BJ Penn AP PHOTO
The Prodigy’s return to the octagon will be delayed once more. BJ Penn will no longer headline the UFC’s second event at the Mall of Asia Arena on October 15.
Penn (16-10-2 ), who was slated to clash with Featherweight contender Ricardo Lamas (16-5), had to pull out of card due to an undisclosed injury he had sustained during training, according to MMA Junkie’s John Morgan on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
As of this writing, the UFC has yet to formally release a statement on whether Penn will be replaced by another fighter, or if Lamas is getting pulled from the card as well.
UFC Fight Night 97 (also known as UFC Fight Night Manila) was supposed to mark Penn’s return to the promotion after his last appearance against Frankie Edgar in 2014.
The rest of the main card remains intact, with a heavyweight showdown between Derrick Lewis and Marcin Tybura as the co-main event, while Filipino fighter Jenel Lausa will make his UFC debut against China’s Yao Zhikui in a flyweight bout.
Featherweight staple Cole Miller will also square off against Mizuto Hiruto. Khristian Ibarrola
RELATED STORIES:
UFC: Penn eager for third world title shot
Filipino fighter Lausa added to UFC Fight Night Manila card