as MacDonald mentioned:
“I think he did it just to start s—, to get something going. But I was up for it. I said let’s do it. I was ready to prove that I’m not on anything and maybe motivate other fighters to start doing it, too. But he was the one that offered it and then backed out of it. He started making all these sayings like they weren’t going to release the test before the fight. He started making up all this stuff, so I don’t know really what’s going on with B.J.’s head right now.”
Drama and hype is beginning to unfold quickly for this highly anticipated fight. BJ Penn is no stranger to controversy, and he is facing a truly motivated challenger in the twilight of his career. He will need a razor-sharp focus and determination to get his hand raised in Toronto. MacDonald summed it up with his closing statement:
“I fight for myself and that’s it. I’m not worried about that. He’s all upset because Georges whipped him, but I’m going to hurt him even worse.”
Which Penn will we see come to the Octagon on September 22nd? Does he stand a chance against the surging “Ares” at UFC 152 in Toronto?
