{"id":210696,"date":"2016-11-21T13:03:17","date_gmt":"2016-11-21T21:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/?p=210696"},"modified":"2016-12-02T09:37:41","modified_gmt":"2016-12-02T17:37:41","slug":"breaking-bj-penn-returns-to-headline-januarys-ufc-fight-night-event-in-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.tcpcharms.com\/bjpenn\/mma-news\/bj-penn\/breaking-bj-penn-returns-to-headline-januarys-ufc-fight-night-event-in-phoenix\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING! BJ Penn returns to headline January’s UFC Fight Night event in Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn<\/a> (16-10-2) will return to the octagon this January in Phoenix, Arizona.<\/p>\n

UFC officials just announced that Penn will be squaring off with Yair Rodriquez (9-1 MMA) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 103 which takes place January 15 at Phoenix\u2019s Talking Stick Resort Arena.<\/p>\n

The event will air on Fox Sports 1 following the early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.<\/p>\n

“The Prodigy” was last seen in action at the ‘TUF 19 Finale’ in July of 2014 where he suffered a TKO loss to former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar in a bout that served as his featherweight debut. The UFC Hall of Famer has stated that he is planning on making a run at the promotions 145-pound title.<\/p>\n

BJ’s most recent victory came over fellow UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes at UFC 123 by way of first-round knockout.<\/p>\n

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

Thirteen of Penn’s sixteen career victories have come by form of stoppage (submission\/KO).<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Yair Rodriguez was last seen in action at August’s UFC Fight Night 92 event, where he earned a thrilling five-round split-decision victory over Alex Caceres.<\/p>\n

Prior to that, Rodriguez had scored a highlight reel head kick knockout victory over Andre Fili at April’s UFC 197 pay-per-view event.<\/p>\n

“Pantera” has gone 5-0 since debuting in the UFC back in November of 2014.<\/p>\n

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

Penn was expected to make his octagon return against former UFC featherweight title challenger Ricardo Lamas at last month’s scheduled UFC Fight Night 97 event.<\/p>\n

However, due to an injury suffered in training camp, “The Prodigy” was forced to pullout of the contest and October’s UFC Manila event was later cancelled entirely.<\/p>\n

Penn’s withdrawal from the slated scrap with Lamas marked the first-time in the UFC Hall of Famer’s illustrious career that he had pulled out of a fight with an injury.<\/p>\n

Tickets for UFC Fight Night Phoenix will go on sale later this month. The card will be televised on FOX Sports 1.<\/p>\n

The following seven bouts have already been announced for the January 15 event:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BJ Penn (16-10-2) vs. Yair Rodriguez (9-1) – Featherweight bout
\nBen Saunders (19-7-2) vs. Court McGee (19-5) – Welterweight bout
\nJordan Rinaldi (12-5) vs. Devin Powell (8-1) – Lightweight
\nTony Martin (10-3) of Boston vs. Erik Koch (15-4) – Lightweight
\nCyril Asker (7-2) vs. Dmitri Smoliakov (8-1) – Heavyweight
\nViktor Pesta (10-3) vs. Damian Grabowski (20-4) – Heavyweight
\nChristensen (13-4) vs. Bojan Mihalovic (10-4) – Light Heavyweight<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Who would do you think will emerge victories when Yair Rodriguez and BJ Penn throw down in Phoenix this January? Sound off PENN Nation!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn (16-10-2) will return to the octagon this January in Phoenix, Arizona. UFC officials just announced that Penn will be squaring off with Yair Rodriquez (9-1 MMA) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 103 which takes place January 15 at Phoenix\u2019s Talking Stick Resort Arena. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":152519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[10143],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING! 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