Once again, BJ Penn is back. This time he’s taking on Jiu-Jitsu ace Ryan Hall, who is making his own return at UFC 232.
A bout which was rumored for the past couple of weeks has been confirmed by the UFC on Twitter. In a fight that features a UFC Hall of Fame legend, BJ Penn (at lightweight) returns at UFC 232, with his opponent being jiu-jitsu star Ryan Hall. Hall is currently 6-1 in MMA and will be fighting for the first time in two years.
OFFICIAL: @BJPennDotCom returns to the Octagon to face @RyanHall5050
at #UFC232! pic.twitter.com/rlzl3Y7p6D— UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2018
BJ Penn (16–12–2) is one of the sport’s all time greats, notable for fighting in multiple weight classes. Penn is a former two weight world champion in the UFC, capturing titles at lightweight and welterweight. However, ‘The Prodigy’ has recently fallen on hard times, having lost his last five fights, including two in 2017. There, he lost to Yair Rodriguez and Dennis Siver. The slump dates back to 2011, and a loss to Nick Diaz.
Notably, UFC 232 is Penn’s first fight at lightweight since UFC 118, where he lost to Frankie Edgar.
Hall (6-1) on the other hand is on a six fight winning streak, and won the featherweight Ultimate Fighter 22 tournament. He last beat Gray Maynard in December of 2016, and beat Artem Lobov the year prior at the TUF 22 Finale to win his UFC contract. If he beats Penn at UFC 232, he’ll likely have the most impressive lightweight resume of 2011.
UFC 232 goes down December 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada at the T-Mobile Arena. The main event of the card is a super-fight between women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, and women’s featherweight champion Cris Cyborg.
