BJ Penn was interviewed by The Sun in the UK recently and he has a lot to say about his fellow UFC fighters. First, he discussed Joe Stevenson and their upcoming fight for the lightweight title at UFC 80.

Penn said: “I’m just pumped about everything this year. I expect big things but I’m not looking past Joe Stevenson.

“I expect a hard fight but I’ll walk away with the belt.

“Me and Joe are well-matched. He’s got stand up, takedowns and submissions but I’ve got all of those things too.

“I think I’ve got the edge over him on submissions and jujitsu’s my speciality but he’s got a good guillotine and goods leg locks.

“He’s a great opponent but I’m going to do what I’ve got to do and I’m going to put him away.”

“No one’s coming to see BJ Penn win this fight on a decision, I’m going to stop the fight in the early rounds.”

When asked about the bad blood between him and Sean Sherk, Penn did not hold back.

The Prodigy said: “I want to take Joe Stevenson out and get the belt - I could not care less about Sean Sherk.

“I’m going to tell him even if he’s not on steroids that he took them to get where he was.”

He added: “I think stripping Sherk of his title was strong enough.

“I think Dana did the right thing taking the belt off of him. He got there because of steroids, let’s go and see him do it without them.

“I’m not sure he deserves a lifetime ban because I’ve done some things in my life I wish I didn‘t do and people make mistakes but his All Access where he was doing all those hard workouts was a joke.

“Likewise that’s why I’ve got nothing to say about Hermes Franca. He was showing off saying ‘I eat all this good food, I work out this hard, I do this, I do that’ all for what?

“He wasn’t showing the other half when he was walking into the bathroom and sticking a needle in his ass.”

Moving to other fighters, Penn had an interesting analysis about the recent fight between Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes for the Interim title.

He said: “I thought Matt Hughes fought like a pussy.

“I think he was scared and he let Georges take him down all night long. He was so scared to stand.

“I think he was still scarred from that knockout a year ago and he didn’t fight. He didn’t fight.

“What’s the sense of being the greatest welterweight of all time if you’re going to get you’re ass kicked like that? It makes no sense.”

He added: “Georges St. Pierre never surprises me, he’s a great athlete, a great fighter and I expect things like that from him but I expect things like that from Matt Hughes too.

“Everyone knows Matt Hughes is weakest on his back and he’s got to know that too so if you’re so weak on your back why are you letting the guy take you down without even trying? I mean come on, where was his sprawl?

And what about the upcoming match between St-Pierre and champion Matt Serra?

Penn said: “Honestly, don’t count Matt Serra out against Georges St. Pierre. St. Pierre might still be scarred from that knockout from UFC 69.

“Matt Serra is a dangerous fight for St. Pierre because GSP isn’t as good on top as Matt is at ground and pound - I don’t see him passing Serra’s guard all over.

“Serra’s got a chance on his back with his arm bars and triangles and he’s already knocked St. Pierre out.

“I give Matt a great shot at winning that fight but I think it’s better for the sport if St. Pierre wins because he’s so dynamic - he can do all these things, he took Matt Hughes down and kicked his butt but don’t ever count Matt Serra out.”

Below is Penn on ESPN talking about his upcoming fight with Stevenson.

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