Joe Stevenson Says No to BJ Penn to Beat UFC's Champion

“Daddy” Joe Stevenson (31-9) was contacted by Fighters.com and UFC lightweight champion “The Prodigy” BJ Penn (15-5-1) with an offer to come train with him. Stevenson told him no thanks because he believes he will get another title shot before the end of the year. Apparently BJ wanted a strong wrestler to train with for his fight against “The Answer” Frank Edgar (11-1)at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. Joe must be losing his mind to say no to this opportunity.

Joe said “It is awesome that people are starting to talk about me maybe fighting for the title again. But I don’t want it whisper in the wind that I maybe get a title shot. I want to keep on winning, and winning big, so the fans are like ‘Give Joe Daddy his second title shot already!’ I was asked by BJ if I wanted to train with him for this fight but, as great as would be, I had to say no because I think I am going to be fighting him again at the end of the year.”

So he could have trained with BJ for the fight with Edgar while he was preparing to fight George Sotiropoulos (11-2) at UFC 110. Instead he believes he will get another title shot. Joe, how do you see that happening?

Maybe the UFC has told him something we do not know but since his utter destruction at the hands of Penn at UFC: 80 he has posted a 3-2 record inside the Octagon. This is not a record that gets you a title shot. Especially when there are other fighters waiting in the wings for that shot he feels he is going to get.

Many believe the man that should be fighting BJ Penn at UFC 112 is sitting on the sidelines waiting and will more than likely get the next shot. “The Bully” Gray Maynard (9-0) is that fighter and he will be watching closely as BJ faces off against Edgar. Of course Gray could get passed over yet again depending on what happens during Ultimate Fight Night 21 on March 31.

The main event of that night will pit “KenFlo” Kenny Florian (12-4) versus “The Fireball Kid” Takanori Gomi (28-6). Kenny has faced BJ once before at UFC 101 and lost. This will be Gomi’s first fight in the UFC coming over from Japan. Gomi has also fought BJ Penn and lost. This was back in 2003 at Rumble on the Rock 4 where Gomi lost in the third round due to rear naked choke.

The Gomi fight with Florian could be a tune up fight with a fighter I am now considering the gate-keeper to BJ’s title. I don’t see Florian getting another shot anytime soon but would not be shocked to see Gomi get a second crack at beating BJ if he can find a way to finish Florian in devastating fashion.

That gives us two fighters that could possibly be in line for a shot well before Joe Stevenson. I don’t see anyway he gets a second chance before the end of the year. I am not sure he will see a shot anytime soon.

He was beaten and bloodied by BJ during their fight and he would have to do something extraordinary in order to get back there. Joe should have taken the chance to train with BJ, learn some things and use that as motivation to get another shot in a year or more. Bad move Daddy!