Morning Report: Joe Rogan argues B.J. Penn still lightweight GOAT: ‘I would put him against anybody’

B.J. Penn is lengthy faraway from his glory days, however his greatness hasn’t been forgotten.

Joe Rogan spoke about Penn on a latest podcast, first discussing how enhancements in health introduced out one of the best within the former two-division UFC champion, after which placing forth the suggestion {that a} prime Penn may give any light-weight a run for his or her cash—together with the nice Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“When B.J. Penn was in his prime, he was coaching with Marv Marinovich, and Marv Marinovich had very unorthodox coaching strategies the place it was all plyometrics, explosive drills, sprints, field jumps, all this loopy stuff, and he believed—I hope I’m not quoting him incorrectly—however he believed combat coaching was of secondary significance while you’re in camp and actually what was essential is to only have a f*cking insane gasoline tank,” Rogan stated. “B.J. Penn is aware of the right way to combat, he’s a world champion, he’s not going to neglect the right way to combat. However you possibly can may get him coaching this manner the place you may have this gasoline tank that’s simply insane and when B.J. Penn was coaching with him, he was unstoppable.

“I all the time say this—folks discuss Khabib being the best light-weight of all time and perhaps he’s, it’s very attainable he’s—however I’d put the B.J. Penn that fought Joe “Daddy” Stevenson, the B.J. Penn that fought Sean Sherk, the B.J. Penn that was in that peak when he was coaching [with Marinovich], I’d put him in opposition to anyone. When he fought Diego Sanchez, he couldn’t be stopped, and when you obtained him to the bottom, his f*cking submission recreation was insane. He was insane off of his again. He would take your again, you had been lifeless. He would knock you out standing up. His kickboxing was elite.”

Nurmagomedov has turn into a well-liked reply for “Who’s one of the best fighter ever to compete at 155 kilos?” and for good motive. He retired in 2020 with a 29-0 report, three light-weight title defenses, and wins over a laundry checklist of stars and future UFC Corridor of Famers. His dominant wrestling often led to lopsided ends in his favor and his resolution to hold up the gloves 5 years in the past left followers eager to see him proceed to beat one of the best.

Penn’s 16-14-2 report doesn’t replicate the power of nature he was in his prime, when he placed on spectacular performances at welterweight and light-weight that made him a fan favourite throughout the UFC’s rise within the 2000s. His feuds with Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes are two of essentially the most well-known in MMA historical past, and although he grew to become champion in two divisions, it was at light-weight the place he was most feared.

So how does Rogan assume Nurmagomedov would have approached a dream combat with Penn?

“Take him down, for certain,” Rogan stated. “He’d most likely combat him the identical approach Georges St-Pierre did. However the distinction in dimension between B.J. Penn and Georges St-Pierre is fairly important. B.J. Penn can be a 155-pound man, who truly later in his profession fought 145. Later, when he was form of on the finish of his profession. However Georges is approach greater. Georges was an enormous 170, massive muscular 170 with nice wrestling, nasty ground-and-pound, and a black belt in jiu-jitsu himself, and in addition a very good striker. … There was additionally accusations of greasing as a result of Georges was very slippery in that combat. In the event you had been a grappler and the opposite particular person can’t come up with him, particularly when you’re a man like B.J. who fights so nicely off of his again.

“B.J.’s legs had been like arms the place he may very well be sitting there with out utilizing his fingers and he may put his toes within the lotus place, so fully crossed and lock his legs within the lotus place with out utilizing his fingers in any respect. Loopy flexibility and dexterity. So when you had been trapped in his guard, you had been f*cked.”

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As an unapologetic B.J. Penn stan, I’ve greater than as soon as questioned if he would stand an opportunity in opposition to the mighty Khabib. Then once more, I additionally thought Khabib may lose to Tony Ferguson. In order that’s the place I’m coming from.

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