BJ Penn Says Frankie Edgar Is The Only Featherweight He Would Have Returned For
Former UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn has been out of action since his uninspired UFC on FOX 5 loss to a much bigger fighter in Rory MacDonald.
Thought to be done fighting after an illustrious career, ‘The Prodigy’ surprised by singing on to coach the current season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 19 opposite longtime rival Frankie Edgar.
Edgar famously took Penn’s belt in a shocking upset in April 2010, then followed it up with a convincing defense later that August. And while Penn will get his third crack at Edgar at the show’s finale on July 6, this time it will be contested at ‘The Answer’s’ new home of 145 pounds.
Penn has had issues with making 155 pounds before, so making 145 seemed like a stretch. The strenuous cut is worth it to Penn, but only to avenge his losses to Edgar. He told MMA Fighting that he wouldn’t have made his way to featherweight for any other fighter:
“If Dana had asked me to come to 145, and fight any other people, there’s no way I would have done it. I had a good run going at 155. Frankie came in, and one thing about Frankie, he’s one of the best in the UFC. Getting the opportunity to coach against him, I realized he’s one of the most competitive people.
He’s not one of those ‘I’m mad at you now and I want to kick everybody’s butt. He’s just a really competitive person and I think that’s going to help me. I’ve got a very familiar opponent standing on the other side.”
Penn has a ton of respect for his opponent, but his competitive nature wants nothing more than to go out on top against the man who ended his reign. It’s going to be a tall task to knock off No. 2-ranked ‘Answer,’ so Penn’s weight loss will have to leave him without enough gas to outlast Edgar’s nonstop motor.
‘The Prodigy’ will always be remembered as a man who would fight anyone at anytime. Will he have the right response for ‘The Answer’ in their trilogy match this summer?
