{"id":205373,"date":"2016-09-26T19:30:22","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T02:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=205373"},"modified":"2016-09-26T19:30:22","modified_gmt":"2016-09-27T02:30:22","slug":"ufc-fight-night-97-lineup-set-ricardo-lamas-vs-bj-penn-headlining-main-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/ufc-fight-night-97\/ufc-fight-night-97-lineup-set-ricardo-lamas-vs-bj-penn-headlining-main-event\/","title":{"rendered":"UFC Fight Night 97 lineup set, Ricardo Lamas vs. BJ Penn headlining main event"},"content":{"rendered":"

UFC Fight Night 97 returns to the Phillippines on October 15.<\/p>\n

Our namesake, BJ Penn makes his return to the Octagon for the first time since July 2014 as he takes on #4 UFC ranked featherweight Ricardo Lamas in the main event of the evening.<\/p>\n

Penn is looking to make a big statement against the former UFC featherweight title challenger and is looking to prove all his doubters wrong come fight night.<\/p>\n

\"RVCA<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would I care what anyone else thinks? The first thing those guys should do is go to the bank, drain their accounts and go put all of their money on Ricardo Lamas,”<\/em> Penn told BJPenn.com’s Chris Taylor in an exclusive interview<\/a>. “Because the day before the fight I\u2019m going to bet on myself and make a whole lot of money.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Lamas is 3-2 since losing a featherweight title fight against Jose Aldo, who was the undisputed champion at the time in 2014. Most recently, Lamas lost a unanimous decision to Max Holloway at UFC 199 and is looking to keep his high rank in the featherweight division.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s kind of a dangerous fight for me,”<\/em> Lamas told BJPenn.com in an exclusive interview<\/a>. “I have a lot to lose here. I\u2019m the one that\u2019s ranked up high in the division, he\u2019s kind of making a comeback. I think there\u2019s a lot of people that are expecting him to lose already. There\u2019s not a lot of expectations coming from Penn\u2019s side. All the pressure is on me to perform, and to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOn the other hand, fighting a name like Penn is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Can\u2019t turn it down. This guy is a living Hall of Famer, 2-divison world champion, so on paper he\u2019s the most credentialed opponent that I\u2019ve ever had, and I\u2019m up for any challenge so we took it immediately.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\"ufc<\/a><\/p>\n

The UFC recently finalized the lineup for UFC Fight Night 97.<\/p>\n

Heavyweights Derrick Lewis and Marcin Tybura will meet in the co-main event while the featured prelim bout will showcase Sam Alvey vs. Alex Nicholson.<\/p>\n

The full UFC Fight Night 97 lineup<\/a>:<\/p>\n

MAIN CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 10 a.m. ET)<\/p>\n