• UFC 137

Penn says Diaz fight is true main event of UFC 137

BJ Penn has made a headline-grabbing claim ahead of UFC 137, insisting his war with Nick Diaz is a bigger fight than Georges St-Pierre's title defence against Carlos Condit.

Penn and Diaz will stand toe-to-toe on October 29 after Diaz was pulled from his initial title bout with St-Pierre due to missing multiple press conferences. As a result, St-Pierre takes on Condit, while Diaz forms a meeting of two of MMA's most popular characters with Penn.

Diaz comes across to the UFC as the Strikeforce welterweight champion, while Penn remains one of only two men - with Randy Couture - to have ever ruled two different UFC divisions. Both men boast world class striking and grappling skills, making for one of the fights of the year.

"He sets a fast pace, he throws a lot of punches, he hits hard, he hits to the body well, his grappling is pure jiu-jitsu style. He does a lot of things really well. I've got to do everything he can do, but do it harder, stronger, faster," Penn said.

"This is the main event, this is the big fight. This is Nick Diaz and BJ Penn. I'm there to take him out from the first round to the third round. I want to put on the performance of my life, I want to come out with my hand raised, and on October 29 I will defeat Nick Diaz."

Penn has previously claimed he was forced by the UFC to say he will beat Diaz in his pre-fight video, something the UFC strongly denies. However, Penn was certainly not forced to give an honest assessment of himself, saying he still has not reached his potential.

"I'm excited for this fight, I'm excited to take another step in the right direction. Everyone's goal is to get to the top, but to get to the top we're going to have to beat each other. There can only be one.

"I've never reached my peak, I've never reached my potential. I'm gonna fight until I get to that point."

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