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BJ Penn interview (Ultimate Grappling Magazine)
What main points do you want to get through to them (the TUF5 fighters)?
BJ: Just with techniques. The first couple weeks I showed them what I like to do and kind of let them free. They all came from different camps and do their own thing to I'm trying to keep them happy. That's the hardest thing...keeping every single guy happy.
What's your coaching style?
BJ: For me it's no-nonsense. I tell them what I think works and what I would do and really try to build around their strengths. I want them to become complete mixed martial artists. You're going to get people who don't even want to listen anyway, so you run into every different avenue when you're doing this stuff. I mean, honestly, these guys aren't people who walked in your gym door and are willing to pay you $200 to come train with you so they'll listen to whatever you say; people have their own ideas and motives for being on the show
What's it been having Jens Pulver around? Is there any heat there?
BJ: I don't even talk to him; I'm just waiting to fight him in June. As far as now, he doesn't even exist to me. I know it's Team Pulver and this and that, but I'm here to do my best job as a coach.
Where does this animosity stem from for you?
BJ: It's just all the interviews that he said after our fight. He said, "I can knock him out." He's been very disrespectful, always saying he can knock me out and beat me at any time. But, every time I asked him to step up to the plate and fight, he would always wimp out. And fricken now finally he has to get his face on national television to finally step up and fight me. We all know what Jens' motives are.
Is that the loss that bugs you the most?
BJ: It's very irritating listening to Jens run his mouth, but all I'm thinking it that it all ends in June. I never have to hear it again.
Are you going to stay at 155 afterward?
BJ: I'm not looking past this fight in any way, shape or form, and I have no clue what I'm going to do after this. I know I did drop to 155 to fight Jens; there's no other reason that I'm here at this time.
At this point in your career what's your big motivation?
BJ: Honestly, at this point in my career my big motivation is getting serious about the sport again, In the off-season I was having a little bit too much fun. I tried to get in shape in two months, but it just wasn't working out. I trained really hard, but it was only for two months. That's not how to do it. Champions are made in the off-season. Everybody always told me, "Man, you're the best. You could be the greatest." Or, "You could do this," or "You could do that."
I want to see my full potential now. I'm 28 years old, and I've had a lot of fights. Now its time to buckle down and be a champion every day of my life...not just for one week of my life and then go out and party and get out of shape again. I want to be a champion every day of my life, and I want to see my full potential and see where I can take this thing at my maximum. That's my motivation now.
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