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Max Holloway Says BJ Penn Should Stick To Lightweight Division

February 6, 2016 | Posted by Joseph Lee

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Max Holloway (15-3 MMA, 11-3 UFC) spoke about BJ Penn’s upcoming return to MMA and his desire to go after the UFC featherweight belt. Penn previously competed in the welterweight and lightweight divisions. Holloway currently competes in the featherweight division. Here are highlights:

On Penn’s return to MMA: “No one wanted to see him go out the way he did, so I’m glad he’s back trying to get some redemption, but him saying he’s coming to 145, I’m kind of scratching my head. He’s coming to 145, and he’s going to try to go for the belt? He knows there’s another Hawaii kid right there for the belt. I don’t know if he’s saying he might come for the belt and thinking he might want to try to fight me? I have no idea. He knows I’m in the weight class, and he knows people are talking about my title shot.”

On what division Penn should stick with: “I’m glad he wants to fight because I didn’t want to watch him go out the way he did in the last one. But I always thought he was best at 155. If he trains hard and he’s focused, he’s an animal at 155. That run he had with the belt was something special.”

On if he would fight him: “I’d have to go back to my team and see what my team wants; we would have to see if it makes sense. Hawaii vs. Hawaii? No one, especially in Hawaii, no one wants to see that. You want to fight outside of the world. You never know what happens with the UFC. Weird stuff happens.”

article topics :

Max Holloway, Joseph Lee