Barring anything crazy happens, the fans finally get the return of “The Prodigy”. UFC Hall of Famer and former two-division champion BJ Penn, returns against the rising prospect, Yair Rodriguez.
BJ Penn had two fights scheduled, but both were canceled. A fight against Cole Miller was scratched because of a disclosed use of a prohibited IV during an out-of-competition drug test from March 2016. Following his suspension, Penn was then set to face Ricardo Lamas on a fight night card in Manila, but the entire card was scratched after Penn suffered a rib injury.
Now, Penn and Rodriguez will headline UFC Fight Night in Phoenix. Rodriguez has continued to impress following his win on The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America. The flashy striker, who some have called a mix between Jon Jones and Anthony Pettis, faces his toughest opponent yet. Although Penn is coming out of retirement and has not won a fight since UFC 123 in November of 2010, he still poses a threat for the young up-and-comer. With a switch to the Jackson-Winkeljohn gym in Albuquerque, NM and dropping to the featherweight division, we may see a BJ Penn 3.0… or we may see a past-his-prime BJ Penn take another L.
Check out the UFC Fight Night Countdown below.
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