Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports
Despite losing his last seven Octagon appearances, former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion B.J. Penn will stick around for at least one more fight.
According to UFC president Dana White in a recent interview with TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, “Prodigy” will make his return to the cage later this year against lightweight veteran Nik Lentz. Both sides have verbally agreed to fight at a date and location yet to be determined.
Penn, 40, refuses to walk away from the sport that he once dominated. The aging veteran hasn’t captured victory since a knockout win over Matt Hughes back in 2010, producing a 0-7-1 UFC record over the past nine years. The Hawaiian legend hasn’t been completely blown out since returning from retirement in 2017, as “Prodigy” held his own against fighters like Clay Guida and Dennis Siver, but a quick submission loss to Ryan Hall and a brutal TKO defeat at the hands of Yair Rodriguez leads fight fans to believe the veteran has little left in the tank.
Lentz, 34, is coming off a tough TKO loss to Charles Oliveira this past May in an important trilogy fight. The 10-year UFC veteran has produced some meaningful performances since returning to 155 pounds back in 2015, including stoppages over Gray Maynard and Will Brooks, but “Carny” has resembled a divisional gatekeeper at best during that time. Lentz remains one of the tougher guys in the division and is certainly going to be favored in a matchup with the struggling Penn, but maybe he slips up and allows “Prodigy” one more chance at Octagon glory.
What so you, Maniacs? Does Penn have a chance of defeating Lentz and ending his seven-fight skid?
Stick with Mania for more news on Penn’s return.