UFC 143: Dana White - 'There's No Truth To BJ Penn Vs. Gilbert Melendez'
by Matthew Roth on Feb 3, 2012 8:45 PM EST
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Following the UFC 143 pre-fight press conference on Thursday, February 2nd, Dana White held a scrum for the attending MMA media. In what can only be described as a mosh pit styled interview, Dana will answer any questions that he is asked. One of the big topics of conversation was the UFC's return to Japan and the status of Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez.
On February 24th, Fankie Edgar will defend his lightweight title against Ben Henderson in Tokyo, Japan. While fans and media have been outspoke that this is merely a vanity project for the UFC, White was adamant that this was important for Zuffa's Asian expansion. He stated, "As far as I know everything is going well over there. You don't know how successful it's going to be until you go. When we pull that event off and we do it and we see how it goes. It's very important. It's a very important show for our intro into Asia. Not just Japan but China and all the other markets we want to go to over there."
The UFC President was also asked about the rumors that B.J. Penn would be making his way over to Strikeforce to challenge Gilbert Melendez. It turns out that there was no truth to the rumor. In his own words. "That's not true. That's absolutely not true. But I have been talking to B.J. Penn. I talked to B.J. Penn last week and it was the first time that B.J. and I talked since his fight. He's just chilling right now. He wants to relax and figure out what he wants to do with his career. I'm working on Melendez. Melendez is all over my ass." He added, "I think he's a great fighter and I've said this a million times and I want to say it again. I want to get my hands on Strikeforce. I want to dive into this thing and I want to do it the way that it should be done. And the way that I think it should be done. We'll see what happens."
He later addressed his goals to improve the Strikeforce brand saying, "why not the UFC's level? If you talk to anybody they will tell you that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best fighters in the world. There's a ton of guys. Now you got Rockhold over there. Yes, these guys are great. I just want to do things that I want to do things over there. We'll see what happens. You guys know how I am. If I take this Strikeforce thing then I will dive into this thing 100% because I have so much free time. I'm looking for a side project. Honestly, I will dive into this thing and I will make it right and I will make it good. I will make the fighters who fight over there not worry about what's going on in the UFC."
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A writer looking for a new home.
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.
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Pffffffffffffffffffffffft.
The Internets: Where there are no girls and men become children.
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Draft #: 69--The magic number.
Evidenced by his massive TKO of Jorge Masvi….oh, right. He won a boring decision where he didn’t look good against sub-par competition.
A writer looking for a new home.
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.
Follow @TheCynicsCorner
by MicahtheCynic on Feb 3, 2012 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
What about the time he beat the shit out of Kawajiri?
Who at the time was a top 10 LW, might I add.
Melendez is a well-rounded fighter with sick power. He would pose tons of problems for this version of BJ Penn.
Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters
Kawajiri's top 10 ranking was unwarranted
His only win of note prior to that fight was Josh Thompson, who has faded in recent years. That same year, he was submitted by Aoki with little trouble. Not sure who made him top 10, but they were smoking the Diaz brand ganj.
A writer looking for a new home.
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.
Follow @TheCynicsCorner
by MicahtheCynic on Feb 3, 2012 9:13 PM EST up reply actions
Also
I believe Kawajiri took that fight on a few weeks notice.
by Ricardo Arguello on Feb 3, 2012 9:32 PM EST up reply actions
LMAO
We all know Gilbert would get where BJ left off on Diego
"When you believe in something and you're a good person...things happen" - Junior Dos Santos
by Elitex10x on Feb 3, 2012 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Old Penn kills Melendez
But I think he’s mentally done. His performances in the 2nd Edgar fight, the entire GSP fight, and rounds 2-3 of the Diaz fight were listless and he looked out on his feet on several occasions.
I don’t think a weight class drop back to his better division is the problem with him.
Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters
Of course he is.
But as long as it’s going to be “Is the old BJ going to show up?” argument I don’t think Penn has much more to give.
And for what it’s worth I think the way to beat Penn is to basically discourage him. He’s never really needed to come-from-behind to beat an opponent. Edgar got 50-45 in the rematch, GSP made him quit, and Diaz battered him in rounds 2 and 3.
I don’t think BJ handles adversity very well and a guy like Melendez would pose trouble for him.
Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters
No, BJ Penn has never won a fight that he has lost a round in as far as I remember
At the same time, if anyone could sweep Melendez on the cards, it’s Penn. That said Edgar and his leg kicks are more of a threat to Melendez than Penn at this point.
by discoandherpes on Feb 3, 2012 9:44 PM EST up reply actions
He's only ever won 3 fights by decision
And 2 of them were outside the UFC. So you’re right, he hasn’t won a single fight in which he lost a round.
Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters
That's brilliant insight.
Hadn’t realized how true that was before. Thanks for that.
"Someone is WRONG on the internet. What do you want me to do? LEAVE? Then they'll keep being wrong!"
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I agree wholeheartedly.
Minowa is a little guy but he's very good to break a fighters foot and my foot is very special to me.
by dedstrk316 on Feb 4, 2012 5:53 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I don't think so
BJ Penn at lightweight is a pretty bad match up for any wrestler. If Masvidal could mess Melendez up with a jab, BJ Penn could do much worst.
I would say that fight would be pretty even.
by discoandherpes on Feb 3, 2012 9:13 PM EST up reply actions
IDK
If he’d TKO him but he almost assuredly would win. He would push a pace that BJ couldn’t keep up with and wear him out in the first two rounds. Just don’t get caught early Gil and its yours. And I hate sayin that cuz I love BJ Penn.
Minowa is a little guy but he's very good to break a fighters foot and my foot is very special to me.
by dedstrk316 on Feb 4, 2012 5:52 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
It would be an amazing fight but Penn needs an easier fight than Melendez. And Melendez needs to fight a top contender or the champ.
I say, Hardy vs Penn.
Hardy isn't going to get anyone relevant to the WW division for a long time
I saw Hardy vs. Ludwig and if Penn absolutely wants to come out of retirement or whatever, have him drop to lightweight and fight Clay Guida.
Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters
If Penn wants an easy fight at LW
Guida would be pretty perfect.
by discoandherpes on Feb 3, 2012 9:14 PM EST up reply actions
Yea I think he could even finish clay
"When you believe in something and you're a good person...things happen" - Junior Dos Santos
It would probably be similar to Clay vs Florian, but faster.
A writer looking for a new home.
Part of Team Luke Thomas' Beard (LTB)
You may like Diaz, but Brock actually won a title that mattered.
Follow @TheCynicsCorner
by MicahtheCynic on Feb 3, 2012 9:15 PM EST up reply actions
He'd choke him out
Since it appears KOs are impossible on Guida.
Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters
Dana has free time?
Did he get some form of demotion or something?
I do everything in my life so my family will love me and my friends will respect me. Everyone else can do as they please
by jack knight starman on Feb 3, 2012 9:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions
The thing BJ might be doing is seeing how this Ben Henderson and Edgar fight will turn out before he comes back. He wouldn’t be too motivated if Ben won to comeback and fight a guy that he is pretty cool with and trained with before. Not too many more motivating fights for him at LW or WW anymore, He coached Gray Maynard on TUF and Nate Diaz was also on the show. He’s pretty much done it all in the sport already anyway, WW champion and LW champion. I wouldn’t blame him if he stayed out and help some new guys come up.
"When you believe in something and you're a good person...things happen" - Junior Dos Santos
Wouldn’t matter. Hrs not getting another shot at Edgar since he lost twice, and he’d be down the list to fight Benson. Maynard could be a food fight, which Maynard would win. I agree with whoever suggested Guida. Penn could win that one.
by Hardcharger on Feb 3, 2012 10:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Anybody ever wonder how the state of the Welterweight division would look..
If BJ threw this punch
Instead of doing this at the beginning of the fight
"When you believe in something and you're a good person...things happen" - Junior Dos Santos
Penn would get the living shit beaten out of him by GSP
But that is dependent on when they would’ve scheduled that fight after GSP beat Shields.
Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters
To be fair, didn’t he take fitchs back and seriously threaten a RNC? So, the takedowns were a decent strategy, but I agree that he would have been better off boxing fitch more than emphasizing takedowns in rounds 1-2. A cardio challenged LW forcing grappling action against a WW wrestlefucker. Not a strategy for long term success
Thank you UFC fans. My name Stun Gun. I want GSP
And Fitch left his head and neck exposed. If mazzagati wanted it, he could finished Fitch off with a guillotine
Thank you UFC fans. My name Stun Gun. I want GSP
by crinow on Feb 4, 2012 6:19 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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