BJ Penn said that he tried to get Ken Shamrock as his opponent for K-1: GP Hawaii, but Ken Shamrock wanted more than $300,000 for that fight, and the promoter could not afford it. So it ended up being BJ Penn Vs. Renzo Gracie.
BJ Penn said "I don't believe in weight classes. It's not boxing, it's mixed martial arts. It's about little guy vs. bigger guy and vice-versa. It's about technique."