PHILADELPHIA — BJ Penn says he likes it here, because everywhere he turns he sees his name.

Penn Station ... Penn Center ... Penn (The University of Pennsylvania) ... not to mention the original Billy Penn, better known as William, who founded this city and whose likeness stands atop City Hall.

But for the most part, since arriving a week ago, BJ Penn has spent most of his time preparing for tomorrow night's UFC lightweight world championship title defense against Boston's Kenny Florian outside the city limits.

Other than a failed attempt to run the Art Museum steps, a la "Rocky" and a few media obligations, Penn and his entourage have remained cloistered in Mullica Hill, N.J., about a half hour from town.

He likes it that way. "I'm not really a city guy,'' the pride of Hilo said, following yesterday's press conference for UFC 101: Declaration, standing within plain sight of the building where the famed Liberty Bell is on display.

"When I hang out in the city there's a different kind of energy.

"I like it where there's more green, more of a homey type. It would've been tough for me to stay in town the week I'm fighting.''

That's why his brother/manager JD Penn searched online for a retreat away from the bright lights of the big city and the crowds.

"We rented a seven-bedroom house,'' said JD. "He can relax there and go over Kenny's strength and weaknesses.

"It's the calmness before the storm. We don't want to waste too much energy.''

Come tomorrow night it will be time for the man they call "The Prodigy" to release all that pent-up energy and emotion that has been building since he moved up in weight to take on UFC welterweight champ Georges St.-Pierre — only to be soundly beaten.

Since then Penn's been a man on a mission, drawing the praise of UFC President Dana White, who has often been critical of him.

"BJ Penn is great at everything he does,'' said White, warming to the opportunity to promote both this fight as well as the co-main event between light-heavyweight champ Anderson Silva and Forrest Griffin.

"I've never seen him so focused and fired up, because BJ Penn doesn't want to lose the title.

"BUT THE BIGGEST ENEMY OF BJ PENN IS BJ PENN.''

Penn sort of agreed with that assessment.

"I think any fighter can be his own biggest enemy,'' he replied. "I came into the sport skinny.

"Over the years I've had to cut weight a lot. That's how I got fat. As strange as it is to say, cutting weight made me fat.''

Don't expect Florian to take Penn lightly.

"BJ's my goal and the pressure is on him,'' said the 33-year-old Florian, who feels he's much better prepared to win the title belt than when he lost the welterweight crown to Sean Sherk in October, 2006. "This is considered his division.

"Not many people give me a chance to win. But everyone wants to fight against the best. I wasn't ready the last time (against Sherk) and was unable to take advantage.

"That loss has made me a better fighter today," Florian added. "Here I see a new opportunity and I feel I'm ready.''

Penn has something to prove as well. "This is my big shot to come back after a disappointing performance,'' he said, referring to the St-Pierre fight. "He wants to be the champ, but I'm a lot more confident now."

"The Prodigy" also reflected on what it's meant to be here this week returning to the city where he once accompanied his father to visit Greg Bushi, a man his dad became close to when they worked together in Waikiki.

"They met sometime in the '70s and we came here when I was about 10 years old,'' recalled Penn. "The one thing I remember are the fireflies (small insects that light up in the night). I saw a few of them out in New Jersey.''

An omen, perhaps? Because tomorrow night when he vacates the cozy confines of Mullica Hill to enter the octagon Penn hopes this time it's his turn to light up the night.