Dana White’s organization wouldn’t confirm it, but BJ Penn did on his website: the recently unretired UFC Hall of Famer is fighting at UFC 199.
Dana White’s organization wouldn’t confirm it, but BJ Penn did on his website: the recently unretired UFC Hall of Famer is fighting at UFC 199.
On bjpenn.com, Penn revealed he’ll fight Dennis Siver on June 4 in Inglewood, Calif., at featherweight (145 pounds).
Penn (16-10-2) captured the lightweight (155) and welterweight (170) titles but lost to Frankie Edgar in his trilogy fight and featherweight debut on July 6, 2014.
Edgar swept the series (3-0) against Penn by TKO in the third round at The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn Finale in Las Vegas.
Penn retired in 2014, after losing to Edgar, Rory MacDonald in 2012 and Nick Diaz in 2011, the latter two by unanimous decision.
The UFC did not respond to a Tribune-Herald request on Penn’s status. The promotion’s website, ufc.com, makes no mention of the Penn-Siver matchup.
Penn and Siver (22-11) are both 37 years old.
Siver is on a two-match losing streak, dropping a unanimous decision to Tatsuya Kawajiri in June, 2015 and falling by TKO to Conor McGregor in January, 2015.
On The MMA Hour, Penn explained his desire to come out of retirement and make UFC history.
“I want to go get that 145-pound belt. That’s definitely a huge motivation for me,” Penn said. “I believe with Greg Jackson’s help, I can get that done. And I believe that I will be able to walk away as the only man with three titles in three weight divisions.”
Penn has been training at the JacksonWink MMA Academy in New Mexico, where Jon “Bones” Jones and Holly Holm train.
The UFC featherweight champion is McGregor and Jose Aldo is the No. 1 contender followed by Frankie Edgar, Chad Mendes and Oahu’s Max Holloway at No. 4.
Penn’s last victory was against Matt Hughes on Nov. 20, 2010 at UFC 123 by first-round knockout.
Whether Penn takes on nemesis Nik Lentz, who called him a “fat old dummy” and an “embarrassment to his legacy and family,” remains to be seen.
Lentz, 31, has said he would only fight Penn at lightweight. Lentz (26-7-2) is nicknamed the “Canary.”
On the MMA Hour in January, Penn responded to Lentz’ insults, “The lion doesn’t care what the sheep thinks.”
Before BJ Penn, who might consider changing his nickname from “Prodigy” to “Lion,” goes after that young and apparently mouthy sheep, he’ll fight someone his own age on June 4.