BJ Penn say Florian was Hard to Fight Because he "Runs Away"

by John@FightersOnly on Sep 2, 2009 7:58 AM EDT

BJ gives his frank opinion on the Florian fight in this vid and says it was hard fighting him "because he kept running away all the time."

"The thing is, Kenny is a hard guy to fight because he is always running away. I mean, even if I just went like this [extends fingers] he would run like ten feet back," Penn said during the exclusive interview.

"So you can never really fight with Kenny, he is not the kind of guy who wants to get in there and mix it up. He likes to stay on the outside and maybe hit you one time and then run away. Even if you block it.. he just wants it to look like he is doing something, staying busy. But really he is not fighting.

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people don't mention this enough, but

I think him training in California is a HUGE factor..

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by Anton Tabuena on Sep 2, 2009 8:30 AM EDT reply actions

wow

BJ is not really into making friends or fans is he? lol

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by funnytiger on Sep 2, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

Didn’t really look like Kenny was trying to run, it did look like he REALLY REALLY wanted to hug B.J.‘s man parts though. Meh, B.J. was just trying to say Kenny is an “elusive” fighter but can’t put the words out in a complimentary way haha.

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by Patrick Tenney on Sep 2, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

How is Florian supposed to fight BJ then?

Is the smart strategy to stay in the pocket, slug it out, and see who drops first? That would just be dumb. I just want to know what strategy Florian should have used that would be smart. Also, should Machida stop fighting the way that he fights because he supposedly “runs away?” I just don’t get the logic here.

by chrisbboy82 on Sep 2, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

Well, for starters

trying to outwrestle someone with legendary takedown defense probably isn’t a very good strategy.

Honestly, I thought that Florian was doing his best when he was on the outside, using kicks and whatnot (especially in the 1’st round). It just so happens that the second he had a taste of BJ’s power, he realized he didn’t want any of it, and hugged BJ against the cage until they separated, and Penn blasted him with a concise, powerful combo.

The only way to beat a strictly boxing- centric striker, with crazy power (like a BJ Penn, like a Rampage, like Chuck later in his career) is to use crisp boxing, crushing kicks to the legs and body, and to constantly threaten with a takedown. And you have to stay mentally tough. See: Forrest/ Rampage, GSP/ Penn 2, and Chuck vs: Jardine, Rashad, Shogun, etc.

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by ElliotMatheny on Sep 2, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions

BJ said the biggest thing he was trying to do in the fight was to prevent Florian from maintaining kicking range.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Sep 2, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

and florian did that for him by pushing him to the fence..

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by Anton Tabuena on Sep 2, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Obviously, Florian is no wrestler, and I thought that pushing BJ against the cage strategy was not a good one. However, I simply have a problem with BJ saying that Florian is running away. As far as standup goes, how else should Florian fight BJ, and I agree that at the outside was probably the best strategy.

by chrisbboy82 on Sep 3, 2009 2:13 AM EDT up reply actions

The difference between Machida an Florian is that Machida shuffle steps back and forth to lure in his opponent, while Kenny just runs to avoid either being hit or taken down. Florian literally ran from Sherk and Huerta in their fights. Florian had nothing in the fight against BJ, even when he unleashed his kicks they were getting knee checked. The only thing I’m surprised that Florian didn’t use was grabbing the cage when he was taken down like he did when he fought Sherk and Stevenson. As for logic using the Couture/St Pierre strategy wasn’t a very good plan considering Florian doesn’t possess the strength to tire BJ out and take him down.

by BrothaDarkness on Sep 2, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions

I didn’t like Florian’s attempt to wrestle with Penn as well. However, I was referring more to the standup part as far as what Florian should have done because he was being accused of “running away.” I mean, as far as standup goes, what was Florian’s alternative?

by chrisbboy82 on Sep 3, 2009 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions

The classiest man in show business.

After Andy Dick.

http://www.vancouversun.com/mma

by Ozzz on Sep 2, 2009 2:16 PM EDT reply actions

Hold on Keith Florian can say whatever he wants but if BJ says something he’s just dick

by drano on Sep 2, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Keith isn’t Kenny so your argument holds no water.

http://twitter.com/FlyByKnite

by FlyByKnight on Sep 2, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions

How so Keith openly stated it was Kenny’s opinion and BJ was holding back alot in this interview

by drano on Sep 2, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions

BJ talks crap about everyone. Every time.

Win or lose, you know he’ll spout off afterwards.

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by Ozzz on Sep 3, 2009 3:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Kenny did look horrible...

I believe he is better than he showed, but his hug BJ against the fence strategy was just stupid. Mr. I finish fights was certainly putting on one of the most boring performances I’ve seen in a long time. The only excitement from that fight came from BJ.

by Razzel on Sep 2, 2009 2:17 PM EDT reply actions

I really wish that BJ would stop bashing his opponents, its getting really old. Anytime i see a BJ post now, its all about bashing his most recent opponent and i’ll i can do is roll my eyes and read what new crap is falling outta his mouth. It’s just making me more fired up to see him lose.

by Annie83 on Sep 2, 2009 2:53 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting. BJ actually sounded like he was holding back a bit when discussing Kenny’s grappling skills.

BJ: “He’s good, but you can get positions on him and do stuff to him.”

Translation: “I didn’t think it would be that easy.”

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by MMAEruption on Sep 2, 2009 2:55 PM EDT reply actions

i like BJ's use of words here

by 05vette on Sep 2, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

Far more interesting than if he just flattered Kenny un-necessarily

First off, what he says is true.

TBH I think Kenny’s good but a lot of people put him on some sort of pedestal because they didn’t want to support BJ and they figured he was the best-situated lightweight to own the 155 div next.

I think he has some fights ahead of him before he can even be the consensus #2 of his division ala ‘Fitch for 155’, what with Maynard, Sanchez, Edgar and Sherk around (Sherk might have ‘fallen off,’ but that name means still means something next to Kenny’s after their first fight).

There is something irksome about Kenny’s style of striking for points, as well as elbow-cut stoppages, and then grabbing a mic and talking about what a finisher he is.

He called out BJ, called himself a finisher, said he would finish BJ. And got finished himself. BJ talked too much before his last fight, and had to wear it around afterward— If anything he’s doing Kenny a favor by being frank and direct about what he sees as his problems. Better than KenFlo’s brother, who says erroneous garbage like Kenny was winning.

by LBo on Sep 2, 2009 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

This was true in the Huerta fight, but the others? He ran from Stevenson? From Thomas? From Lauzon?

Personally, I don’t put much stock in anything Penn says. He seems to take relish in ripping others.

by Lynchman on Sep 2, 2009 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

Nobody said Florian ran from Stevenson,Thomas, or Lauzon. However, he did grab the cage when Stevenson was about to slam him and beat a gimped out Din Thomas.

In regards to BJ telling it like it is, Kenny was the one who was running his mouth and calling BJ out. Keith Florian’s loud mouth isn’t any better and won’t acknowledge his brother’s failure to do anything to nullify Penn’s defense and offense.

by BrothaDarkness on Sep 3, 2009 1:49 AM EDT reply actions