UPDATE II [from Luke Thomas]: This shouldn’t have happened. Due diligence was missed here. On behalf of the site, I apologize. However, we are committed to transparency and hope the update and clarification are sufficient. If not, let me know.
Update: I’ve been told the summary of the interview I referenced was made up by someone at the underground. I should note however that BJ Penn’s formal legal complaint filed this week does ask for suspension pending the investigation, which would indeed freeze GSP out if he was granted it. I was quick to believe this interview because it was consistent with the formal complaint that was filed. I’ll leave the initial story I posted below.
BJ Penn was interviewed by KGMB 9, a local TV station in Hawaii, and someone over at the UG provided a summary:
On Kenny Florian:
-He was offered to fight him in Germany as the main event.
-He says that he fought Stevenson in England and Nobody buys the PPVs when their overseas. Said he didnt get paid nearly as much as he does when he fights in the states because of the PPV cut and says he will never fight overseas again.
This is a serious problem for the UFC. I’ve heard other big stars including Chuck have turned down overseas fights for similar reasons.
There is other big news in the interview, including the fact that BJ is hoping to freeze GSP’s career pending the hearing and a possible appeal. They apparently plan to delay the Thiago Alves fight, but first they’d have to get the commission to suspend GSP pending an outcome in the investigation. I find this completely unlikely for a number of reasons, but we’ll find out more on Tuesday.