"Kenny, you've been saying a lot of stuff about me. You told the UFC countdown that I'm washed up, that I'll never fight at 170 (welterweight) again and I better get ready to lose my 155-pound title. You told Dave Weintrop that I better be training hard and to make sure to let me know because you've got a problem with me. Well, just here to tell you that I am training hard and I can't wait to see you on the other side of the octagon on August 8th. One more thing Kenny... you said your gonna knock me out in the first round; that I can't take your kicks... so just wanted to let you know that I heard that and the UFC countdown told me and we'll see. I can't wait. It's gonna be fun."

An uncharacteristically humble BJ Penn (13-5-1) takes the high road in responding via BJPenn.com to accusations made by Kenny Florian in a recent interview for the UFC 101 Countdown show. Penn was apparently informed of the remarks made by Florian for the UFC preview show which has yet to air.

The lightweight champion and consensus top ten pound-for-pound fighter, Penn, is said to be in tremendous shape and taking his fight with Florian very seriously. One knock on Penn throughout his hall-of-fame MMA career, has been his tendency to rely to much on his vast natural talent and skimp on working hard in the gym. Penn has coasted throughout much of his career without training nearly as hard as his opponents and would often slow down as fights wore on due to poor cardio as a result. However, Penn hasn't had much of an issue with his cardio at lightweight recently and if reports out of his camp are accurate, the former world Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion is in fantastic shape.

Florian (11-3) has simply torn through the UFC's lightweight division since a loss to Shawn Sherk back in 2006. The Ultimate Fighter Season 1 middleweight runner up has won 6-straight since the loss racking up wins against Dokonjonosuke Mishima, Alvin Robinson, Din Thomas, Joe Lauzon, Roger Huerta, and Joe Stevenson respectively. Florian hasn't fought since the middle of November as he was forced to wait as lightweight champion B.J. Penn moved up in weight to face welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.

UFC 101 will take place on Aug. 8 in Philidelphia, PA. For a look at the entire unofficial fight card as it currently stands, click here.