UFC

Moderator: Jennifer Wenk

01-10-08/12:00 p.m. CT

Confirmation # 2940918

Page 1

UFC

Moderator: Jennifer Wenk

January 10, 2008

12:00 p.m. CT

Operator: Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the UFC conference call. One note. Today’s call is being recorded.

At this time, I’d like to turn the conference over to our host today, Ms. Jennifer Wenk. Please go ahead.

Jennifer Wenk: Hi. Good morning everybody. Thanks for calling in today for (UFC 80 rapid fires) media conference call. We have Joe and B.J. on the line for you headlining the fight. And also have Dana White here standing by to host the call. So I'm going to introduce Dana and he’ll take the call from here.

Dana White: Good morning, guys. Obviously Joe Stephenson, B.J. Penn for the lightweight title. Our first time ever in New Castle, England. The fight is almost sold out. We’re excited.

Open it up to questions for B.J. and Joe.

Operator: Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, if you'd like to ask a question at this time, please press star one on your telephone. If you are using a speakerphone, we ask that you make sure your mute function is turned off to allow your signal to reach our equipment. Once again, it is star one please.

We’ll go first to Jose Rodriguez, with Sun Media.

Jose Rodriguez: Oh, hi. This is a question for B.J.. B.J., you were critical of Sean Sherk when he had the title and – after his drug tests. How important for you is it that – you know, does this determine the true championship, the true lightweight champ of the world, this particular fight?

B.J. Penn: Without a doubt this is the true lightweight championship of the world. If you – if you go in and you cheat and you do something, ((inaudible)) champ. And without a doubt this is the championship.

Jose Rodriguez: How important is it to you that the ((inaudible)) be seen as clean.

B.J. Penn: It’s everything, you know. We’re not hitting a bottle ((inaudible)) and we’re going out there and we’re fighting with each other and we’re greatest fighters in the world. And it’s all about the technique and heart, you know, and it’s about heart and soul. It ain't about running in the bathroom and taking – and taking enhancement drugs.

Jose Rodriguez: Now – sorry. Now, you've been in some pretty big fights in your life. Where do you rank this one?

B.J. Penn: Are you taking to me?

Jose Rodriguez: Yes.

B.J. Penn: This fight is huge. You know, Joe Stephenson’s a great opponent. He’s got so many weapons, so many tools that he brings into this fight. And, you know, this is – this is the most important fight of my life. I know people say it every single time. But without a doubt if I win this fight I’ll become the guy who has two titles in two divisions. And, you know, I'm already thinking about this fight all the time and this is so important to me I don't want anything else.

Jose Rodriguez: Good stuff. Well, thank you very much, B.J.. Same question for Joe. Joe, how important is this life – or, sorry, this fight in your career thus far?

Joe Stephenson: I only get my kids during the winter for like two weeks, and then I get them during the summer. And I sacrificed a week without them on top of the two weeks. I mean, I'm putting my heart and soul into this. B.J. is awesome. If I didn't give him everything I had I – I wouldn't be able to walk with my head high.

Jose Rodriguez: OK. Great. Thanks, guys. And I just have one quick question for Dana. Dan, is the ink dry on the Montreal deal?

Dana White: It is.

Jose Rodriguez: Awesome. Well, can’t wait to have you guys …

Dana White: ((inaudible)) Montreal.

Jose Rodriguez: Can wait to have you guys come out. And good luck, guys.

Dana White: Thank you very much.

Operator: And from Inside Fighting, Elias Cepeda.

Elias Cepeda: Yes. If it’s all right, I have a quick question, a follow-up for Dana.

Dana White: Yes.

Elias Cepeda: Thanks. Yes, Dana, what is it that you see in the European market that makes you think it can be such a profitable market. Is it something about the people, the available venue, the television situation over there?

Dana White: No. I don't think there’s anything about – profitable about the European market right now. We’re getting our ass kicked over there. But the bottom line is to grow this sport I'm always, you know, yapping about the boxing promoters and how they don't spend the money to build their sport and secure the future of the sport.

