By the same extension, it’s good news for anyone who doesn’t want to see the legendary fighter make his return to fighting at UFC 196.
We all expected BJ Penn make his comeback at UFC 196, mainly because he told us he would, in fact, he guaranteed he would feature on the card. It seems as though the plan has changed, but fans of the Prodigy will be happy to hear that he is still returning to the Octagon, just a little later than expected.
Instead, the former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion will feature on the behemoth UFC 197 card that will see the highly anticipated rematch between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones for the light heavyweight belt, with a flyweight championship bout between Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo taking the co-main event slot.
Penn made the revelation that his return was moved from UFC 196 to his website, BJPenn.com.
“I thought the fight guaranteed was going to happen because the UFC, they set up medicals for me to do.”
“I did the medicals and they were sending a film crew down and we were getting all that together and I assumed we were setting up the fight, and that might have been what was happening. But, at the end of the day, (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby called me and said it would be more convenient for all of us to move the fight to April 23.”
Penn’s opponent has yet to be announced, although he claims that he has already booked a dancing partner for the event. He was reluctant to reveal the identity of his opponent, but it is expected that he will either square off against Dennis Sever or Nik Lentz.
“From what I understand, it is the same opponent and that is it. We’re going to meet on that card.”
