BJ Penn Explains Why He Accepted Rory MacDonald Bout

What do Josh Koscheck, Anthony Pettis, Gilbert Melendez and Rory MacDonald all have in common? All four men have tried to tempt legendary Hawaiian BJ Penn out of retirement. Well, as we found out earlier this week, it was top welterweight prospect, Rory "Ares" MacDonald who finally got a positive response from Penn, with the two men tentatively set to meet at UFC 152 in Canada later this year.

The question most fans were asking when Penn accepted the challenge from MacDonald was...Why did "Ares" get the pleasure of welcoming back the two weight UFC champion? Penn appeared on the latest episode of the "Just Scrap" radio show to reveal his reasons.

"My last fight against Tri-Star didn't go so well, so I would love to take another crack at Tri-Star to show them. But you know what, the past is the past. There is nothing for me to really talk about on that end that is definitely left in the past. But, yeah, it would be nice to let them know that fight was a fluke and that the fight is not going to go down the same way. Rory is not just going to walk in there and take me out and beat me up for four rounds straight and put me away. I really believe the fight is going to go different and I think they are going to realize that when we start fighting. This isn't the same guy that they fought that night and its going to be a whole different thing. But, there is no bad blood. I see Firaz all the time, I see Georges. Everything is in the past, but I'd like to get up there and show Tri-Star gym and their fans, or whatever, that I am a worthy opponent and that I am not just a guy that is going to walk in the ring and somebody is just going to walk across and crush me, that is not going to be the story."

For those of you who, like me, got ridiculously excited for the return of "The Prodigy", you may want to get your emotions under control, as this comeback may just be a temporary thing, as Penn went on to explain.

"I am sure his team has a lot of confidence in him, also, so I think that this is definitely a great challenge and a great test. So with that said, I like everything, I am definitely motivated for this fight, I like everything that's going on with this fight. Rory is one of the best guys, Firaz and everyone says he is going to be the champion in two years. I'm not thinking about any kind of title runs. I'm just coming back and doing this fight and I am pretty sure this is the last fight on my contract, I will have to go back and check again, but I think this is the last fight on my contract and I would like to finish out my contract. I am going to go to the belly of the beast, I just want to over there and take care of this. I am going to go to the belly of the beast and see a fire breathing dragon and take out my sword."

Assuming the UFC 152 bout is confirmed by the promotion, it will mark the first bout for 33 year old Penn (16-8-2) since his decision defeat to Nick Diaz at UFC 137. BJ Penn is a former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, and holds various UFC records.

Stay Addicted for all news on this exciting bout.

Source: http://bjpenn.com/mmanews/2012/06/07/just-scrap-radio-episode-8-airs-live-today-with-bj-penn-1pm-et-28548.html

Published by Lee Rabey - Fri, 8 Jun 2012 16:54