UFC Quick Quote: Dana White says BJ Penn to remain at 155 despite 'Grease Gate' controversy

"Do I think that [Georges St. Pierre] got greased? Yeah, I do. Absolutely, 100 percent, I think that that guy was rubbing grease on him. Do I think Georges was trying to cheat? Absolutely not at all. But that cornerman was rubbing grease on him. You cannot do that.... You put another fighter at a huge disadvantage, which is very dangerous. He didn't have to put grease on him.... Georges St. Pierre was winning the fight, he was dominant in the standup and on the ground. To have a fight or a fighter like St. Pierre tainted over a stupidity, I hate it. It sucks. Size matters in this sport. It didn't a few years ago. It does now."
-- UFC President Dana White vents to the Canadian Press (via TSN.com) about the cloud of controvery that has enveloped the main event at UFC 94: "St. Pierre vs. Penn 2." He is clearly very upset about the "greasing" incident that took place inside the Octagon, which has perhaps tarnished the dominant performance that the Canadian turned in against the lightweight champion. In fact, White compares it to the recent illegal wraps discovered on the hands of boxer Antonio Margarito prior to his recent fight against Miguel Cotto. Regardless, White does not seem to think a third fight between St. Pierre and Penn is necessary. He indicated that Penn will remain in the 155-pound class.
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59 comments
Comments
Yeah really? Wasn’t it BJ Penn who said that having a black belt in BJJ would give him the advantage regardless of weight class? Isn’t that the main reason he got involved in BJJ?
by mma_dad on Feb 20, 2009 10:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That is if you are fighting someone NOT good a BJJ.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 20, 2009 11:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
.GSP is a BJJ practioner (black belt), he knows how to get out of subs, pass guard, etc. He is a true Mixed Martial Artist.
If BJ was fighting a big 200 lbs guy who had no BJJ skills or knowledge, he would be better off than fighting Georges.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 20, 2009 11:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
its hard to have that advantage of bjj when you’re rolling with someone rubbed with vaseline…. just pointing out the obvious since thats the trend..
by jack_stand808 on Feb 21, 2009 12:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They wiped it off! Quit with the lame excuses, The outcome would have been the same. Dana said it too GSP was dominating the fight. BJ fans are a cookie cutter of himself, a bunch of excuse making whiners
by Derek on Feb 21, 2009 6:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
GIve me a break Derek! I am as big of a BJ Penn as there is, and I make no excuses for Penns loss! GSP was clearly the better welterweight, and would have won the fight regardless….but to sweep this under the rug is not the right thing to do.
JOhn McCarthy gave an interview this week saying that greasing has been a serious problem in mma for a long time now. At least a high profile fight like this one, shed some light on the greasing problem and it will diminish the # of fighters who do this in the future!
I dont blame GSP, but his corner man should be Banned for LIFE!!!
Something must be done about the greasing!
by john on Feb 21, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dead on John. You have to remove yourself from the fan’s prespective, and look at it from an objective viewpoint.
It does MMA a huge disservice to continue to simply say that it would not have mattered.
That same argument is made for steroids. I think Dana has this one exactly right. GSP was not intentionally cheating, and was dominating without it, but that is not the point. If it continues, it will eventually have an effect on one fight sooner or later, and one fight is one too many.
by Jrandolph on Feb 21, 2009 5:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Face it BJ got pounded by St.Pierre and greasing whether it happened or not wouldn’t have made any difference in the fight at all, and the fact that BJ is still on going with this discussion shows just how pathetic of a loser, and even worse of a champion he really is. Go back to his weight class, loose your next fight, give up your belt like you should, and get the hell out of UFC, you are a disgrace to all the fighters in the UFC and a disgrace to any fan that watches you fight. Further more i live to hear any complain someone has for my comment. Just try me, because if you defend BJ for even a second, your no better of a human being than he is.
by Justin on Feb 25, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
In BJJ yes….there are plenty of “smaller” guys winning the Absolute division in world BJJ competitions…see Marcelo Garcia..
That’s BJJ though. In a straight BJJ match with a GI, I think BJ Penn would rape GSP. I don’t even see it as a contest. But when you add GnP, wrestling, takedowns, kicks, punches, and slipperyness of MMA – GSP and his size matters more.
Don’t forget, GSP is also a BJJ black belt…not at the same rank of Penn…but he’s no BJJ newbie.
by TabascoSAUCE on Feb 20, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Size and strength have always mattered in a fight, but not as much as skill. A skilled fighter should always be expected to handle an unskilled fighter of just about any size. That being said, if the skill level is equal or close, and the other guy is bigger and stronger, then the smaller guy is about to get killed. Even if the fighter is really skilled, but just too small, then he is still gonna be in trouble. Miguel Torres may be one of the best p4p fighters around right now, but if you put him in against Brock Lesnar, then you might as well order a coffin for Torres.
by naturalshadow on Feb 21, 2009 4:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
GSP is a BJJ practioner (black belt), he knows how to get out of subs, pass guard, etc. He is a true Mixed Martial Artist.
