Jon Fitch Calls B.J. Penn a 'Coward,' Says He's Not Welcome at AKA

[VCURamFan]

From MMAFighting.com:

Aug 7, 2012 - Jon Fitch clearly still wants a rematch with B.J. Penn. And he doesn't want the future UFC Hall of Famer anywhere near the American Kickboxing Academy gym.

The veteran welterweight is scheduled to face up-and-coming star Erick Silva at UFC 153 in Brazil on Oct. 13, but the San Jose, Calif.-based fighter wants another crack at the former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, whom he fought to a majority draw in 2011.

On Tuesday, Fitch used a conference call designed to push AKA's new "Fight Factory" reality series on Nuvo TV to dog Penn, calling him a "coward."

"Here at AKA, we've got fighters who come out to fight, fighters who will face anyone and don't hide from any opponents. You've also got cowards out there like B.J. Penn who say they want to fight people, but then they run and hide."

Penn had his scheduled UFC 152 fight with Rory MacDonald postponed due to MacDonald's training cut. No decision has been made as to whether the Penn-MacDonald fight will be rescheduled for another date, or whether Penn will fight another foe.

At one point in his career, Penn trained with AKA, and last month, Penn indicated he'd like to train again in San Jose.

But Fitch clearly wants no part of such talk. Ask to clarify if he considered Penn a coward, Fitch said. "Yes. He's a coward. He wouldn't be welcomed here."

[rearnakedchoke]

looks like fitch wants to fight penn in toronto .. LOL

[County Mike]

I'm sure that breaks BJ's heart.

[adamt]

fitch said they would fight anyone anytime? aren't they the guys that refuse to fight each other?

[amills]

Jon Fitch says ... "wah, BJ Penn can't be in our tough guy club."

come on, BJ ASKED for a fight with McDonald. We don't see any AKA guys lining up to fight him now do we?

[PRShrek]

Is this Fitch’s way of calling out Machida? If he wants to count himself among ‘fighters who will face anyone’ he should remember that BJ practically invented that.

[VCURamFan]

Originally Posted by amills

Jon Fitch says ... "wah, BJ Penn can't be in our tough guy club."

come on, BJ ASKED for a fight with McDonald. We don't see any AKA guys lining up to fight him now do we?

In the interest of honesty in broadcasting (WTF did I just say? ), Rory called out BJ & BJ agreed to come out of retirement for the fight.

[JavierDLC]

I want to see Fitch beat BJ "Again" they should drop the Erik Silva fight and give him BJ.


WAR!!!!! FITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[VCURamFan]

Originally Posted by JavierDLC

I want to see Fitch beat BJ "Again" they should drop the Erik Silva fight and give him BJ.


WAR!!!!! FITCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry, I know you're not a BJ fan, but how can you claim that Fitch won that fight? No doubt, he whupped up in Rnd 3 & took a 10-8, but BJ clearly won the first two rounds. It was an obvious draw.

[JavierDLC]

Originally Posted by VCURamFan

I'm sorry, I know you're not a BJ fan, but how can you claim that Fitch won that fight? No doubt, he whupped up in Rnd 3 & took a 10-8, but BJ clearly won the first two rounds. It was an obvious draw.

Bj won the first round that's what I saw...

But then again I also saw Frankie slightly beating Bendo in the first fight.

So what do I know.