På lördag är det dags för rematch mellan B.J Penn och Frankie Edgar. Då deras tidigare match kanske inte var världens roligaste vänds många blickar mot mötet mellan boxaren James Toney och Randy Couture. Många som gillar MMA visar öppet att de vill att Randy kör över Toney, men B.J Penn går emot strömmen i en intervju för MMAfighting.com
I really would like to see James Toney do good out there. You know what? If Randy goes in there and runs over James Toney in five seconds, I don’t think that does anything. I look for ways to try to build the sport, ways to put more fans in the seats and more money in our pockets. I want to see James Toney go in there and do good.
Han fortsatte med att tala lite om att han tycker många tar försnacken inför match lite väl hårt. Det handlar om hype förstås och han tar upp Chael Sonnen som exempel. Penn menar att Toneys kommentarer angående Couture och MMA i stort är detsamma som det snacket Chael körde.
I remember talking to him a while back and he said, ’BJ, I want to get involved with this stuff. And I never… I thought he was just running his mouth at first. I thought we were just, you know, having a conversation. And here he is, here he is. He’s stepping in and fighting a five-time UFC champ on his first fight. The guy’s got some balls, man. And I give it to him. And I just, I wish the best for him.
På frågan om hur stora chanser Toney har svarar Penn såhär:
You know, with Randy it’s going to be tough because he’s got the Greco. He wrestled in college, so he’s got the shot. And if they exchange, they’re going to get caught in a some kind of clinch. And I think it’s going to be tough for him. I just want to see him go out and do good, you know?