If BJ was fighting a big 200 lbs guy who had no BJJ skills or knowledge, he would be better off than fighting Georges.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 20, 2009 11:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
bj was a blackbelt before most people knew what brazilian ji-jit su was. now that almost everyone studies it, bj isnt the only submission king.
by Jared on Feb 21, 2009 8:05 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah- he said jiu jitsu was the martial art where a smaller man could submit a bigger man. Kinda like how Royce Gracie did when he first came out.
by Kdog on Feb 21, 2009 4:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He got greased but wasn’t cheating it was his corner that was cheating? That’s one of the more retarded comments i’ve heard from Dana. And a big claim against probly the best MMA team today. Seriously, does he even realize the way that the press/media is gonna try to misquote him?
by NameNotRequired on Feb 20, 2009 10:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The comment is pretty clear.
Georges didn’t do it. His cornerman did. Yes they will misquote. He made the quote to appease both fighters.
He threw both a bone.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 20, 2009 11:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Words may not have been perfect, but it’s my sentiment exactly. I’m happy rules are going into effect to prevent this stuff, but BJ was already catching a beating so I don’t give a shit about the incident as it pertains to this fight.
And just to piss some folks off: I think GSP would beat BJ in a BJJ competition. He may not have the breadth of BJ’s arsenal, but when you can pass a guys guard at will that gives a dsitinct advantage in my book.
by Punch You in the Ovaries on Feb 21, 2009 1:15 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
sherk vs sanchez for no.1 contender at 100 once daddy is dealt with
by markg on Feb 20, 2009 10:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I rather see Sanchez vs penn if Sanchez blows away Joe and if Penn beats Kenny….Sherk vs Penn 2 is not something I want to see.
by Robert(1) on Feb 21, 2009 11:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sherk will whoop diego then bj will beat sherk in a boring fight again amor de rey
by king criminales amor de rey on Feb 20, 2009 10:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
enough stupid amor de rey sh*t u guys sound so stupid!!
by NM on Feb 20, 2009 10:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No shit. Dude is probably throwin up gang signs while he says it too! Enough already.
by allamerican on Feb 21, 2009 8:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How can you say that the Penn/Sherk fight was boring? Maybe you should just stick to throwin up flags, gangsta.
by allamerican on Feb 21, 2009 8:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL! this is a huge controversy. This is the FIRST time the president of the UFC has made a comment.
It is funny how people keep saying “will this end?!”
1. 1st video summary of the whole event on BJ’s site.
response, “will this end!?”
2. 1st comment made by Dana White on the most controversial rule changing fight in the UFC since he has been managing.
response, “will this end?”
THOUGHTS: why not say, will this end when it isn’t the first time someone has commented on it. Why not wait til say the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 20, 2009 11:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hesitate to ask a question when I, too, want this to end, but- does anyone know if Fitch or Koscheck have claimed Georges felt greasy? If anyone would know, it would have been them….especially the Koscheck fight.
Just curious, because I have already long questioned the character of Hughes, Penn, Serra, etc.
by justagirl on Feb 20, 2009 10:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sherk & Serra said something about GSP being slippery. I’m guessing GSP & Huerta use lotion earlier in the day and when fighting they become slippery… simple as that.
by DAVE A on Feb 20, 2009 11:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
In a recent interview Koscheck was asked if GSP felt greasy and he said NO.
by stevo on Feb 20, 2009 11:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Another reason to like Kos. One day I may actually cross into slightly liking him.
by Punch You in the Ovaries on Feb 21, 2009 1:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, it’s kinds funny huh?
Along with his steadily improving game, and his willingness to fight on short notice for the ‘For the Troops’ thing (Plus that gnarly knockout) has got me actually starting to like him…weird.
by Teep on Feb 21, 2009 1:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hear you – used to hate KOS with a passion but now I actually like the guy. It would be awesome to see him go down to 155 but he is just too big. Nobody else is a workhorse like this guy in the UFC.
by deadgrassinyard on Feb 21, 2009 7:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I just watched Penn vs GSP 2….and yes he was greased and even wiping it off doesn’t really take it off…but GSP would have still won but you can’t hide the fact that Sherk said it right after the fight…that says something.
by Robert(1) on Feb 21, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i think that’s bullshit. they both deserve a rematch simply because this gives bj carte blanche to perpetually shit on st. pierre and even though bj looked like total shit in the fight, i want to see them fight again so there is NO question that bj doesn’t hold a candle to st. pierre as a mixed martial artist.
by Phil Baloni on Feb 20, 2009 10:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Dana does not want a rematch because he does not want everyone to see his LW champ get beat down again. He knows 155 is where BJ should stay.
by stevo on Feb 20, 2009 11:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well, it is GSP’s corner’s fault that BJ has an excuse.