For this sport to grow, we need to move out into Europe. As far as the sport goes, I think that this sport is the most exciting combat sport in the sport. Once people are in introduced to it, they love it. And my vision is, I think that everything over the next, you know, think about this. When we first bought this company we had three options. In demand – pay per view, direct TV, and EchoStar were our three options. Everybody said there’s no way this thing was going to get on free television, et cetera, et cetera. Well, I think that everything’s going to be going Internet. Pretty soon we’re going to be watching television on the Internet. And, you know, that’s my thought. I might be wrong, hopefully I'm right. And that’s why we’re trying to push out and go global.

Elias Cepeda: What’s the connection there specifically with the Internet and the global, just because – I mean, why are you ((inaudible))

Dana White: I think we ((inaudible)) I think this is one of those sports – look at the NFL. Right? There’s nothing bigger in this country than there NFL. I don't care if you didn't watch one football all season. Everybody watches the Super Bowl. OK? They've been spending billions of dollars to try to break into Europe and they can’t do it. You know why? Because nobody gives a shit about football in Europe. They didn't grow up playing football, they don't know about it. I take two guys, put them in the Octagon, and they can use any martial art they want. It translates to all different cultural barriers, language barriers. People love fighting. It’s inside of us as it’s human beings. We’re born with it. People love fighting. And I think that this thing can be global, I think this can be the biggest sport in the world. I already know it’s the most exciting sport in the world. And, you know, we’ll see in the next five or six years if I'm right or wrong. If aim wrong we spent a shit-load of money, you know, in places we’ll never go again.

Elias Cepeda: What – you mentioned it’s been a little bit rough. Just a quick follow-up. What kinds of successes did you have with the shows in Europe in '07 that in some way confirms your belief in the potential of the market? Anything?

Dana White: My light at the end of the tunnel is when we go into these markets – like I’ll give you an example. We’re going into New Castle for the first time. And, you know, there’s like 700 tickets left. You know, this thing’s going to be sold out, 10,000 fans there, you know. And everywhere we’ve gone over in the U.K. we’ve sold out and done well over there. It’s just, you know, you have to have television. And the television market and pay per view market over there is completely different than it is here in the U.S. So, you know, I'm stomping through this thing until we can figure it out.

Elias Cepeda: Thank you.

Dana White: Thank you.

Operator: And from ESPN.com, Ben Cohen.

Ben Cohen: Hey, guys. This is a question for B.J.. B.J., what are some of the differences you feel physically when fighting at the lower weight?

B.J. Penn: Well, what differences do I feel physically did you ask?

Ben Cohen: Yes.

B.J. Penn: You know, I don't really know. I feel like – I feel like I'm at a 170 pounds still. I mean, I'm leaner, I'm fast, I'm quick. But it’s just depends on the kind of shape I get in. No matter what weight I'm at I just feel, you know, when I'm in shape I can jump higher, I can run faster, I can jump farther, and I can punch harder and do all these things. So, I mean, as far as – it’s the bottom line. You know, in this sport you better get in shape or you're not going to be around.

Ben Cohen: B.J., there’s no doubt that you're one of the most talented fighters to have ever fought in ((inaudible)). But do you feel your legacy’s been hurt by inconsistency?

B.J. Penn: You know, I’ve never regretted a thing that I’ve ever done before. But I'm here and I'm here to – and Dana’s given me this opportunity to come back and to fight ((inaudible)) division and see how I do and then take it from there. ((inaudible)) looking passed Joe Stephenson, I'm not looking passed the 19th. But I feel like I gotta – I gotta new chance at my career and I'm going to – I'm going to try my best to make everything happen.

Dana White: Me and B.J. have talked about his legacy and everything else. And, you know, I gotta be honest with you. I saw B.J. probably, I don't know, four months ago in Hawaii. And, you know, his legacy is very important to him. Like you said, him being one of the most talented guys ever and not having lived up to that potential. He is – he was in great shape when I saw him four months ago. He’s almost on weight now. He’s the most focused I’ve ever seen him, and his family says the same thing.

