Whichever way you look at the main event, BJ Penn and Nick Diaz each have something to prove heading into their bout this weekend.
After UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre sustained a knee injury, which would force him to pull out of the main event, Penn and Diaz found themselves headlining the card.
Now with the spotlight shining on the two welterweights, “The Prodigy” said they both have to make due with their situation.
“Both of us have a lot of pressure on us come Saturday night. I kind of look at it, we’re both in a must-win position,” Penn told MMAWeekly.com.
Penn’s recent track record at 170 pounds hasn’t been stellar. After moving up to face Matt Hughes at UFC 123, the Hawaiian suffered a setback in his next bout against Jon Fitch that saw both competitors fight to a draw. Questions surrounding Penn’s motivation and lack of interest in fighting became apparent once again, but he insists he still has the passion to compete in the UFC.
“I love to do this. I love to do mixed martial arts. I love fighting for the UFC,” he said.
As for Diaz, he is currently riding a 10-fight win streak but his notorious resentment for the media has prevented him from competing for a title shot.
Now that Diaz has been given a second chance to prove his worth to UFC management and the fans, Penn said the Stockton, California native has an entirely different agenda to focus on.
“Nick’s here to prove himself, that he’s here to stay and that he is a title contender,” he said.
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