BJ Penn ready for everything against GSP

By Eduardo Ferreira

Photo Josh Hedges

One of the greatest Muay Thai coaches in Brazil, who has already trained athletes like Rodrigo "Minotauro", Maurício "Shogun", Murilo "Ninja", Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, Paulo Filho, Rogério "Minotoro", Sérgio Cunha had a new challenge eight months ago: prepare BJ Penn, UFC lightweight champion, for his fights in the event. From Hawaii, Cunha spoke with TATAME.com about the athlete’s trainings and predicts a victory in the fight against George St. Pierre at UFC 94, his adaptation in Hawaii, Nogueira and Wanderlei’s losses at UFC 92, his relationship with BTT and Rousimar Palhares’ victory at UFC 93.

How did it appear the opportunity to train BJ Penn?

I was invited to train him and his whole team here in Hawaii through a great friend in common. The team has many great fighters and I'm helping him in his preparation for this fight (against Georges St. Pierre) for eight months.

After you got out of Curitiba, you went to train in Japan, returned to Brazil and now you’re in Hawaii. What is the difference between Japan and Hawaii?

It has no comparison, Hawaii is something else. The people are very nice, I made great friends here, peoples similar to the Brazilian in way of life, and communication is easier. The climate, the heat, beach and quality of life are similar to Brazil and that makes the difference. If you are tired and stressed, go to the beach and take a dip in the sea, get a sun, it gives a renewed. You always have a friend, a barbecue, is another thing, no comparison with Japan.

You trained Rousimar at BTT. What are you thinking of his work in the UFC?

"Toquinho” is on the track, gaining some international experience. That’s a new world for him, getting out of Brazil, get to know other countries, see different things... It always has a shock for any human being, a positive shock, and he’s very well, just fought with tough fighters and fought well. He fought with many experienced people, had no easy fight, that's the reality. I'm sure he’ll go far, he’ll be among the bests of the category very quickly. It’s a matter of time and of feeling good inside the octagon... When he feels comfortable, it becomes a routine, continue improving your game and feel complete, Toquinho will show who he is. He has already shown that he has heart and future.

He has a ground game as chief car. Do you think he still needs to work the striking part and a bit of anxiety?

I’m sure he’ll get a lot better. He’s very dedicated and talented, an athlete who has a desire to learn and learns fast, never miss training... He’s now with a better Boxing, kicks well, it’s only a matter of feeling comfortable and he’ll become a complete fighter. He has all the conditions to get the title, but he has to do more fights, get more experience.

How was BJ Penn’s preparation for this fight? What is the strategy?

These eight months of work were very good, with two training sessions daily. We’ve set up a plan for this fight, the strategy is to shorten the distance and neutralize St. Pierre, who kicks very well, has a strong game of poke. The priority is to fight stand, in short distance, boxing, knee and elbow. Of course, if he has a chance to knockout and do his game he’ll, but he’ll go after the knockout or submission all the time.

The fight will be five rounds. How is BJ’s gas for this fight?

Anything can happen in this fight. They’re two great fighters, the bests of the world, but this fight can have five rounds or not. BJ is ready for five rounds, physically very good, well trained and I believe that it’ll be a very complete fight. Here in the United States everybody talks about the style of both fighters, that GSP is a good Wrestler, considered the best in the UFC, and that BJ has a phenomenal ground, a very good Boxing and Kickboxing also... This fight won’t be stopped. For what I know from BJ, the athlete he is, they’ll take the fight and it may end up in the first or second rounds. I’m 100% BJ.

How is your relationship with BJ?

I’ve lived with the guy here for eight months, he’s a very nice, a wonderful human being, great athlete. He’s very dedicated for this fight, prepared himself and treats me as a Master... It’s different. It was very positive... Tiring, but it gives me much pleasure.

You’ve trained Wanderlei Silva for a long time in Chute Boxe. What do you think is missing in his game?

I think Wanderlei is doing the wrong thing. Wanderlei has to fight Muay Thai, he’s not a boxer, he has to do his Muay Thai, his origin, as he fought at the beginning of his career, dropping kick, knee, work on the clinch. He has a very good ground game, the ground and pound, he is very strong, has physical force, he has to use his skills. But the fundamental factor in that is that he must have a coach, a person who knows him, that has lived with him. It’s impossible for a person who trained with him for two or three months to be in his corner. He needs a coach who understands MMA. He must have a Wrestling coach, and Boxing, but he needs a head coach, a principal... I think that's his biggest flaw.

You also trained “Minotauro” Nogueira for many years in BTT. What did you think of his defeat at UFC 92?

Minotauro is that thing... I’ve already trained with him and know his qualities. He has to do his game. Everybody knows Minotauro’s game, he's the best fighter of Jiu-Jitsu fighter in MMA, he only has qualities. When I helped him in his preparing for his second fight against Josh Barnett, I passed a strategy to beat a lot the guy standing and don’t stop on the ground, don’t give any chances. He had a perfect job on striking, the strategy was drawn right for him, studying the opponent, a job that a coach has to do. Rodrigo has to use his stand up game, not only the Boxing, using the clinch and get it down. This is Minotauro’s game, he submits. Throw the punches on clinch, take the distance, get to the ground and submit. His game isn’t staying away trying to box, he has to shorten and put down. I’ve already trained him and know his game, has many qualities, he’s wonderful, but has to have a little peace and quiet before the fights. He has a very good heart and people look for him and he tries to help and ends up losing the focus of the fight, gets preoccupied with other things and ends not thinking about training, this ends disturbing his performance as an athlete.