Could BJ Penn be the next inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame?
Posted on August 2, 2012, 07:18 PM by Mike Searson
UFC president Dana White said today that BJ Penn has potential to make it into the UFC Hall of Fame, but at the same time he thinks that his training habits have held him back from being considered among the greatest fighters of all time: “He’s absolutely a Hall of Famer. Not only at the time when people were saying that the 155 pounders couldn’t headline pay-per-views and all this other stuff, BJ became huge. I love BJ Penn. BJ’s been a huge star for us for a long time, but I think BJ could have been in the talks with who is the greatest of all time.”
The UFC President heaped praise upon the 33 year-old Hawaiian fighter: “Look at BJ Penn’s career and count how many times he’s been in phenomenal shape. I’ve said it for years about BJ. BJ is f&@^ing tough as nails, has an unbelievable chin, a head ofrock and if you look at some of the fights where he’s on the bottom, he’s getting smashed; the guy doesn’t get cut. I don’t know what his skin is made out of. He’s just this kid that was born and built to fight."
That said, he expressed that they had a few differences: "My big beef with him happened at GSP primetime...he got all upset when I said he wasn't training hard enough."
The other subject that came up was Penn voluntarily agreeing to undergo drug testing in advance of his bout with Rory MacDonald at UFC 152 through VADA(Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency): "It's stupid and it comes up all the time with fighters like Penn and Roy Nelson. NSAC (Nevada State Athletic Commission) does the testing or California or whatever state we are doing it in. Let Nevada handle it. I don't think both guys are going to participate but whatever, that's their business."
When asked who would be the next fighter in line for induction into the Hall of Fame, White said: "I have no idea."
However, it looks like Penn may be on the short list.
Comments
Perhaps up there with Jones and Silva for having the best talent but unfortunately time and time again his raw potential has been held back by a lack of work effort needed for fighting machines such as GSP, Diaz and Hughes.
Not sure if he will be next but he is definitely a future inductee, easily one of the biggest legends the sport will ever see.
Hit the nail on the head with his talent there. I have said it time and time again and i truly believe that BJ is the greatest first round fighter of all time, p4p first round fighter. Damn if he had the cardio of the likes of diaz or edgar this guy would be still holding lw n ww titles.
While I agree with you on his first round talent I don't think cardio was a problem in the Edgar fight. He was in his prime and maybe a little under motivated for the first fight but the second one he had more than enough.
I just think Edgar's speed and footwork stopped BJ from being able to counter properly.
Now if BJ took the fight to the ground more often, he definitely would have had a better chance against Frankie.
I think cardio has plauged bj his entire career and although he did not seem to gas in that fight as he clearly has in others (diaz most recently GSP fight one of the most famous examples of BJ gassing) he was still sluggish and clearly not in top shape, not the same BJ that dismantled sanchez. I know what you mean about BJ fighting frankie, he was standing with him thinking he could outstrike him...no1 could blame him in the first fight because lets face it, he could out box any1 in the lw division, it kinda shocked him that he could not outstrike frankie, but what was he to do? Turn to his Jits? His jits is some of the best in the LW division, and yeh if bj took the fight to the ground he could sub him...but i dont think there are any LWs that can take frankie edgar to the ground n keep him there, edgar was shruggin bendo off him, and taking him down with relative ease and bendo is huuuuge, i just dont think bj had a choice, he had to box with frankie and get beat to the punch....and i know people will point to the fitch fight were bj takes him down, but i think that was purely the element of suprise that allowed him to get the take down. Bj was backed into a corner by his own doing, he was slow n sluggish, unable to beat frankie to the punch...he was never able to take him down n use his jits...so i still stand by my point, properly conditioned he would have had a much better time...his jump up 2 170 straight after the 2nd fight with edgar says it all, he can't be bothered to hit the 155 mark, he hates the conditiong aspect of mma.
BJ getting the titles in both the Welterweight and Lightweight Divsion should be enough to put him in the Hall of Fame
do people really know how BJ trains to say that he's not training hard enough?
This is a complete joke when people use training as an excuse for BJ's performances...
Thats as ridiculous as saying dana white could have been a middleweight champion if he focussed on training rather than business.
Whoever holds the belt deserves the attention...
BJ is one of my most favorite fighter he never really trains hard for his fights he relies on his natural ability. BJ if he took his fights a little more serous he wouldnt have lost to Edgar. In those two fights all Edgar did is jab and move he inflicted no damage to Penn. BJ couldn't catch him if he had there would have been a different outcome.
IF BJ can win his next fight convincingly and rematch St Pierre then maybe we can talk about hall of fame....
BJ is not the best fighter otherwise he would have the belt...!
jebi se
Well, than I really don't know how and with who, can you talk about BJ entering the hall of fame.