Paul Kelly: I’d find it really hard to fight BJ
Paul Kelly feels that it would be a nightmare for him if he ever had to step inside the same Octagon as BJ Penn. As per him, he says that the reason behind such confession is that the former UFC lightweight champion is someone he respects a lot.
Building a 10-2 record ahead of the clash with the gritty Jacob Volkmann at UFC on Versus on August 1, Kelly is currently climbing the 155lb ladder. Building on the recent impressive submission stoppage of Matt Veach, victory would be the Liverpudlian’s fourth in five fights.
For the lightweight title at UFC 118, Penn set to rematch Frankie Edgar, Kelly fully anticipates that “The Prodigy” will soon by a three-time UFC lightweight champion. In the way of Kelly’s own championship dreams, the Hawaiian is once again a hurdle.
In addition, to view Penn as an enemy, the combative Brit admits that it would be a difficult task for him.
Kelly said, “I’d find it really hard to fight BJ. He’s the one guy I’d find really difficult to fight from a respect level. I’m still pretty young and I’m learning my lessons and getting better, and hopefully one day I can get a title shot. But if it’s against BJ, I’d find that really difficult. I need my opponents to be my enemies. I don’t touch gloves with any of my opponents, and if I fought BJ that would have to stay the same, but it wouldn’t be out of disrespect.”
He added, “He and Anderson Silva are so technically gifted, but the difference is that BJ would never do what Anderson did against Demian Maia.”
