It sounds like BJ Penn is pretty content in his retirement. His last fight may not have gone the way he wanted it to, but he’s hardly itching to get back in the cage. Or at least that’s the way it comes across in his recent interview with BJPENN.com. Penn last fought in July as the headliner of the TUF 19 finale, where he took a two round beating from Frankie Edgar before getting TKO’d in the third. Now, the former two division champion is opening up aboutthat fight, his weight cut to 145, and working with Mike Dolce, among a host of other topics.
Here’s what he had to say in regards to dropping down to 145 for the first time in his career:
“I keep going back about a lot of things…was it even smart to go down to 145 pounds in the first place? Were you going to have the energy all sucked out, you know? I haven’t been to 145 in about 18 years but besides that this whole last year of my life I’ve been just hanging around 160 pounds, trying to watch my weight after the Rory MacDonald fight. I just wanted to watch my weight for general health for myself and my family, and I just stayed around 160 pounds. So, you know, that’s what I sparred at, I sparred at that weight, at 158 pounds, so, you know, that’s just how it all went down.”
Penn went on to say that his weight cut ended up being “pretty easy,” given how low he’d kept his weight going into camp. That doesn’t mean the experience was entirely positive, however, as Penn had little good to say when asked about his experience working with Mike Dolce:
“As far as Mike Dolce goes; I would never hire him again for anything.”
Penn refused to elaborate on the subject, but that’s hardly a ringing endorsement for one of the UFC advertising “faces.” Penn did however have a lot to talk about with regards to the new striking style he had on display against Edgar, and his training in general going into the fight. He also talked about his future plans, most of which seem to be focused on opening his own gyms, so check the whole thing out.
About the author
