BJ Penn isn’t just supremely confident of pulling off a win Sunday against Dennis Siver. The once-retired UFC Hall of Famer sounds like he’s confident of winning well into the future. ADVERTISING BJ Penn isn’t just supremely confident of pulling
BJ Penn isn’t just supremely confident of pulling off a win Sunday against Dennis Siver. The once-retired UFC Hall of Famer sounds like he’s confident of winning well into the future.
Penn and Siver both weighed in at 146 pounds Saturday ahead of their featherweight bout on the main card of UFC 112 in Oklahoma City. The main event features Kevin Lee vs. Michael Chiesa.
“Two old warriors, let’s have some fun,” Penn told BJPenn Radio, predicting Siver, a fellow 38-year-old, would go down in the first or second round.
“I’m not here to lose. Everybody get on the train, because we’re going to get the belt.”
Penn’s loss to Yair Rodruguez, the Hilo fighter’s first in 30 months, was a one-sided mismatch that ended just 24 seconds into the second-round via TKO, but Penn said he only briefly considered retiring.
While he doesn’t want to hear talk of retirement, Penn – one of only three fighters in UFC history to win titles in multiple weight classes – also doesn’t want to hear anyone say he should worry about protecting his legacy.
“Legacy, legacy, legacy,” Penn said. “Whether I came back and won and I get the belt and all these things I want to do, either way I don’t want to be involved with the greatest of all-time talk if that means you go away at the right time.
“I want to take this as far as I can. I don’t need motivation to fight. I love this stuff. I could sit on the couch, travel, whatever, but nothing is like fighting. I miss it. It’s everything.”
The 5-foot-9 Penn (16-11-2) will have to beat the odds to earn his first win since 2010 and end a five-fight winless streak, but the matchup with Siver certainly appears to be a much fairer fight than was the bout against the up-and-coming Rodriguez, 24.
The 5-6 Siver (22-11) is a kick boxing specialist known for his spinning back kick and a formidable ground game, but the Russian-born German mixed martial artist will have to shake off some rust as well. Injuries have kept him from the octagon since his last bout more than two years ago.
The two fighters have more in common than just their age.
“He’s a good measuring stick for me at this point,” Penn said. “He never gets tired. Good punches, great kicks, and he’s had a lot of fights in the UFC, and that’s what makes him dangerous.”
Penn said after the fight he plans to go to visit old foe Matt Hughes, who is hospitalized in Illinois in stable condition but reportedly still hasn’t awaken after his pickup truck was struck by a train June 16. Penn authored his last victory against Hughes, completing the fighters’ trilogy.
Assuming a victory, Penn also plans to get in touch with all UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby to look into scheduling another fight.
“I really believe in how I’m feeling and that were going to outclass (Siver),” Penn said. “No disrespect to him, but I think we’re on it right now.”
