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"I think a champion just has to keep going through these guys, beating these guys and build a legacy. I am too experienced; I’ve been doing this for too long to underestimate anyone at this level... As far as my aspirations to go back up to welterweight and fight GSP again, I am going to have to wait. I do want to be the welterweight champion again, I want to fight GSP again and I am always interested in moving up, [but] I have done that in the past, looked beyond what I had to do, and I won’t be looking past Frankie Edgar."
-UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn talks to Fighter's Only about not underestimating Frankie Edgar while still wanting to jump back up to 170 to face Georges St. Pierre.
Penick's Analysis: Penn should really try to come to terms with the GSP issue, as at the current pace I don't think they'll fight a third time. I think by the time Penn moves back up to the welterweight division he'll not only need to face a fighter or two to get to another Title shot, but GSP will likely be ready to move to middleweight by then. He's already said once he reaches a certain walking around weight he won't make the cut to 170 anymore, and besides, there are less deserving challengers still in line at welterweight that haven't faced him already than there are at lightweight for Penn. We'll have to wait to see what happens, of course, but I just don't think a third bout is in the cards. As for his bout with Edgar, as has been repeatedly shown over the last two years, Penn is simply the best lightweight fighter in the world right now, and it will take an incredible effort from Edgar to do what Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez have not been able to do.
[B.J. Penn art credit Cory Gould (c) MMATorch]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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