B.J. Penn – Why I Fight – The Belt Is Just An Accessory

[Reporter]
They kinds just wing it, but these guys really fight, and I’m talking about one of the most famous, he’s the former UFC Lightweight Champion and a former UFC Welterweight Champion, one of only two UFC fighters to win a title in two different weight classes and he’s telling it all, in his book, B.J. Penn is the author and the name of the book is: “Why I Fight: The Belt Is Just An Accessory”. And it’s out today, congratulations on the book and your life.

[B.J. Penn]
Thank you very much.

[Reporter]
First off, tell us how you got involved in Ultimate Fighting.

[B.J. Penn]
Ah, just as a kid growing up, you know, I was always into boxing, and love, love, love getting into fights and stuff as a kid, not that that’s a good thing. But as I grew older I really wasn’t doing much and my father kinda pushed me into Martial Arts and pushed me into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and that’s how I kinda got my start.

[Reporter]
You were in Hawaii, and to fill the time, a lot of kids play with a ball, some play tag, or Ring A Levio. You said, hey, come over, let’s start a fight a little bit, you put on the gloves and fought with your brothers in the neighborhood.

[B.J. Penn]
Ya, it wasn’t only me, though, it was the kids from the neighborhood, I guess, there’s not much to do and that’s[fight] what we did for fun.

[Reporter]
So you have had unbelievable success in Ultimate Fighting, what is it like when you hop into the Octagon and the gate closes behind you?

[B.J. Penn]
Ah, ah, I’m getting used to it by now, its’ an awesome intense feeling, its’ just what it looks like, you know, its, its, its, pretty hair raising, I guess.

[Reporter]
You were in AbuDabi over the weekend.

[B.J. Penn]
Yes, I was in AbuDabi over the weekend.

[Reporter]
You lost. What happened?

[B.J. Penn]
I had a tough last decision, you know the guy fought Frank James Edgar, he did a great job, you know, all I can hope, all I can hope is to be back. Be there and do my best.

[Reporter]
When people fight, they think of they are angry, they want to kill the guy, they want to put, they want to knock their head off, but when you fight how do you approach it differently? Let’s say a guy who get’s into a fight at a bar?

[B.J. Penn]
Ya, it’s much different than a fight at a bar! We’re very trained, we train our techniques all day, that’s all we do, this is our life, you know, that’s one of the reasons I wrote the book, you know, its[fighting] very mis-understood, its a very mis-understood sport, and this[book] kinda gives you a look inside what really goes on, what goes behind the scenes.

[Reporter]
Right.

[B.J. Penn]
What goes on in the fighters heads. How the fighters react to each other, how we react to management, and its a great thing, the UFC has done a great job, they are here on top of the world right now,

[Reporter]
Right.

[B.J. Penn]
People like Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta, built this sport up and made it a legitimate sport, and because of them we all got a job.

[Reporter]
See, sometimes you gotta knock a guy out, or choke him out to be successful?

[B.J. Penn]
Yes.

[Reporter]
Alright, lets say, hypothetically, you and I get into the Octagon, let’s say they have enough money to get me in there, I’m a little bit heavier than you, as much as I like this book – Joe[camera man] hold on to it for a second. Hypothetically, lets just say we end up in a situation, where you have to neutralize me and you know I’m a hundred and seventy pounds of furry

[B.J. Penn]
Yes.

[Reporter]
Of muscle, and you’ve never seen anything quite like it, the first thing you say is where is the door, the second thing is, I can’t get out of this.

[B.J. Penn]
So, I’m looking at you and thinking, this guy looks like he can really punch really hard, I can just tell by looking at you, so, you know, first thing I would do, is like, wait
(B.J. Penn goes for his legs to knock him down)

(they wrestle)

[Woman's Voice]
Two, Three

[Bell Rings]

[Woman's Voice]
Brian how many pounds do you have on him?

[?????]
You give? Do you give up?

[Mans Voice]
Towel, towel, someone throw a towel in, anyone got a towel? I’m gonna throw my coat in.

[Mans Voice]
Someones gotta stop this.

[Mans Voice]
Brian, your fired.

B.J. Penn – Why I Fight – The Belt Is Just An Accessory. Ya, it’s much different than a fight at a bar! We’re very trained, we train our techniques all day, that’s all we do, this is our life, this[book] gives you a look inside what really goes on, what goes behind the scenes. Complete Full Dialogue, Saying, Quotes, Words And Text For B.J. Penn – Why I Fight – The Belt Is Just An Accessory.