When B.J. Penn announced his comeback last January, he confidently stated that his goal was to be UFC featherweight champion. He was in this for the long haul, Penn promised, and this third and final resurgence wasn’t just a one-off. He was going to ride this sucker until the wheels fell off, regardless of what that meant.
Much has happened to the 38-year-old Hall of Famer in the 12 months since. Three different opponent changes and a minor USADA run-in effectively turned what should’ve been a comfortable return against a beatable foe into an uncomfortable date with a demon of an up-and-comer.