Believe It!
Penn Confirms MMA Showdown with Ludwig for May 22nd K-1
By Loretta Hunt

BJ Penn Making a strong launch into the growing mixed martial arts market, it appears as if top-ranked kickboxing promotion, K-1, has scored a coup of sorts in booking one of America's most sought after lightweight fighters for its May 22nd card. Although the match-up will take place at 170 pounds, it's been unofficially announced that Duane Ludwig will be BJ Penn's first K-1 opponent as part of a non-exclusive two-fight contract he recently signed with the promotion. Just a few hours ago, FCF spoke with the current UFC welterweight champion in his native Hawaii to confirm the match-up and although the bout agreement has yet to be signed, a sober Penn relayed, "It's gonna happen." Penn said he got word of the proposed bout last night.

The news comes during a murky time for Penn regarding his relationship with the UFC promotion. "I don't really know what's going on," Penn vaguely comments when asked where he stands with America's top MMA promotion at this moment, but will divulge that he and his representation did go back into talks with Zuffa Sports Entertainment, the owners of the UFC, following an exclusive interview he did with FCF on May 18th. In that interview, Penn expressed Zuffa's resistance in allowing him to fulfill a lucrative deal with K-1 while still remaining a part of the UFC stable, even though Penn claims he had a verbal agreement with UFC president Dana White that he would renounce the welterweight title to move back down to the lightweight division to fight for a reinstated title there and be granted the flexibility to pursue other fights in the interim. Penn also stated in the interview that the term on his UFC contract had expired, and these current negotiations were an attempt to hash out an appropriate pay scale for a new three fight deal that came with his championship victory. Resisting comment on just what transpired at these meetings, Penn would only add this cryptic statement: "I don't know how they can strip the title without looking bad."

When asked if he had been stripped of the welterweight title, Penn stated, "I am still the UFC welterweight champion," before adding, "and the number one ranked lightweight in the world. I'm pretty sure I'm defending my title in September. As far as I know, my K-1 contract lets me fight in the UFC, so I'll probably be defending my title in the UFC." When asked who he'd like to meet, Penn seemed unhesitant in his answer. "I want to fight Pat Miletich. I want to defend my title versus the first champion, quite possibly the greatest champion of that time. Tito had Ken. Cabbage had Tank. Give me Pat. That's the fight I want next."

For now, Penn says his sights are set on May 22nd's K-1 event, which will host a mix of MMA and kickboxing bouts at the popular Saitama Super Arena in Japan. "I'm in no way looking about past Ludwig," the Hawaiian fighter remarks, even though Penn admits he had originally been looking for a Japanese counterpart to make his mark in front of his opponent's hometown crowd. Penn had done a bit of rallying to acquire Japanese K-1 and UFC star Genki Sudo as that candidate, but according to Penn, Sudo turned down the challenge a couple of weeks ago. "I just don't know if he is a true samurai," comments Penn of Sudo's supposed decision to pass. "I don't really know if he's a samurai like he claims. He knew I wanted to fight him from two months ago."

However, with Ludwig now onboard, a satisfied Penn claims he is ready to perform at his best. "At first I was [disappointed]," says Penn. "That's why I kept pushing for a Japanese fighter, but as soon as I got this fight, I was like, oh, I'm pumped. Ludwig's one of the top in the world, so it makes no difference to me. As far as the world standings go, as soon as people find out I beat Ludwig, it will be okay." Known for his stellar kickboxing skills, Colorado native Ludwig has been a participant in the highly-regarded K-1 Kickboxing Middleweight World Max Tournament, among other acknowledgements. Ludwig is 10-2 in MMA action, with his most recent wins over former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver at the January 2003 UCC 12 and Sudo at UFC 42 one year ago.

"This is gonna be typical stand-up fighter versus a typical ground fighter-- a world champion kickboxer versus a world champion jiu-jitsu player," comments Penn when queried on his potential line of attack. Penn is currently training in Hawaii for the bout with Nova Uniao teammate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt mentor Renato "Charuto" Verissimo. Penn has also enlisted the help of Joey Clark, a Minnesotan Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestler who has competed for the Marine Corp team for the last five years. Penn met Clark at the U.S. Olympic training center while in preparation for his UFC 45 fight against former champion Matt Hughes, and despite his recent woes with the UFC, says he is staying focused with his training partners to come in prepared for May 22nd. "I always have extra-curricular problems in my life," Penn laughs, "but it's better than just sitting down and thinking about the fight the whole time."
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