Once a UFC headliner and forever a UFC Hall of Famer, BJ Penn’s fights nowadays are met with significantly less luster.
The mixed martial arts organization is promoting Penn’s fight Sunday against Dennis Siver at Fight Night Oklahoma City as under the radar, and Penn has remained that way as well since absorbing a second-round beating against Yair Rodriquez.
After that January fight, Penn’s first in 30 months and his fourth loss on a row, the Hilo fighting legend said he nearly went into a state of depression after watching the tape. Instead of stepping away from the octagon for good, Penn (16-11-2) is trying to recapture the glory by reconnecting with old friends, trainers Marv Marinovich and Rudy Valentino.
Step 1 on the road Oklahoma City was to watch the Rodriguez rout.
“One of the hardest things to do was to sit down and watch (that) last fight,” Penn said on BJPenn Radio. “I gotta go watch how I got picked apart.
“Man, I was slow. I couldn’t believe how slow I was.”
Enter Marinovich brothers Marv and Gary, who favor agility, balance and – most importantly – speed over strength and power.
“All they do is speed,” Penn said. “They are the best at what they do.
“The training is going to make a big difference. Just watch the fight and make your own opinion on what’s going on.”
The Penn-Siver fight is on the main card, which is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. HST and be televised on FS1
In a matchup of 38-year-olds, Penn and Siver will be looking to taste victory for the first time in a while.
Penn hasn’t won since knocking out Matt Hughes in 2010, while Siver (22-11) has battled numerous injuries over his career and is fighting for the first time in just more than two years. Considered the favorite, Siver is riding a two-fight losing the streak, the first coming against Connor McGregor via TKO in January in 2015.
The two were originally scheduled to fight in June of 2016, but Siver had to pull out with an undisclosed injury, and Penn was subsequently suspended for illegal use of an IV.
“I think he’s a great opponent” Penn said. “I think he’s a good matchup for me. I don’t know if he was watching my last fight and thinking, ‘Oh, I can capitalize here.
“I never saw him disrespect any opponents and he’s never failed a drug test. It will be a great evening.”
