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UFC QUOTABLES: B.J. Penn talks a possible move to welterweight and which lightweights could take his spot
Mar 16, 2010 - 11:50:36 AM UFC QUOTABLES: B.J. Penn talks a possible move to welterweight and which lightweights could take his spot

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

"Yeah, I think there is a possibility of [moving to welterweight]. I don't in no way want to look past Frankie Edgar, he's a good fighter. You never know what could happen. But if I go back to welterweight, maybe I'll try to give it a run, maybe fight a couple of fights there, we'll see how it goes... I think I could do good against some of the top welterweights. Yeah, pretty big guys, but you gotta live some times, you gotta step up sometime, huh?... Any of those guys, I think they all can [take over if I leave the division]. Those guys are all so good, I wouldn't be surprised if any one of them--Florian, Maynard, Gomi's coming in, that's going to be interesting to see what he can do, you got Frankie in there too. You got a lot of guys. Hopefully I just keep my title on April 10th, huh? I can't worry about those guys."

-UFC Lightweight Champion B.J. Penn talks to IGN.com about the possibility of moving back up to welterweight and who could take over for him in the lightweight division should he leave.

Penick's Analysis: There are certainly plenty of fighters that B.J. can be competitive against in the welterweight division should he make the move, and there are many that he's simply outright better than and would be able to beat. There is still the size factor to consider, however, especially when it comes to guys that would be able to employ similar gameplans as GSP did in their last fight where he wore B.J. down and used superior wrestling and ground and pound to grind B.J. out. That said, if he dedicates himself to putting on the muscle and not letting it be his walk around weight he could do some considerable damage in the division and make a good run. I hope he sticks with lightweight for some time, though, as he's simply at his best in the 155 lb. division.

[B.J. Penn art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]