Last week’s premier episode of UFC Primetime was a welcomed change of pace from the typical UFC Countdown show, taking a deeper look inside the lives of Georges St. Pierre and BJ Penn than we’ve ever seen before. However, for those of who follow the sport closely, the last few minutes reeked of a scripted storyline playing off BJ’s past reputation of not taking fights seriously. It was enough to upset his trainer Rudy Valentino, and as MMA Junkie is reporting today, perhaps it was enough to upset BJ Penn too, apparently to the point where he cut the taping short and no longer wants to be involved.
A source close to the show on Tuesday told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) B.J. Penn recently shut down a taping and interview session for the series and no longer wants involved in the project.
Penn was apparently unhappy with how he was portrayed in last week’s debut of the series, which hypes a Jan. 31 UFC 94 main event fight between the Hawaiian fighter and UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
The report didn’t specifically mention that BJ was unhappy with the implication that he was taking time off from training to go on vacation with his girlfriend, but I really can’t think of anything else he would be upset about. They’re obviously trying to make him the villain in the story, but that’s not something BJ has exactly shied away from before.
Considering how stressful it is to produce this show when everything is going according to plan, I can only imagine how much hair Dana would be pulling out today if he had any. It will be very interesting to see tonight if they stick with the vacation storyline or move in a different direction.
[UPDATE 1/21/09 6:15PM ET] – It looks like cooler heads will prevail. Here’s BJ telling Tapout Radio what’s going on:
“I really didn’t like how I was portrayed in the first episode. It was ridiculous, actually. I told them that if you keep doing this these cameras aren’t going to come around anymore so you guys better straighten up your act…. It’s just really funny how they try to portray everything like I was a spoiled slacker and a liar [growing up], but whatever … what can you do. All you can do is kick the cameras out. They got kicked out for awhile, but they are trying to make amends.”
Props to MMA Mania for the quote.
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I think its a bit of short notice to re-edit tonight’s episode. I can’t say that I necessarily blame BJ for getting upset, but he put himself in that position by skipping out and taking the vacation, as well as by not answering the phone when Dana called.
Dana said they take footage as recent as the day before and literally don’t finish editing it until a couple hours before it airs.
Honestly, I seriously doubt he was going on “vacation.” It’s the biggest fight of his career and he knows it. How do we know he didn’t go to Kona, or wherever it was just for a day to recharge?
The impression I got at least is that it was scripted and edited to make it look like BJ isn’t taking the fight seriously. Maybe I’m wrong, but not sure why else he would be so pissed.
Adam Swift has an interesting take on the situation too.
Thanks for the link. He could have a point.
no prob, I saw a few others saying the same thing on other sites. I honestly didn’t even think of it, but I wouldn’t put it past them. Who knows, it really doesn’t matter. This is going to be a great fight no matter what happens outside the cage.
Yeah, for sure I didn’t think about that until reading it.
i cant say that i think it made bj look bad at all, he looked laid back and very confident in himself asever, just cos gsp seem to do nothing but train, he went out clubbing at night aswell, but i think bj should just have picked up the phone and not lied bout where he was, his own fault if been made to look a certain way not the ufc’s. but as i say i didnt think anything of it till this came out.
Agreed. I think the most damning thing was that BJ didn’t answer the phone when Dana called, and then his brother lying to Dana. I don’t necessarily have a problem with him taking some time off.
So, I just watched the Primetime from tonight, it looks like they got their grievances settled, did a re-edit and BJs back on board. I’m so hyped up for this fight…but I still have to wait a week and a half.
I did, however, find it a bit odd that Cerrone, who is fighting Sunday was helping Georges train for his fight a week later. I guess we know who the more important fighter on that team is.
The latest Primetime was SO boring, and didn’t pick up where the trailers last week left off. Obviously Penn got the whole thing re-edited.. what a prima-donna whiner. I can’t wait to see him lose.
That’s right BJ . The the media has placed an image of you that would piss any of us off. The damage is done. So many people now believe it and there to stupid to research it for them selves. The media sickens me ! No moral integrity. That’s how we got Obama !