BJ Penn: Manny Pacquiao is my kind of fighter ... I'm a fan of his

Count former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn among the legions of fight fans who are down with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

"The Prodigy," who is in the Philippines on a promotional tour for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), told ABS-CBN News that "Pac-Man" is an "exciting fighter" who "tries to go for the finish:"

"Pacquiao, he's my kind of fighter, I'm a fan of his. I like his style. He tries to go for the finish. I would like to see Pacquiao win because I know if Pacquiao wins, it's gonna be an exciting victory. Boxing is part of MMA. You need to be able to know how to fight MMA. Boxing is huge, and it all blends in somehow with ultimate fighting."

Of course no conversation about Pacquiao would be complete without the inclusion of pugilistic nemesis Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who continues to bash the Filipino for "not being on his level."

From Fight Hype:

"I made more money in my last 2 fights than (Pacquiao) made in his whole career. How can you even say a guy like this is on my level? I'm telling you now that I'm the best that ever did it, even without the Pacquiao fight. Like I said before, I'm extraordinary. I make every fighter look ordinary. May 5th is the date. Sign the contract, I'm waiting. You said you're a clean fighter... May 5th, I'm ready. I can sign today. But if I sign today, you better sign tomorrow."

Pacquiao, who is considered by many combat sports fans and journalists to be the pound-for-pound king of the "sweet science," fought Juan Manuel Marquez to a controversial majority decision win earlier this month in Las Vegas.

Some have even argued that he lost.

Mayweather is coming off his own controversial victory, a knockout win over Victor Ortiz in September, and refuses to fight Pacquiao if the Filipino phenom doesn't agree to undergo random blood and urine tests.

If they ever do fight, at least we know who B.J. Penn will be cheering for.