Former two-division UFC champ BJ Penn (16-10-2) has officially ended his retirement and wants to fight in March against Nik Lentz (25-7-2) at featherweight. Penn announced his decision to return on The MMA Hour on Monday.
UFC President Dana White has confirmed the news of Penn’s return, but an actual date or opponent has yet to be finalized.
The Hawaiian “Prodigy”, now 37-years-old, has already set up camp at Jackson-Winkeljohn in Albuquerque and feels with renowned coach Greg Jackson in his corner, and with the support of all the great training partners, he can make a legitimate run at the UFC featherweight title currently held by Conor McGregor.
Penn made his UFC debut in May 2001 at lightweight with a first-round TKO win over Joey Gilbert. He’s 12-9-2 overall inside the Octagon, held UFC belts at welterweight and lightweight and now wants to claim the 145-pound throne to become the first person in the organization’s history to ever hold titles in three different weight classes.
Penn hasn’t fought since he lost his featherweight debut via TKO to Frankie Edgar in July 2014. Prior to that he’d dropped decisions to Rory MacDonald and Nick Diaz at welterweight.
