The Mac
11-15-2010, 12:35 AM
One week before his UFC 123 co-main event, BJ Penn is already in Michigan, awaiting his matchup with Matt Hughes, so travel problems during fight week will be no concern to the Hawaii star.
Cross one other potential concern off his list as well: making weight.
During Saturday night's UFC 122 broadcast, Penn told Joe Rogan that he'd be several pounds under the welterweight divisional limit, saying he currently weighed 165 pounds. Welterweight fighters in non-title fights can weigh as much as 171 pounds.
Hughes usually maintains a body weight of 185 pounds, and through dieting and weight-cutting, makes it to 170 for weigh-ins. After rehydrating, by fight night, he will likely be between 175-180 pounds, giving him as much as a 15-pound edge in size over Penn.
It will be Penn's first fight in the division since UFC 94 in January 2009. Prior to that fight, Penn played coy, refusing to divulge what his weight would be in an attempt to confuse opponent Georges St. Pierre about whether he'd focus on size or speed.
This time, for a fight that will settle their nearly seven-year-old trilogy, Penn willingly gave up the information, noting that with less than a week to go, Hughes would not have enough time to change his camp and bring in lighter sparring partners.
Penn (15-7-1) is badly in need of a win after dropping two straight decisions to current lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
Meanwhile, Hughes (45-7) is the winner of three fights in a row.
The two first fought in January 2004, with Penn winning via rear naked choke before Hughes evened the score in September 2006, earning a victory via third-round TKO
Cross one other potential concern off his list as well: making weight.
During Saturday night's UFC 122 broadcast, Penn told Joe Rogan that he'd be several pounds under the welterweight divisional limit, saying he currently weighed 165 pounds. Welterweight fighters in non-title fights can weigh as much as 171 pounds.
Hughes usually maintains a body weight of 185 pounds, and through dieting and weight-cutting, makes it to 170 for weigh-ins. After rehydrating, by fight night, he will likely be between 175-180 pounds, giving him as much as a 15-pound edge in size over Penn.
It will be Penn's first fight in the division since UFC 94 in January 2009. Prior to that fight, Penn played coy, refusing to divulge what his weight would be in an attempt to confuse opponent Georges St. Pierre about whether he'd focus on size or speed.
This time, for a fight that will settle their nearly seven-year-old trilogy, Penn willingly gave up the information, noting that with less than a week to go, Hughes would not have enough time to change his camp and bring in lighter sparring partners.
Penn (15-7-1) is badly in need of a win after dropping two straight decisions to current lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
Meanwhile, Hughes (45-7) is the winner of three fights in a row.
The two first fought in January 2004, with Penn winning via rear naked choke before Hughes evened the score in September 2006, earning a victory via third-round TKO