Ben Cohen: B.J., how important is it to you to look good in this fight as opposed to getting the win? I mean, how important is it to you to really make an impression?

B.J. Penn: You know, well, the thing is, you know, I'm going up against a great opponent when I'm going out there. I mean, nobody wants to see me win a five-found decision, you know. I'm going out there and I'm going to out there to win the fight and finish this fight. And that’s what I gotta do. People are paying money to watch me and Joe Stephenson fight five rounds and jab each other to death. No one wants to see that. This is the ultimate fighting championship. Somebody wants to see somebody go down, and that’s what this is going to be in January 19.

Ben Cohen: What does the Victory mean for you?

B.J. Penn: The victory? It’s everything for me. I mean, I'm already – I'm on day days out and I woke up this morning and the first thing that came to my head was the fight. I've, you know, I know I fought big name opponents. I fought ((inaudible)), I fought (Hughes), I fought all these people. You know, this fight is everything. And, you know, it’s just – words cannot explain where I am right now in my head. And I know what has to be done. And this is just so important. And the word legacy keeps being brought up. I don't want to say that word too much times. You know, people keep saying that word. But, you know, legacy or not, I gotta go out and I gotta become the lightweight champion on January 19.

Ben Cohen: Great. Thanks very much, B.J.. Just a quick question for Dana. Dana, there’s a lot of talk about the UFC doing a big show with Michael (Brisping) on ((inaudible)) Liverpool March 8. That’s only eight weeks away. Can you confirm that?

Dana White: We’re still working on it right now, actually. I should have an answer to that question in a couple days. We’re still trying to figure out what we’re doing in March. We’re working on that now.

Ben Cohen: OK. ((inaudible))

Dana White: Sorry I don't have an answer for you right now.

Ben Cohen: OK. Thank you very much.

Dana White: Thank you.

Operator: Once again, ladies and gentlemen, star one please if you have a question today and Franklin McNeil from the Newark Star Ledger. Please go ahead.

Franklin McNeil: Hi, guys. How you doing?

Dana White: ((inaudible))

Franklin McNeil: My first question is for you, B.J.. Obviously the last couple years you, you know, you've had to deal with some personal matters and what have you. But what is it that has – and I think – my opinion is that obviously those – you took those issues into your fights with (St. Pierre) and Matt Hughes. But you seemed to really turn things around against Jens Pulver. There’s been a lot of talk about your legacy, all that. But what is it that has helped you to re-focus and to really get back on track?

B.J. Penn: You want to know the real reason why I'm this serious? The reason why I'm this serious is because Dana White (led) – took the UFC, made it as big as it is now. And I realize what’s at stake now and I know there’s no playing games. Before when I was fighting back when I was 22 years old, the UFC was nothing. It was small stuff. Dana White took the UFC, turned it into what it is today and that’s why I'm so pumped. And I know this is – this is a serious sport, this is a huge thing. And I want to be involved. And like they said, legacy, ((inaudible)) I'm obsessed with my place in history no matter what it might be. You know what I mean? I want to be a part of this UFC and I want to be one of the great champions.

Franklin McNeil: Another question for you is I believe this fight will be won on the ground. I really believe that. And I want to know from you why do you think that will be an advantage if the fight goes to the ground? Why will that be an advantage for you?

B.J. Penn: You talking to me or Joe?

Franklin McNeil: Actually B.J. first and then I want Joe to respond. Same question.

B.J. Penn: You know, the ground is my whole life. You know, when I talk about the ground or jujitsu and grappling, you know, I mean for me you're not just talking about a couple of specific moves. You're talking about a life style; you're talking about the way that I live. And, you know, that’s all I do is eat, breathe and sleep jujitsu and this and that. And every moment I feel like I can just do it with my eyes closed. You know? And, you know, but Joe’s a great guy, he’s got great ((inaudible)) and all these other things that come with him. But I'm coming in, you know, I feel I can just do all these things flawless. And, you know, and that’s what I bring to the table.