Former two division UFC champion B.J. Penn (16-7-2) was asked recently about his thoughts on the whole ‘teammate vs. teammate’ controversy that has continued to headline many mma news sites.
The most recent, and probably the one that has garnered the most attention, is the issues between former teammates Jon “Bones” Jones and “Suga” Rashad Evans. Both men were team members at Jackson’s MMA gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but the UFC light heavyweight title has since come between the two after comments from both fighters sent Evans to Florida, and both into a scheduled title fight.
Jones has since pulled out of the UFC 133 bout with Evans due to injury, but it doesn’t change the fact that ‘teammate vs. teammate’ issues can cause serious drama between fighters and gyms.
Penn was a guest on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour (@www.mmafighting.com) and was asked to give his thoughts on the issue.
“I think teammates have to fight each other, and I knew that the whole time. That’s why I would always distance myself. Of course they have to. I always thought it was B.S. that [Josh] Koscheck and [Jon] Fitch wouldn’t have to fight, but they can just keep taking turns going for title shots, but they never had to fight each other? That doesn’t make sense.”
“You know why I never went to any of these places and trained? Because it’s the same thing that you see with guys like Rashad Evans and Jon Jones. Now there’s a big problem because of that. That’s why I always kept my distance from anyone. I had a thousand chances to go train with Jon Fitch, but I knew I’m probably going to fight this guy one day, so let’s be friends when we’re done fighting.”