MANILA, Philippines – Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstar BJ Penn said he might put up a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym in Manila someday.

Penn, known to MMA fans as “The Prodigy,” said setting up an MMA gym can help further popularize the sport in the Philippines.
“We have a UFC gym ‘BJ Penn’ in Hawaii so why not a ‘UFC BJ Penn’ in Manila? Makes sense,” he told ANC’s Boyet Sison in an interview.

Penn is currently in a hiatus from professional fighting after suffering a loss to Nick Diaz in UFC 137.

He visited Manila to promote MMA.

Penn said the Philippines reminds him of his home country.

“Weather's just like Hawaii, just like home,” he said.