B.J. Penn contacts NSAC with official request into UFC 94 investigation

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B.J. Penn contacts NSAC with official request into UFC 94 investigation

by Dann Stupp on Feb 04, 2009 at 5:55 pm ET

B.J. Penn has contacted the Nevada State Athletic Commission and formally requested an investigation into his recent UFC 94 main-event loss to UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.

Keith Kizer, the executive director for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, today passed along a letter in which Penn asks the NSAC to investigate whether St. Pierre's corner used a banned substance (the petroleum jelly, Vaseline) on the fighter's body.

The letter, penned by Penn's lawyer, Raffi A. Nahabedian, states the notice is not a formal complaint. Additionally, Kizer today confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the NSAC does not consider it one.

However, Penn's assessment is that his primary skill set, Brazilian jiu jitsu, was unfairly affected by St. Pierre's corner when they applied Vaseline to his body and that he wants the matter investigated.

"In order for Mr. Penn (or any other licensed fighter of the Nevada Athletic Commission) to properly executive Brazilian jiu jitsu or the 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," the letter read.

Penn's allegations first came to light immediately following Saturday's pay-per-view event, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Penn was dominated through the first four rounds of the fight and didn't answer the bell for the fifth and final round. St. Pierre retained his welterweight belt with the victory.

On Monday, Kizer told MMAjunkie.com that an improper application of Vaseline to St. Pierre's back by his cornermen had already merited a stern warning from the commission and that disciplinary action could follow.

Kizer and his team actually began dealing with the apparent application of Vaseline to St. Pierre's back and shoulders during the match.

"The first round, one of the inspectors that was on the outside of the cage came over to me and said it looked to him that when the cornerman, who I think in that case was Phil Nurse, put the Vaseline on Georges' face then rubbed his shoulders -- which you see the guys rubbing the other guy's shoulders to help him out -- he didn't wipe off his hands between doing that," Kizer said. "I said, 'Well, I'm going to watch very closely after this round.'

Kizer said he then witnessed one cornermen put Vaseline on Georges' face, which is allowed, but that he then illegally put his hands on the fighter's back "to do the breathing thing they always do," Kizer said.

At most, it was very small amount of the lubricant, but Kizer immediately sprung to action.

"Tony Liano and I immediately yelled at him, and I don't think he heard us because of the noise," Kizer said. "So I actually went into the octagon, and I said, 'Take your hand off of his back. What are you doing?' We wiped it down. We made sure it was wiped down after the third round as well. This was after the second when I was in there. I was very upset. I don't know if they were doing it intentionally or not. Either way, they shouldn't have done it."

Apparently, Penn thinks their actions weren't enough and that St. Pierre's corner had a major affect on the fight.

In fact, in the letter, Penn alleges the commission was warned ahead of time that St. Pierre's corner, headed by trainer Greg Jackson, should be watched for such infractions.

"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 [NSAC officials] prior to the bout of the possibility of [st. Pierre] being 'greased up' during the bout or engaging in activities that may cause him to be/become slippery during the bout," the letter read. "While the 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 [st. Pierre] was 'too slippery' and that Mr. Penn could not grab or hold [st. Pierre] because of 'how slippery' he was during the bout. ... [it] is clear that the Commission’s obligations to ensure and guard against such corruption and unfair advantage were severely compromised as people openly witnessed the improper application of an illegal substance over the neck, shoulders, and back of [st. Pierre] the critical areas of Mr. Penn's strategy to impose his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu submission skills and techniques during the bout."

Penn concluded the letter by stating he and his representatives are willing to meet with the NSAC.

Fighters traditionally have 10 days to file a formal complaint with the NSAC, though Kizer said he wasn't sure when the exact deadline is.

[Gabe]

Is Penn serious? Vaseline was the reason he lost? It had nothing to do with the fact he did not train hard for the fight and was not in shape?

What a joke this guy continues to be. It is a shame because he is one of the most talented fighters on the planet.

[setxathlete14]

what a joke guess penn needs an excuse for the terrible beating he took.... hard to call him a pro!

[mat]

??? :'(

[silentassasin]

Well in the prefight hype he likened himself to God when it came to how hard he was going to come at GSP.

What a freaking punk. Got his butt kicked up one side and down the other and then calls foul about vaseline. If I was GSP, then I would say fine if he wants another beating then give him time to heal from the last one and then we go in with no vaseline rubbed on anything at all, allow the cut men to take care of any bleeding that may or may not occur and then leave the rest alone.

It was not vaseline that made his corner throw in the towel at the same moment the doctor in the ring considered it a bad idea to continue the fight further. What a cry baby!