UFC 101: Kenny Florian talks fighting BJ Penn in Philadelphia
WILL MOTIVATION PLAY INTO THIS FIGHT?
“I want B.J.’s belt. B.J., you’re one of the best fighters out there. I’m here to test myself. I think you’re a great fighter, someone I look up to. I consider you a master. It’s time to kill that master.” Florian will admit this statement could be a side effect of excessive indulgence in Kung Fu cinema, but it does reflect what he’s all about. He wants to be the champ and be known as the best 155 pound fighter; he wants to be the legend and master that is BJ Penn. The road to the top is always filled with such desire and passion and heaps of motivation. Florian is having a second shot at gold, that is something that many fighters don’t get. He is highly motivated to win this fight and everything has gone into training and for certain all he has will go into battle this summer.
For BJ Penn, when he’s on he’s one of the toughest fighters to deal with. Motivation-wise, Penn is always most excited for fights where he’s accomplishing the unthinkable—whether it’s moving up to a higher weight class to fight the then unstoppable Matt Hughes, or jumping up to fight a 200 plus pound fighter in Lyoto Machida, BJ Penn always thrives and is super-amped up to do things that people think are impossible. Although Florian is a very tough opponent who could easily win this fight, at this point in time it is not the same as fighting another champion to win two belts like in Penn’s last fight against GSP. Penn will come in as the favorite in this fight, so a win over Florian isn’t climbing mount improbable and conquering something unthinkable.
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