UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn's Saturday night win over top challenger Diego Sanchez was so convincing, so thorough, so utterly dominant, that Penn fans and MMA observers immediately began to question whether there is any challenge to "The Prodigy's" crown at 155 pounds.
UFC president Dana White says there is.
And while some – including Penn (15-5-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) – may be instantly eying a third fight with welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (19-2 MMA, 13-2 UFC), White said there's a few obstacles left in that path.
"Off the top of my head, there's probably a couple other guys here (in the lightweight division) that deserve a shot at B.J. before he took off," White said. "There's probably a couple more, and then I would consider him cleaning out his division."
White agreed that names like Gray Maynard (8-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) and Frankie Edgar (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) probably deserve a crack at the lightweight belt before he would allow Penn to take another shot at the welterweight division. And once there, White said St-Pierre's convincing win in the pair's January meeting at UFC 94 means Penn can't simply jump straight to the top of the welterweight division.
"I don't think he has (forgotten St-Pierre), and I think if he cleans out this division, I think he's probably going to want to go back to 170 and take a run at that again," White said. "And I think [Penn] is a different human being now than he was last time they fought.
"(But) he'd have to fight – you don't just abandon your title, move up to fight 170 (pounds) and fight 'GSP' with the way you lost to him last time. He'd have to fight a couple top contenders at 170, then maybe."
Despite not being willing to instantly sanction a match between his lightweight and welterweight champions, White admitted he was impressed with not only Penn's performance, but his preparation and attitude, as well.
"I said to [Penn] earlier today, without sounding goofy or condescending, I said, 'I'm so proud of you, man,'" White said. "It's unbelievable what he's done in the last year.
"I don't know if all you guys saw the 'Countdown' show, but wow. This kid has completely changed his life, and his training regimen is sicker than anybody's I've seen in the UFC. This kid's been coasting on talent for 10 years. Now he's doing the right thing. I'm proud of him."
As perhaps the best lightweight in MMA history, Penn has challenged himself throughout his career by fighting at a variety of weight classes, including heavyweight. But after perhaps the best performance of his already legendary career, Penn wasn't quite ready to declare his next goal.
"I have nothing to comment right now," Penn said. "I just want to enjoy tonight."
