Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
To say that BJ Penn has had a successful career in MMA is an understatement. BJ Penn has held UFC gold in two different divisions, the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions, a feat that not many UFC fighters can say that they’ve accomplished. BJ Penn has also had a career that has been dotted by inconsistency and disappointing losses where many thought there shouldn’t be losses. Two of such losses are to Frankie Edgar and a rematch was not only enough to get BJ Penn back into the cage, but enough to make him drop to a third UFC weight class, something that he wouldn’t bother with other wise. [source]
“If Dana had asked me to come to 145, and fight any other people, there’s no way I would have done it,” said Penn, who meets Edgar for the third time on July 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in The Ultimate Fighter’s coaches fight.
“I had a good run going at 155,” Penn said. “Frankie came in, and one thing about Frankie, he’s one of the best in the UFC. Getting the opportunity to coach against him, I realized he’s one of the most competitive people. He’s not one of those ‘I’m mad at you now and I want to kick everybody’s butt. He’s just a really competitive person and I think that’s going to help me. I’ve got a very familiar opponent standing on the other side.”