B.J. Penn vs. Ricardo Lamas To Headline UFC Fight Night Manila

The third time is the charm For UFC Legend B.J. Penn.

Third Time’s The Charm

It can be recalled that Penn signified his intention to return to the UFC earlier this year by starting to train at the Jackson Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico. However, his first attempt to get a fight was halted after a former employee accused Penn of rape.

The charges never prospered but Penn was frozen by the UFC pending investigation. Once he got cleared of that issue, Penn was then booked to fight at UFC 199. But lightning struck twice as Penn was pulled out of the event following an illegal IV use which he admitted to the USADA. Penn was subsequently handed a six month suspension that ends on September 25th.

After his first two attempts at another UFC return earlier this year were derailed for different reasons, former UFC great B.J. Penn has finally secured a comeback fight:

The UFC officially announced that Penn will be headlining the UFC’s second ever event in the Philippines. The Prodigy will be facing Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas in a five round featherweight bout at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines on October 15th.

Facing The Bully

Facing Penn will be the 34-year old Ricardo Lamas, who is 16-4 and a former featherweight title challenge.

After losing to Jose Aldo at UFC 169, Lamas has been just 3-2. In his most recent bout, Lamas lost to Max Holloway at UFC 199 last June. Despite his recent struggles, Lamas is ranked 4th in the UFC Featherweight standings and is considered a stiff challenge for B.J. Penn, who has been out of the Octagon since a lopsided loss to Frankie Edgar in 2014.

Retiring a Legend

B.J. Penn is one of the sport’s greatest champions and only one of two fighters in UFC history to win world titles in multiple weight classes. But the Prodigy has not won a bout since defeating rival Matt Hughes in 2010. He’s lost his last three bouts to Nick Diaz, Rory MacDonald and Edgar.

In 2015, Penn was inducted to the UFC’s Hall of Fame. At 37, he’s previously retired twice but came back shortly after each. This is his third comeback and given his advanced age, it could probably be his last. For Lamas, it will not only be an opportunity to retire a legend but it could be a step towards another crack at the Featherweight gold.