B. J. Penn

Do people talk about Kenny Florian coming from a wealthy family and all this? I don't think they do. People say these things about me when they don't even know me.

I want to leave a mark in this sport.

When I was 22 years old, I wanted to become the lightweight champion of the world.

We see fighters fight their whole career and never get a title shot. It doesn't matter if they rack up 10 wins if people think they're boring. We all know how it works.

Mixed martial arts, UFC, or what have you, I don't think it has anything to do with rankings. It doesn't have to do with 'this guy beat this guy so he deserves a title shot.' It might be like that every once in a while, but this is entertainment and the two biggest names - the best story.

Honestly, I don't have any special techniques for Sean Sherk.

You look at somebody like Frankie Edgar and you think, 'oh, that little guy,' this and that. But these guys, they want it. And even if you're sitting there and you think you've figured something out, or got something you're going to surprise somebody with, the first thing you've got to do is have more heart than these guys.

My best moment in the UFC, I guess now that I look back, I guess my biggest accomplishment is the two belts in two weight classes. I really wanted to see if I could make it three, but you know, you're talking about the best guys in the world.

I should have never fought at 145.

Maybe if I had made the move in my early 20s it would have been different. But I did not feel good at 145.

The last thing I'm trying to do is trying to look to go out into a fight. Ask anybody who knows me, I'm not the first guy to go around and just start pushing people.

I'm not a great athlete that can play any sport. But one thing I could always do is... fight back.

The UFC is martial arts and it's all about technique.

I'd feel OK facing anyone for the welterweight title.

I wish I owned the UFC, you know?

Tsunamis are always big news around Hilo, grew up always getting ready to escape a tsunami.

This is a fight. This isn't putting a ball in a hole. This has always been a fight for me, and I just love it when it's that way.

My lasting legacy now is just going to be in highlight reels.

Martial arts was founded on the spirit that it's not only a sport, but a way of life.

I know there are a lot of others who are willing to take shortcuts for the sake of money, but when I see that... I get real irritated. I hate it.

There's more opportunity for me to get three UFC belts at 145 than going to 185.

I don't want any freebie fights.

2017 is going to be the biggest year for martial arts in the history of the Earth.

Out of Brazil, they're always gonna have another Wanderlei Silva, another Minotauro, another Anderson Silva.

I don't want to just be, 'Oh, he was good back in the day.' I want to be known as one of the best.

Hawaiians are mellow people, but we all live on an island so we see each other all the time. So like you either got to be real nice, because once you have a problem with somebody, you're gonna see them over and over and over, and you're gonna end up fighting. That's why we fight. We're all stuck in one area. You can't get away.

I thought I would go win 100 in a row with 100 knockouts.

When I first started fighting, I thought I was God's gift to fighting.

When the whole fighting thing started, I never knew at the end it was going to be all about your record. I never had that mentality. I wanted to fight everybody.

Of course I can't retire on a win - but then, I can't retire on a loss either.

There's just something about BJ Penn that gets people amped up. You don't know what's going to happen but something is going to happen. He might disappoint you, make you happy, make you cry or make you jump out of your chair, but he'll do something to you.

Fighting, to me, has always been something different than what everybody's else opinion is. I've never believed what everybody else has.

I think I should stay retired.

Keith Kizer doesn't want to look anyone in the eye.

For me Keith Kizer can't be trusted, the head of the Athletic Commission can't be trusted. I never want to fight under the Nevada State Athletic Commission again.

This is my wife. MMA is my wife. For life.

The sport has definitely moved beyond that founding idea of MMA, but without a doubt we wouldn't be sitting here right now if the Gracies didn't come here and teach their style and create the UFC.

As life goes on, life just gets harder.

As far as Mike Dolce goes, I would never hire him again for anything.

I definitely like the rubber guard. I always try to use it, especially when I'm just grappling or at the gym.

I separate my family life from fighting.

I would never take a fight with someone to one-up someone else. You know, you do things because you want to do them.

I think I could do good against some of the top welterweights. Yeah, pretty big guys, but you gotta live some times, you gotta step up sometime, huh?

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 live my life my way. I try to do the right thing, but I know there are going to be people who aren't happy with what I do or say no matter what, so I'm not going to worry about it.

I have my own morals I live by.

You can't make everyone happy no matter what. All I can do is live my life and try to be successful and please myself.

I'd like to fight welterweight and lightweight at the same time if I could.

Jon Fitch is a great opponent, a tough opponent, but St. Pierre brings the whole backing of Canada with him to a fight.