Suspension, be damned. Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn (pictured) has been issued his next assignment despite the fact his six-month ban for illegal IV use doesn’t expire until September 25.
On Monday, the UFC announced Penn will headline the promotion’s return to the Philippines on October 15 against Ricardo Lamas.
Penn came out of retirement for the umpteenth time in January. He was slated to fight Dennis Siver at UFC 199, then Cole Miller, before getting pulled from the show after admitting to his IV use during a random, out-of-competition drug test.
“The Prodigy” claimed he was unaware that IVs were banned year-round.