BJ Penn once again scheduled for UFC return
The on-again, off-again comeback of UFC Hall of Famer BJ Penn is officially on again.
Penn will finally return to action when he fights Ricardo Lamas on Oct. 15 in Manila, the organization announced on Monday.
The featherweight bout will serve as the main event of UFC Fight Night 97.
Penn, who hasn’t won a fight since a 21-second knockout of Matt Hughes in 2010, announced his intention to come out of retirement in January. He last competed in July 2014, when he was knocked out by Frankie Edgar.
The comeback was delayed when criminal allegations surfaced and the fighter was investigated. When no charges were filed, Penn was booked for a June fight. Two weeks before that bout, Penn was pulled from the card when he informed testers from the United States Anti-Doping Agency he had been administered an IV, which is banned under the UFC’s anti-doping program.
Penn is currently serving a six-month suspension for the infraction, but will be eligible to return in time to fight Lamas.
The 37-year-old Hawaiian, one of two fighters to ever win UFC titles in two different weight classes, was inducted to the organization’s Hall of Fame in 2015.
Lamas, who unsuccessfully challenged Jose Aldo for the featherweight belt in 2014, has dropped two of his last three fights.
The event, which will likely stream on Fight Pass, marks the organization’s second trip to the Philippines.
Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow @adamhilllvrj on Twitter.