MMA legend BJ Penn during a press conference in Manila on Nov. 29, 2011. Photo by Dennis Gasgonia for abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champion BJ "The Prodigy" Penn is predicting a victory for Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao against undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

A Pacquiao-Mayweather mega-fight may finally happen on May 5, 2012, with Pacquiao confirming last week that negotiations were ongoing with Mayweather's team.

"Pacquiao, he's my kind of fighter, I'm a fan of his," Penn told abs-cbnNEWS.com. "I like his style. He tries to go for the finish."

Penn said Mayweather is also a good fighter and is also capable of winning against Pacquiao, but he prefers it if the Filipino champion ended up the victor.

"I would like to see Pacquiao win because I know if Pacquiao wins, it's gonna be an exciting victory," he said.

The former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion says boxing is a major part of the sport of mixed martial arts.

"Boxing is part of MMA. You need to be able to know how to fight MMA," Penn said. "Boxing is huge, and it all blends in somehow with ultimate fighting."