BJ Penn was hoping to make a trilogy fight with Georges St-Pierre happen upon his comeback, aiming at UFC 205 in November. But apparently, it is not a plan that GSP has in his immediate future, as he feels it is a risk that is not worth taking.
“It’s an unnecessary risk for my legacy, for my career to take to fight a guy like him right now,” St-Pierre said. “It has nothing that will be good for me right now. I think he’s very dangerous. If it would be a walk in the park, I would do it.”
For his part, St-Pierre has made a shortlist of names he intends to face, which bore the names of Demian Maia, Nick Diaz, and current champion Tyron Woodley, possibly at UFC 206 in December in Toronto. But for Penn, such a decision could actually be more detrimental to St-Pierre’s legacy.
“I remember when I fought him the first time, when he was nobody, I didn’t think about it being risky for my legacy,” Penn said in an interview with Rapid Fire. “That’s why I believe, when all this is said and done, that’s why I’ll be remembered but he will never be remembered.”
“You know, Anderson Silva was there, he could have fought Anderson Silva, but he never fought Anderson Silva for his legacy. Just as a rule of thumb, for myself personally, I don’t live thinking about my legacy. I’ll fight. I want to fight anyone, you know?”
Penn is scheduled to face Ricardo Lamas at UFC Fight Night Manila on October 15.