Media Throwback: That time BJ Penn cuts Andy Wang from his team

[drblackula]

Saw Jens Pulver on Streetbeefs lately, he just drove in to ref because he liked it.

He still looks good, no CTE and in shape.

That's a dude I think we can all agree was a good guy and want him to have a pretty chill life.

 

[Yep]

1. Put Jens in hof already
2. BJ Penn foreshadowed the convos him and Marinovich must’ve had
3. Jens was too nice

 

[COBRA03]

Funny, I can't remember the last time BJ won a fight. He even lost the street fight I saw him in!

 

[jitzmonkey]

I did several years back. Always good to see old beefs get squashed and even see a friendship develop on top of it. It's even cooler cause it's BJ Penn of all people. He even became friendlier with Matt Hughes and Frankie Edgar. I think the only person he's never apologized to was GSP but he's definitely mellowed out.

It's tough when GSP is widely considered to be the GOAT; and BJ believed that he was robbed (bare with me here) twice.
1. Doing significantly more damage in their first fight but losing because MMA scoring sucks (and yes, if scoring was different, then the approach of the fighters would be different, so maybe GSP fights differently, too.)
2. With GSP's corner rubbing Vaseline on his body (in their second fight) making it impossible for Penn to use this high guard attacks from the bottom with any sort of effectiveness.

Unfortunately for his legacy, those two points have become overshadowed by his personal life (how he trains, conducts himself, etc...)

 

[jitzmonkey]

Funny, I can't remember the last time BJ won a fight. He even lost the street fight I saw him in!

Cocaine (was it?) is a hell of a drug.

 

[KID Yamamoto]

Jens is really a genuine good guy in this show. It's admirable

Everyone on Jens team seemed to love him. Amazing dude

 

[beater81]

I liked Jens attitude on the show, he didn't take the bullshit personally and was genuinely there for his team. It's a shame the man doesn't get the credit he deserves by being in the UFC hall of fame.

 

[Feardafighta1126]

Years later Andy Wang got his revenge. He caught up BJ on the streets:

That was a good hook, he must’ve traned before

 

[Superior]

Andy Wang.. that guy’s a warrior.

 

[LilNicky95]

Still funny to this day.

This was the beginning of Penn’a decline because Wang is a warrior and Penn lost his warrior spirit by booting the Wang.

 

[LilNicky95]

Andy Wang.. that guy’s a warrior.

No doubt.







Wang vs Khabib would have been bananas.

 

[Volador]

Damn, I just found a huge article on Andy Wang from 2019 :

https://theathletic.com/1222251/2019/09/18/andy-wang-is-more-than-a-meme/

Cliffs:

- He's now 43 and has a kid.
- Andy Wang is a teacher with degrees in political science and history, and went back to teaching high schoolers after TUF.
- Mac Danzig credits Andy for talking him into doing TUF.
- Moved to China 7 years ago and still lives there.
- Teaches high schoolers in China, still does bjj competitions and occasionally refs MMA fights.

Quotes from 2019:

“I don’t feel bad about overreacting; I feel bad about doing it publicly,” he said. “Truth is, if you’ve accomplished something significant — like winning a title — then tears make sense. I did not get anywhere close to that. I should have gone back to the house and kept my emotions and mouth closed.”

“Of course, it’s no fun to take criticism,” Wang said, “especially if it is something you love to do. (But) I was right back to teaching high school, so that kept me busy and away from spending too much time on the negative comments. It stings to get random messages that are super critical, but looking back on it now … the UFC gave me another opportunity to redeem myself against Cole Miller, and I didn’t come through, so I have to be able to take (the) flak.”

“I’m teaching at a school here that uses textbooks from the United States,” he said. “While flipping through the history books, I noticed certain pages were blocked with tape. It’s shocking to see censorship, and (it) feels strange. We peeled off the tape a bit to see what was censored, and it was about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s those moments, even though America has and always will have its struggles and problems, that I appreciate the freedoms Americans have.”

“He told me I had the ability, but if I didn’t control my emotions before, during and after a match, I would be remembered as a mediocre fighter — and that’s pretty much exactly what happened,” Wang said. “At the time I thought I needed better or more training or experience, but looking back it at it now, MMA — like any career — requires a lot mentally, physically and emotionally to succeed.”


Seems like a good dude... still a hilarious character on the show though.

 

[Rod Farva]

His impression of him crying will move in infamy

 

[LilNicky95]

Lmao calling himself a Ronin, Andy Wang was most hilarious TUF guy, just being himself.

Wang is the epitome of a master rogue samurai without a master.


You scoff at the legend that is Andy Wang thus showing your lack of warrior spirit.

 

[TITS]

 

[FireKidWS]

Still funny to this day.

Every Andy Wang thread is a great thread.

 

[BayAreaGuy]

Team members listening in at 7:50

 

[TITS]

Neither Ronda or Colby did the walk of shame better than Andy Wang.

 

[Yep]

“I’m teaching at a school here that uses textbooks from the United States,” he said. “While flipping through the history books, I noticed certain pages were blocked with tape. It’s shocking to see censorship, and (it) feels strange. We peeled off the tape a bit to see what was censored, and it was about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s those moments, even though America has and always will have its struggles and problems, that I appreciate the freedoms Americans have.”

Bruh. I’m not sure those freedoms will exist for much longer considering the movement to block “hate speech” in all forms regardless of the context. That’s some interesting shit he admits tho.

 

[MikeyB]

Take him down Andy, with the shot Andy!