BJ Penn ends retirement, wants another UFC title shot

MANILA. Philippines – After deciding to hang up his 4-ounce gloves for good nearly two years ago, BJ Penn will make another gutsy run in the sport of mixed martial arts.

Penn announced his decision to come out of retirement in an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour on Wednesday, January 20 (PH Time).

The 37-year-old native of Hilo, Hawaii, also revealed that he is currently working with New Mexico-based trainer Greg Jackson, who also mentors the likes of Jon Jones, Carlos Condit, and Holly Holm.

Penn, who remains as one of the only two fighters in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history to win world titles in multiple weight classes, sets his sights on another gold-plated strap as he seeks to vie for the organization’s featherweight belt in the future.

“I want to go get that 145-pound belt. That’s definitely a huge motivation for me. 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 3 titles in 3 weight divisions,” he said.

Aside from his championship aspirations, Penn issued a challenge to Nik Lentz a week ago for a bout at March’s UFC 197 pay-per-view event.

As per MMAJunkie.com’s report, UFC president Dana White confirmed that he has already sat down with Penn about his Octagon comeback, but he stressed that nothing has been decided for the next step.

“[It is] true, but I don’t know when or who he will fight,” White stated.

Penn (16-10-2) briefly called it a career following a brutal third-round stoppage loss to Frankie Edgar in July 2014.

“The Prodigy” was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in July 2015 for his stellar stint in the sport’s lower weight classes. 

Penn won the UFC welterweight title by submitting Matt Hughes in January 2004, while he added the promotion’s lightweight belt to his resumé 4 years later with a second-round submission win over Joe Stevenson.

Over the course of his 28-match prizefighting career, Penn earned notable victories over the likes of Matt Serra, Takanori Gomi, Hughes, Renzo Gracie, Jens Pulver, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez. – Rappler.com