UFC on Fox 5's B.J. Penn says no one says his name amongst the greatest fighters anymore - "It really bothers me"

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

B.J. Penn opted to retire from MMA last year after a disappointing and decisive decision loss against Nick Diaz. That came after a draw against Jon Fitch, and going back a few fights before that, he had posted just a 1-3-1 mark over his last five.

Because of that, he decided it was time to walk away. But something changed as 2012 wore on, and Penn found himself wanting to turn things around.

"I texted Dana a couple month ago saying I watch all these interviews and no one says my name when they are talking about the greatest fighters anymore and I really don't like that," Penn said during a media conference call on Tuesday (transcribed by BJPenn.com). "It really bothers me. I know it's my fault and I'm the reason why people talk about me when they talk about GSP or Anderson Silva. My name was always in the mix. It's never in the mix any more."

"I told Dana I got a real problem with that's actually a big part of my motivation to come back and show them and do a good fight here on December 8."

Penn knows that fan reaction in sports can be all about "what have you done for me lately," and he thinks he's got more in the sport to accomplish.

"Everything is current," Penn said. "I'm a glass half empty kind of a guy. Everything is current. I don't want to be known as 'he was good back in the day.' I want to be known as one of the best. With that said, I don't want to sit here and say I want more admiration because as you said a lot of people admire me but I still think I have some left to accomplish."

Penick's Analysis: Penn's got a lot of pride, and it absolutely hurts him to not be in the conversation of the best in the sport anymore. There really isn't any greater motivator for him than to get himself back into that conversation, and him articulating that on Tuesday was the clearest response yet for why he's decided to come back. If he can get past MacDonald and move back up the ladder at welterweight, he can get himself back in that conversation. That's exactly what he wants to do, and next Saturday is a chance to start himself on that path.

[B.J. Penn art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_15145.shtml

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