B.J. Penn has been cleared to return this fall, accepting a six month suspension from USADA that makes him eligible to fight by October. With that reduced suspension, the former two-division UFC Champ called out yet another fighter for a potential matchup in his return: longtime foe Georges St-Pierre.
The former UFC Welterweight Champion is planning to return in 2016 after an even longer absence than Penn, and after saying this last week that he could make 155 lbs. if he wanted to it left him open to this challenge:
Hey @GeorgesStPierre if you can make 155 easily, I’m free in November and would love the opportunity to fight you at 155 pounds in New York.
— BJ PENN (@bjpenndotcom) June 27, 2016
St-Pierre and Penn fought twice before, with St-Pierre winning each of those fights. The first came in a slightly controversial fashion over ten years ago in a three round decision, leading to a rematch when both held title belts in their respective divisions in 2009. Penn moved back up to 170 lbs. for that fight, and was thoroughly dominated before his corner called the fight after the fourth round.
The UFC’s debut in New York comes with UFC 205 on Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden.
Penick’s Analysis: While the UFC could easily sell that fight, it’s just not going to happen. St-Pierre wasn’t saying that he was absolutely going down to 155 lbs., just that he felt he could make it if he wanted to try. Not only that, but there are much more interesting and relevant fights for St-Pierre, and he also won both of the fights between the two men. This simply isn’t going to be the fight they go with, although I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see them both wind up on the New York card in separate fights.
[Photo (c) Stephen R. Sylvanie via USA Today Sports]
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