Former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion BJ Penn hasn’t had a lot of luck when he’s been put inside the Octagon with Frankie Edgar. At 0-2 versus “The Answer,” something better change for Penn because the old foes will once again duke it out in 2014.
But before the fight itself, Penn and Edgar will face off as coaches on the 19th season of The Ultimate Fighter. I reckon that’s good news for “The Prodigy,” who will therefore have the chance to best Edgar in a different sort of game.
But back to the fight.
Penn’s lack of success against Edgar demands he shake things up a bit. For starters, he has decided to drop to featherweight, a bold move considering he last competed two weight classes up.
Secondly, Penn has the option of calling on someone with experience beating Edgar, namely Jose Aldo.
During a recent interview with Combate, Nova Uniao leader Andre Pederneiras announced that he will act as one of Penn’s trainers on TUF.
But besides that, Pederneiras has extended an invitation to Penn to train with the featherweight champ.
In a translated version of the interview by MMA Fighting, the long-time coach noted “We’ve studied Edgar’s game a lot for Aldo’s fight, so I believe there’s no better place and sparrings better for B.J. to come back in great fashion and motivated.”
That’s quite an opportunity for Penn, not only because Aldo has beaten Edgar before, but also because, well, you know, he’s Jose Aldo.
Anyway you slice it, there looks to be a lot of intrigue on the horizon for Penn.
How will he do in his second stint as a TUF coach?
Will he wind up training with Aldo?
How will he deal with cutting to 145?
And of course, will his fight with Edgar signify the resurrection of his career, or will it be another nail in the coffin?
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com