BJ Penn Getting More Fights Is Almost Criminal

PHOENIX, AZ - JANUARY 15: BJ Penn prepares to fight Yair Rodriguez (not pictured) during the UFC Fight Night event at the at Talking Stick Resort Arena on January 15, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

It’s been years since BJ Penn won a fight. Heck, it’s been years since he actually looked competitive in the Octagon. But apparently that’s not going to stop anyone from booking him a fight. And that’s almost criminal.

According to MMAFighting, Penn will likely face Nik Lentz at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi.

B.J. Penn is getting another shot at Octagon glory, this time against a fighter who has had bad blood with him for years.

The former two-division UFC champion will fight Nik Lentz in a lightweight bout at a date and location to be determined later. Penn and Lentz confirmed the news following an initial report by TSN, citing UFC president Dana White.

Penn told BJPenn.com that he would like to fight Lentz at UFC 244 in New York on Nov. 2, but White told TSN that he expects the yet-to-be officially announced matchup to take place at UFC 242 in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 7.

Worth noting is that this match-up won’t be made in New York, but it will be made in Abu Dhabi. Can you guess why that is? I think it’s safe to assume that there are some athletic commissions that will refuse to license Penn to fight.

And as well they should refuse. Penn is so far past his expiration date it’s disgusting to see him in the cage. Simply disgusting. Lentz may not be a world-beater, but he’s more than capable of injuring a fighter like Penn permanently.

Is this what the world wants to see?

Jim Genia