That guy cheated plain and simple. I said this post fight and everyone was saying how BJ was whining. People need to take 10 seconds and look from BJ’s point of view. He lost a huge fight, he has an ego, and someone cheated. There is NO way any fighter with an ego could sit and just take that loss when there is evidence of cheating.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 20, 2009 11:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fine, retards, let BJ fight GSP again, but let it be free on spike because it’s gonna be a rerun. I really can’t wait to see what BJ’s excuse will be the next time around.
by Spitforce on Feb 20, 2009 11:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
He’d come up with some excuse. I don’t want GSP to waste another fight on Bj when the division is stacked and A Silva only has a few fights before retirement.
by pug on Feb 20, 2009 11:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No one wants to see it.
1. BJ’s fans don’t out of fear that he will be destroyed again without an excuse
2. Georges fans don’t really because it probably won’t be a good rematch (Unless they have vengeance in mind and want to beat BJ just to say, “I told you so”)
No one really wants to see this fight again.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 21, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No one? I do. I’d love to see it again with zero controversy so that BJ can’t p-ss and moan the rest of his career. You’re right, I suppose that is a vengeful wish. It’s not that I want to see BJ get hurt, I just want him to shut up.
by justagirl on Feb 21, 2009 12:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Word justagirl.
Maybe if and when he loses at lightweight he’ll shut his yap. It would be kinda hard to b*tch about it so much if he got beaten by KF of DS. PLUS Dana might be more willing to put it together…..
On the other hand I’d really hate to make any of the guys at WW that REALY deserve it wait any more.
Unfortunately the only way this fight happens is if both BJ and GSP lose their titles.
by Teep on Feb 21, 2009 1:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think many people are denying that GSP is the better guy. He is too strong/athletic for BJ. I agree with Dana, size does matter.
I love both fighters though. Both are great Champions.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 20, 2009 11:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If what happened was so bad, why hasn’t there been any sanctions? Where is the NSAC verdict? Maybe they’re hiding in shame, like BJ.
by ftg314 on Feb 20, 2009 11:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
No no, they are still investigating. Government bodies like that do not make decisions quickly. They have boards and members that vote on things, and they have to have hearings where everything is presented and looked over.
Just like getting a license from the DMV, it could go so much faster but never does.
by Bennie Blanco from the Bronx on Feb 21, 2009 12:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL ftg314 The NSAC are to blame for this whole thing!!!! Its THERE job to make sure something like this doesn’t happen LOL. St.pierres cornerman tryed to cheat or is a moron but thats why there supposed to have the NSAC there to make sure nothing illegal is going on and they failed. The NSAC offical should be fired and phil nurse shouldn’t be allowed in the octagon with st.pierre ever again.
by raff on Feb 21, 2009 2:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Grease, shmease. The little punk BJ got his ass AND smartass mouth handed to him. He knows it. So, he’ll talk smack on it but never fight GSP again.
by TJ on Feb 21, 2009 3:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Dana just gave him ammo as well, coming out and saying BJ will stay at 155!!! Now he can say I want to fight again (which we all know he doesnt) but never will. I agree TJ he will always talk shit about it but he will never fight him again. I used to have alot of respect for BJ’s game and would get excited to watch him, he easily couldve been in my top 3 guys to watch. Since the begining of the hype surrounding this fight until today I now hate BJ Penn even more than Tito Ortiz at least Tito could admitt when he lost.
by Spyder on Feb 21, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I thinks this really sucks for GSP. We all now that grease or no grease GSP is in a class of his own. He beat BJ twice, the second fight was basically just a continuation of there first fight the beating just went on for another 4 rounds. BJ will never just admitt to getting beat he never does even though he has. I think another fight to see who is the best fighter is pointless because we all know who is. That said I do think GSP needs to beat BJ up once more just to make his win legit in the minds of all the haters out there that are blind and actually think it made a differance. As much as people say GSPs win is tainted, I think BJ will always be known as an eresponsible disrespectful little whiney punk that will never be put in the same sentence as the true greats like Gracie, Couture, GSP, Silva, Lidell and so on. These guys dont whine when they lose and I think that is a major part of being known as one of the greats.
