Penn

Same Dog, New Tricks- Do what you do best and make others adjust to your game.  When MMA aficionados talk about current UFC Lightweight champion BJ Penn and how to beat him, all lay down the exact same game plan; push the pace on him, take him down, inflict some G’n P, and extend the match as long as possible. The longer the match goes, the greater chance you have to beat him. Penn is the epitome of pure natural talent, and unfortunately, has never worked hard enough on his cardio to be able to live up to all the expectations.Like everyone else, UFC 84opponent, and bitter rival Sean Sherk, felt that extending the fight would eventually pay off. “I’m going to make him quit…Mentally, I think he’s got some quit in him. I’ve seen it,” Sherk said prior to the fight. “I’ve seen it in the past. If you push him, he’ll quit.”

For all that he has accomplished and the level of respect he has garnered to the name “Penn,” he has not shown the desire to change his mentality or work ethic.

Penn himself had previously stated, “I’ve got just enough cardio to put you away.” Just enough? Why not prepare yourself to have more than enough? However, Penn has shown in his last two fights that he has taken things more seriously. The new Penn is lean, cut, and well conditioned.

Penn took his new found “asset” into UFC 84 and left victorious his first title defense against Sherk, and is proving to all doubters that this old dog has certainly learned a new trick.
 
Penn is now committed, which has his division in fright. And he knows it. The winner at UFC 84 was scheduled to take on the winner of Kenny Florian/Roger Huerta at UFC 87.  However, Penn does not seem interested in that fight. He seems to be done with the division, thinking that he has cleaned out the elite fighters already.

When asked what was next, Penn emphatically stated, “I want to fight GSP!”

The GSP that he is referring to is current Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, who defeated Penn by a close unanimous decision back at UFC 58.

Wherever Penn ends up, his new found desire will make him a force to be reckoned with.  Who said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?