B.J. Penn promised he’d make an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) return, and now we have an official date … and opponent.
After rumors hit the Internet, the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion confirmed earlier today(Weds., Sept. 12, 2018) that “The Prodigy” will face Ryan Hall at the year-end UFC 232 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Dec. 29, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Penn hasn’t competed since June 2017, losing to Dennis Siver via decision. The loss marked his fifth defeat in a row over the course of the last six years. Indeed, Penn has seen better days inside the Octagon, losing seven of his last nine outings, with his last win coming in 2010. It’s an unfathomable bleak streak from one of the best to ever compete in the sport.
As for Hall, he has been out of action for two years now, but is riding a six-fight win streak, winning his only two fights inside the Octagon against Artem Lobov to win season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF), and then besting Gray Maynard in his following fight.
While the pairing seems like a head scratcher at first glance, it will pit two of the best submission artists in the game, as Hall has numerous medals and accolades to his credit from Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments all over the world. Meanwhile, Penn’s jiu-jitsu is well-known and his background speaks for itself.
While a win for either man won’t do much for their respective stocks, it will still draw plenty of eyes. The question remains: Is Hall someone the former Lightweight and Welterweight champion can beat?
Source : mmamania
