Former two-division UFC champion BJ Penn was already in Las Vegas when news broke that the promotion was moving Saturday’s UFC 232 event to Inglewood, California.

The UFC felt obligated to move the fight card from Nevada to California after it was announced that main event attraction Jon Jones was denied a license to compete in the state from the NSAC.

The former UFC light heavyweight kingpin, Jon Jones, was denied licensing after a trace of the metabolite turinabol, in the size of one-50 millionth of a grain of sand, was discovered in a drug test taken on December 9 by USADA.

Meanwhile, BJ Penn is set to make his return to the promotions lightweight division, now at The Forum in Los Angeles, against Tristar Gym product Ryan Hall.

BJ Penn spoke to a staff member of his website about the sudden change in locations.

https://twitter.com/CTaylor_96/status/1076998834494926848

“I asked BJ Penn, who is currently in Las Vegas, for his thoughts on #UFC232 being moved to Los Angeles. His response: ‘I always wanted to kick Ryan Hall’s ass in LA.’”

“The Prodigy” has returned to his roots for this fight, training under his original jiu-jitsu coach Andre Pederneiras at Brazil’s famous Nova Uniao gym.

Penn has not tasted victory inside the octagon since defeating Matt Hughes via first-round knockout in their trilogy fight at UFC 123.

BJ now meets crafty veteran Ryan Hall who is known for his unorthodox stand-up and solid Brazilian Jiu Jitsu game.

As for Jon Jones, after getting in a heated exchange with bitter rival Daniel Cormier on Instagram, the former UFC light heavyweight kingpin issued a statement on the recent news via his official Twitter account.

Jones UFC 232 opponent, Alexander Gustafsson, also shared his thoughts on the shocking news (see that here).

Do you think BJ Penn will return to the victory column when he squares off with Ryan Hall at UFC 232 next Saturday in Inglewood? Sound off in the comments section PENN Nation!