UFC: Pressure is key to Penn triumph over Lamas, says Holloway

Max “Blessed” Holloway shows his fighting stance during a group training session at CrossFit MNL’s Mall of Asia branch on Friday. Photo by Khristian Ibarrola/INQUIRER.net

In less than a month, BJ Penn and Ricardo Lamas will headline the UFC’s second event at the Mall of Asia Arena, and it’s no secret who fellow featherweight Max Holloway would be rooting for.

Speaking to members of the media at CrossFit MOA on Friday during a group training session to promote the event, the 24-year old expressed his support for his fellow Hawaiian Penn and even gave tips on how defeat his proud Latino foe.

“The tips I’d give BJ is to pressure. Just go out there and get on his face and show him pressure and take down defense,” said Holloway, who cruised to a unanimous decision against Lamas in June.

“Im sure Lamas’ gameplan is to try and take BJ down just like what Frankie (Edgar) does and stay in the guard and bury him. Lamas, as you can see whenever he’s in someone’s guard, he got the most wicked elbows and ground and pound. He’s a scary dude there. When you look at BJ, his jui-jitsu is great everywhere but usually when someone gets to his guard, he usually just sits there and kind of wings it out, “ he said.

The 37-year-old legend’s struggles as of late has been heavily documented after losing his last three octagon outings.

Despite the odds, Holloway still believes in the uncertainty of the fight game and knows Penn could still pull through.

“If I’m BJ, I’ll just toughen it out and go out there and invade his space early and show him that I’m here to fight. Just try to make him doubt himself early and see if he want to be in this fight and test him and push his will,” he said.

Penn (16-10-2) is the second person, besides Randy Couture, to hold UFC titles in two different weight classes. The bout will be his second crack at Featherweight, after dropping a one-sided decision against Frankie Edgar in 2014.

Lamas (16-5), on the other hand, has also been on a rough patch lately, losing two of his last three fights.

“UFC Fight Night: Lamas vs Penn” will take place on Oct. 15, with Derrick Lewis vs Marcin Tybura serving as co-main event.

READ: Holloway calls out Aldo: You can keep running, I’ll keep chasing