by Spyder on Feb 21, 2009 10:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
All this grease crap is getting old this fight is going in the record books as a GSP win and a BJ loss end of story. On a positive note this will change some of the rules for the better in between rounds and before the fight. I wish we could see a number three between these two but I know MMA fan’s,fighters and offficials besides the BJ Penn fan’s that the grease had nothing to with the outcome and the third fight will have the same results if not worse for BJ. Hughes hates GSP, He was Serra’s biggest fan when GSP fought him both times. Hughes would loved to fought Serra for the title because he would have a chance to win but not GSP. Alves will be GSP’s toughest challenge to date and I can’t wait to see this battle and I’m glad we all don’t have too watch a third fight that we know the outcome too. As Adam G say’s
CRY BJ!!!
by Beaver on Feb 21, 2009 8:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wiping vaseline off with a towel doesn’t do anything when it’s in your pores. It just comes back out when you sweat. If you haven’t actually tried grappling and you’re claiming that greasing wouldn’t have affected BJ’s high guard and that it wouldn’t have given GSP an advantage in passing BJ’s guard, then you really do not know what you’re talking about.
When the president of the UFC says that it happened and that it gave an unfair advantage, it happened. It isn’t something that can be written off with a “stop crying, BJ”.
by johnadnauseam on Feb 21, 2009 5:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
yea it definately provided GSP with a grappling advantage, anyone who knows anything about grappling can tell you that
by ja434650 on Feb 21, 2009 10:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve wrestled for ten years and trust me the vasoline was not..I repeat not a factor in this fight. If you actually watch the amount of vasoline put on both their faces had more of a factor on the vasoline getting put on by hand. Both faces of the fightrs contacted the others body and if you noticed when GSP went for a takedown he was slipping off BJ’s body and had to hold on to BJs shorts. when his face was in BJs chest all the vasoline put on his face rubbed off on BJs chest then gsps shoulders touched BJ chest, now GSP’s shoulders have vasoline on them! BJs back legs contacted GSPs face and shoulders when they were wresling on the ground making BJs legs slppery now……get were I’m going. If vasoline gets on any part of either fighters body they bothbecome slippery, NSAC has to put the vasoline on each fighters face because the amount of put on their face was 20 times more than needed. And when you wrestle it’s going to get eventually every were on both guy’s. The vasoline that contacted GSP by Jackson had no factor because the vasoline had already contacted his back from BJs face and chest that contacted GSPs face. The fact BJ said nothing between rounds is because this is normal for every fight he has been in, but because he has an excuse he’s the kind of guy that will jump on it and run with it. There’s a reason we won’t see number 3 and that’s because the outcome will end the same or worse for BJ and Dana likes BJ. By next year this will be out of eveybodyys mind and on GSPs record it will still equal a win, 10 years from now it still will….forever this fight will be a GSP victory and a BJ loss Deal with it. CRY PENN!!!
by Ringer on Feb 22, 2009 3:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Excellent post Ringer, I agree 100%. Probably won’t convince many, but it’s the truth. It always bugged me that the corner man could apply vas to his own fighter (usually to much). The people calling GSP a cheater don’t realize this is actually a good thing, because now an unbiased cut man will be the only one applying the vas.
by Gord on Feb 22, 2009 4:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
OK, then you must realize that ALL that vas that they KEEP puting on their faces every round, gets smeared all over their bodies. Where does all that vas go and it DOESN’T get wiped off,except in GSP’s case it did, along with his sweat and what ever tiny bit that Nurse put on him.Go watch the 2nd Hughes-GSP fight and notice that HUGE gob of vas on GSP’s eyebrow, that Jackson was trying to tell the ref to wipe off. It obviously got smeared all over both of them and it was WAY more than what was left on Nurses Hands. A lot of vas is slipperier than sweat, but a lot of sweat is way slipperier than what ever TINY bit that was left after that tiny bit was wiped off. It may not have been right what Nurse did, but ultimately GSP was DRIER and LESS slippery than he would have been covered in his sweat that the commission wiped off every round. BJ even said himself, that he was on queer street in the second round from eating that huge haymaker and he didn’t even remember the 3rd and 4th rounds. BJ lost because GSP is the better fighter and vas had nothing to do with it. I’m all for a rematch to prove that is the case. Dana says alot of crap and sometimes you have to read between the lines. Do you actually think Dana thinks the fight was unfair, yet he won’t set up a rematch? I think it’s more about him not wanting to lose BJ so he is throwing him a bone so he doesn’t retire.
I don’t get it when you guys think GSP cheated and it affected the outcome, yet you don’t seem to have a problem with Dana not giving BJ a rematch. It wasn’t a fair fight before it started and it won’t be a fair fight if they fight 10 more times. BJ is simply out classed and to small for GSP.
by Gord on Feb 22, 2009 4:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
greasing is dangerous, it must be dealt with, and this is the perfect example
by ja434650 on Feb 21, 2009 10:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
GSP is Dangerous,BJ for your safty stay away from him, this fight is the perfect example
by Ringer on Feb 22, 2009 3:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

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