Despite him “guaranteeing” he would return to the octagon at UFC 196, BJ Penn’s comeback has been delayed until April. On Monday, Penn released a statement explaining that he will not actually debut until UFC 197.
“I thought the fight guaranteed was going to happen because the UFC, they set up medicals for me to do,” Penn said. “I did the medicals, and they were sending a film crew down, and we were getting all that together, and I assumed we were setting up the fight, and that might have been what was happening.
“But, at the end of the day, Sean Shelby called me and said it would be more convenient for all of us to move the fight to April 23rd.”
Penn has not fought since 2014 and ended his career on a three-fight losing streak. UFC 197 takes place on April 23rd.
