B.J. Penn Brings in Mike Dolce to Assist in Making 145 Pounds to Face Frankie Edgar

Former two-division UFC champion B.J. Penn contemplated retirement after losing to Rory MacDonald on Dec. 8, 2012.  After deliberation, the 22-fight UFC veteran is returning to coach The Ultimate Fighter 19 opposite the man who ended his lightweight championship in 2010, Frankie Edgar.

Edgar defeated Penn to capture the lightweight title at UFC 112 in a razor-close fight.  Penn was granted an immediate rematch, but lost to Edgar again at UFC 118.  After losing the belt, Penn fought four times in the welterweight division, going 1-2-1.

In Edgar’s first title defense, he fought Gray Maynard to a draw.  In the rematch, he knocked out Maynard in the fourth round.  It would be the last time Edgar successfully defended his title.  In his next outing, he was narrowly defeated by Benson Henderson.  Henderson would defend his title against Edgar in a rematch.

Following the losses to Henderson, Edgar dropped down to the featherweight division and faced champion Jose Aldo at UFC 156.  Aldo retained his title by unanimous decision.  Edgar is coming off unanimous decision win over Charles Oliveira in his last outing.

The third fight between Penn and Edgar will take place in the featherweight division.  It will mark Penn’s 145-pound debut.

In order to ensure he properly makes the weight cut, Penn has brought in renowned nutritionist Mike Dolce.

Dolce released a statement via his official website on Thursday.

“BJ Penn is the greatest mixed martial artist of all time,” Dolce said. “He is a legend, a two-division world champion as a 170-pound welterweight and a 155-pound lightweight that has been fighting professionally before most athletes even knew what MMA or the UFC was. It is a great honor to join BJ on his journey back into the Octagon and, in my opinion, to make history as the first ever three-division world champion in our sport.

“First thing’s first,” added Dolce. “We have a very tough Frankie Edgar standing in our way and in speaking to BJ, that is exactly the way he wants it! I will be flying out to Hilo, Hawaii, this week to begin growing my relationship with BJ and offer my skills to his camp.”