BJ Penn Thinks the Belts Don't Matter...BJ Penn is Right

For a man known for his numerous career rebirths, it appears that former UFC Lightweight and Welterweight Champion BJ Penn has entered yet another phase in his career. As he readies himself for his upcoming rematch with current UFC Lightweight Champion Frank Edgar, Penn recently talked about the struggles he’s faced as one of the best, most famous Mixed Martial Artists ever, and how he’s come to now view the Lightweight Championship. In short: Penn believes that he began to get caught up in his own hype, which was the key to his downfall and Frankie Edgar’s success at UFC 112, where Edgar shocked the world and took the Lightweight Championship that had sat on Penn’s shoulders for over two years. Penn was even bold enough to say “The only thing that’s real is the fight, everything else is fake.” And you know what? I find myself agreeing with “The Prodigy”.

This is something I’ll always agree with no matter who is saying it: the fighters make the championships, the championships don’t make the fighters. The only reason the UFC has the world’s most prestigious divisional championships is because they have all the best fighters in the world. You don’t gain credibility from getting the belt, the belt gains credibility when it’s around the waist of a great fighter. Without a line of credible champions and worthwhile challengers, championship gold is nothing more than a large chunk of expensive jewelry.

For a more concrete example, think of the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and how it remains so highly regarded and prestigious despite the fact that every single champion since the glory days of Chuck Liddell has lost the championship in their first few fights. Even with the strap being ping-ponged around the top of the division, no one can deny that all the Light Heavyweight Champions since Liddell earned their spot by fighting and beating the best in the world. There’s a difference between “paper champions” and a highly-competitive division. If the Light Heavyweight Championship were to change hands as often as it did without the benefit of being passed from one fantastic athlete to the next, the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship would have virtually no meaning. Instead, it’s one of the UFC’s best divisional championships.

In regards to BJ Penn, I think this is a great attitude for him to have as he prepares for his rematch with Frankie Edgar. During his reign as Lightweight Champion, Penn had put so much pressure on himself to both stay champion and stay dominant that it was bound to catch up to him. If Penn is honest enough to admit that he believed his own hype, I’ll be honest and admit that it’s pretty easy for Penn to fall back into the trap of just letting his natural abilities pull him through.

That above all else seems to be the cause of Penn’s continued downfall, and if he can finally look past the superficiality of being a champion and/or people calling him “the best ever”, he should have no problem taking the belt back from Edgar. With a renewed sense of dedication combined with the skills that have made him so famous, I think Penn is ready for another career rebirth.

But what do you think, fans and friends? Do you agree or disagree with Penn’s assertion that only the fight itself matters? And who do you have winning the UFC 118 rematch between BJ Penn and Frank Edgar?