Issue 024

April 2007

BJ Penn – confident, quiet, and oh so painfully normal that I would recommend you stop reading this article right about… now! Still interested? Ok, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.  

When I first heard that I would be interviewing BJ Penn I was head-over-feet happy. I would finally get a chance to get up close and personal with one of the most skilled fighters in mixed martial arts history, and someone I had admired from afar for so many years; the former UFC welterweight champion, ‘The Prodigy’. Any avid MMA fan would have felt the same way to have the opportunity to sit down one-on-one with BJ.

I did my research, and I prepared my questions; I only had two days’ notice that I would be conducting the interview, but I was going to be ready. BJ was scheduled to give a two day seminar in my area, and I was slotted to interview him at the end of the first day. So I arrived early (a few hours early) just to make sure I was on time, all set up and ready for BJ (whenever he was ready for me).

Three hours later, I was told that he probably would not have a chance to talk to me that day. There were prior obligations he had to attend to. But that’s all right, because he would be back the next day, and if I got there before the seminar started, I would have a chance to sit down with him then. No problem! I could wait… after all, this is BJ Penn we’re talking about!  

So I woke up bright and early the next morning and made my way across town to the seminar. I even got there an hour before it started. The problem was that I don’t think anyone bothered to tell BJ that I would be there, anxiously awaiting his arrival. So, he arrived right on time to begin the seminar, but too late to talk to me. It would have to wait until after the seminar. No problem! I could wait—after all, this is BJ Penn we’re talking about. Hang on there a second…

So I sat and watched – for six whole hours I sat and watched. Attendees listened and absorbed every word he spoke; this was the Gospel according to BJ. As I sat there watching him teach, my level of respect for him was elevated tenfold. He paid close attention to each and every person in attendance, from the earliest beginner to the black belt Abu Dhabi veterans. BJ really cared and wanted to make sure everyone was getting all of the techniques right, even taking some time to help out a pair of youngsters practicing some moves while their father participated in the seminar. Let me tell you, I was impressed.  

But I wanted to do that interview. I was getting antsy, and once the seminar was finished (followed by a lengthy ‘Q&A’ and autograph session) it was finally my turn.  

‘Don’t panic’ I told myself. ‘Stay calm, it’s only BJ Penn.’ Who am I kidding? This was BJ Penn sitting right there in front of me! I remained calm on the outside, but inside I was having an freak-out. I couldn’t wait to hear what he would have to say: Matt Hughes, Georges St. Pierre, the UFC, winning then losing the title. There were so many things I wanted, nay, needed to ask him about. I asked my questions and waited in anticipation for each answer. And what did he say? Well, he said exactly what you think he said. For every question that I asked, he had a response that he had given a thousand times. I knew exactly what he was going to say before he even said it. You even know what he said without me having to tell you.  

But still I clung to every word and took it in as if it were the antidote to some horrible poison I had been administered. There was nothing particularly interesting about what he was saying (no offence, BJ). There was no hatred toward anyone, no smack-talk, no secrets, no grudges…he wasn’t even bitter about being stripped of the UFC welterweight title. How dare he! He was just a regular guy, doing something he loved to do, and something that he just happened to be naturally talented at doing. There were ups, there were downs, but he just rolled with the punches, so to speak. BJ was just BJ. But with all of the hype and admiration surrounding him, it’s easy to forget that. And his humble everyman-ness made me respect him more than any fight he’ll ever win could hope to do.