BJ Penn addresses UFC 221 rumors and the potential of fighting at UFC Hawaii

Earlier today rumors surfaced that former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn would be returning to the octagon this February to battle promotional newcomer Suman Mokhtarian at UFC 221.

If this poster is real or not, doesn't matter. @Suman_att will be the talk leading up to #UFC219 & BJ Penn is probably somewhere thinking do I got a fight in Perth. #postergate #MMA pic.twitter.com/BLtJ8PvHb8

— John Hyon Ko (@JHKMMA) December 30, 2017

Shortly after seeing the rumor, BJPENN.com’s Chris Taylor reached out to “The Prodigy” and asked if there was any chance that he would be fighting the undefeated Suman Mokhtarian this February in Perth, Australia.

“I wish,” Penn said laughing. “But as of right now there is no plans of me fighting.”

Taylor asked Penn if he would be willing to fight again, this if the UFC was finally able to put on a show in his home state of Hawaii in 2018.

“Of course I would love to fight in Hawaii!” Penn said emphatically. “Hopefully the UFC and the state of Hawaii can come together and get it done. I know that Hawaiian fans are starving for a UFC event. It would be amazing.”

BJ Penn’s last fight took place this past June in OKlahoma where he suffered a majority decision loss to Dennis Siver at featherweight. Taylor asked Penn if he had any opponents in mind for a potential octagon return in 2018.

“I don’t know, I haven’t really been thinking about fighting that much lately. But one thing is for sure, I would never fight at 145-pounds again!”

Taylor asked Penn why fighting at featherweight was no longer an option.

“I should have never fought at 145. It was a bad decision to move down in weight at my age. Maybe if I had made the move in my early twenties it would have been different. But I did not feel good at 145.”

“The Prodigy” has gone a perfect 3-0 when fighting in his home state of Hawaii. Penn holds victories over fellow legends Takanori Gomi, Rodrigo Gracie and Renzo Gracie from his days fighting under the K1 banner in Honolulu.