B.J. Penn's Formal Request to NSAC

RearNakedNews

I obtained a copy of BJ Penn's formal request to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and it includes some interesting language. I've typed up the essential parts, but if anyone wants to read the entire thing, e-mail me. The last line is very dramatic. I bet B.J. read their first draft and said, "Oh hey, one more thing to add."

"While this letter is not a formal complaint to the Nevada Athletic Commission, it shall serve as a formal request to the Commission that it engage in a comprehensive investigation and review of the activities involving and relating to Georges St-Pierre prior to and during the bout.

In order for Mr. Penn (or any other licensed fighter of the Nevada Athletic Commission) to properly execute Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or many other grappling techniques which are an essential part of MMA, it is necessary that an environment exists without any illegally applied lubricants, oils, or other substances that cause or result in slippery surfaces on the combatants.

Simply put, by lubricating GSP's body, a highly slippery surface was created that completely neutralized an innocent participant's abilities and strategy to the advantage of GSP. Mr. Penn's most critical offensive and defensive strategies, his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, were rendered useless as he was unable to effectively control GSP and engage his submission techniques due to Mr. Penn's legs and arms slipping out of the attempted holds/locks, and GSP's ability to readily slip out of the holds/locks due to the highly slippery surfaces on GSP's body.

This illegal situation made it impossible for Mr. Penn to defend himself and unfairly exposed Mr. Penn to GSP's "ground and pound" strategy, which Mr. Penn extensively trained for and was fully prepared to perform against. More importantly, by neutralizing Mr. Penn's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through the use of illegal and improper means, Mr. Penn was subjected to a life-threatening and career-ending environment; an environment that the commission was formed to protect against.

Because of Mr. Penn's prior experience, and information provided to him before his participation in the bout, a member of Mr. Penn's team informed commission members prior to the bout of the possibility of GSP being "greased up" during the bout, or engaging in activities that may cause him to become slippery during the bout.

While this discussion occurred, Mr. Penn and his team believed that the commission would be on heightened alert to guard against such illegal activities and would take every precaution to ensure Mr. Penn's safety and a proper and fair contest. Additionally, during the bout, statements were made that GSP was "too slippery" and that Mr. Penn could not grab or hold GSP because of "how slippery" he was during the bout.

In closing, all Mr. Penn wanted to have on January 31 is a fair and just bout and he continues to seek a fair and just encounter against Georges St-Pierre."