The Mac
09-01-2010, 05:58 PM
.J. Penn wants to return to the octagon sooner rather than later.
This past weekend at UFC 118, the former champ fell short in a rematch with Frankie Edgar, the same fighter who defeated Penn and took his belt in April at UFC 112.
Rather than sulk about the loss or rethink his approach, Penn simply wants to get back in the cage as soon as possible.
"I'm going to stick to what I said about being as active as I can," he said in a video post on bjpenn.com. "I am going to try to contact the UFC and get a fight as soon as possible."
Prior to UFC 118, MMAjunkie.com spoke to Penn during a media session in Boston. There, he said he's found balance after struggling with under-training and then over-training during his fight camps.
Now, at 31 years old, he said he knows he's in his prime and that now is the time to stay busy.
"I just want to fight," he said. "I can't do this forever. I'm 31 years old. I think I'm in my prime. Let's do it now."
Penn ultimately suffered a shutout (50-45) unanimous-decision loss to Edgar in the UFC 118 headliner and had no answer for Edgar's quick striking and takedowns. However, the Hawaiian said he suffered little damage in the fight and won't need additional time to heal.
"Luckily, I did not get injured, so I've got no injuries," he said. "I can still build off what I built in my last camp."
Following UFC 118, UFC president Dana White said he's not sure what's next for Penn and that he needed to consult UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. Currently, top contender Gray Maynard already has been promised the next shot at Edgar, and some of the other division's top contenders (Evan Dunham, Jim Miller, Sean Sherk) are already booked for fights.
However, plenty of potential opponents in the 155-pound division are available for upcoming fights, including Clay Guida, George Sotiropoulos, Takanori Gomi, Joe Stevenson, Kenny Florian and Kurt Pellegrino
This past weekend at UFC 118, the former champ fell short in a rematch with Frankie Edgar, the same fighter who defeated Penn and took his belt in April at UFC 112.
Rather than sulk about the loss or rethink his approach, Penn simply wants to get back in the cage as soon as possible.
"I'm going to stick to what I said about being as active as I can," he said in a video post on bjpenn.com. "I am going to try to contact the UFC and get a fight as soon as possible."
Prior to UFC 118, MMAjunkie.com spoke to Penn during a media session in Boston. There, he said he's found balance after struggling with under-training and then over-training during his fight camps.
Now, at 31 years old, he said he knows he's in his prime and that now is the time to stay busy.
"I just want to fight," he said. "I can't do this forever. I'm 31 years old. I think I'm in my prime. Let's do it now."
Penn ultimately suffered a shutout (50-45) unanimous-decision loss to Edgar in the UFC 118 headliner and had no answer for Edgar's quick striking and takedowns. However, the Hawaiian said he suffered little damage in the fight and won't need additional time to heal.
"Luckily, I did not get injured, so I've got no injuries," he said. "I can still build off what I built in my last camp."
Following UFC 118, UFC president Dana White said he's not sure what's next for Penn and that he needed to consult UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. Currently, top contender Gray Maynard already has been promised the next shot at Edgar, and some of the other division's top contenders (Evan Dunham, Jim Miller, Sean Sherk) are already booked for fights.
However, plenty of potential opponents in the 155-pound division are available for upcoming fights, including Clay Guida, George Sotiropoulos, Takanori Gomi, Joe Stevenson, Kenny Florian and Kurt Pellegrino