EXCLUSIVE | BJ Penn on his drive to fight despite the setbacks: ‘I miss the confrontation’

Two-time, two-weight UFC champion BJ Penn is busy training for another competition in the Octagon.

The UFC Hall of Fame legend will be taking on rising star Yair Rodriguez in the featherweight UFC Fight Night 103 main event on January 15.

We got to catch up with our namesake as the fight approaches and asked him his thoughts on headlining the card in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Very excited to be fighting on this card in Phoenix,” said Penn. “It’s right after the NFC championship game so I will watch the Cowboys win and then get my hand raised.”

Penn says that he is already prepared to step back in the Octagon but will get training done in California with Jason Parillo and Albuquerque with JacksonWink MMA to ensure he is at his best.

“The training is going great, I’m ready right now. I will finish up in Cali for a bit and then do some training in Albuquerque.”

With a few setbacks holding Penn from getting back to competition in 2016, “The Prodigy” says that it all ended up as a blessing in disguise for his return to the Octagon.

“I needed this year to just train and spar. I’m very happy that I had more time to train,” Penn said. “I am much more prepared.”

Despite the bumps in the road that have delayed the return of “The Prodigy,” the Hilo boy says that there is one thing he misses most about competition that is driving him to keep going.

“I miss the confrontation.”

Don’t miss the return of BJ Penn as he takes on Yair Rodriguez in the main event of UFC Fight Night 103 on January 15 on FS1.