Lightweight champion
B.J. Penn will defend his crown against top contender
Kenny Florian in the featured bout at UFC 101 on Aug. 8 in Philadelphia, Pa., the Hawaiian announced on his blog at BJPenn.com.
Florian has already signed his bout agreement, according to the blog. Penn expects to follow suit.
“I look forward to the challenge,” Penn said.
Penn (13-5-1) last appeared at UFC 94 in January, when he succumbed to a fourth-round technical knockout against welterweight champion
Georges St. Pierre in Las Vegas. Following the match, Penn filed a complaint with the Nevada State Athletic Commission after evidence surfaced regarding St. Pierre’s alleged use of an illegal “greasing” agent. NSAC officials confirmed improprieties had occurred in the popular French Canadian’s corner after the first and second rounds, though few outside of Penn's camp seem to believe it had a measurable impact on the outcome.
Still regarded as one of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters, Penn returned to the lightweight division in 2007 and rattled off three consecutive victories -- two by submission, another by TKO -- against
Jens Pulver,
Joe Stevenson and
Sean Sherk. He also holds victories against
Caol Uno,
Renzo Gracie,
Takanori Gomi and former UFC welterweight champions
Matt Hughes and
Matt Serra.
Based out of the Florian Martial Arts Center, the 32-year-old Florian has won six fights in a row since he dropped a hard-fought decision to Sherk in a 2006 bout for the then vacant lightweight title. Florian (11-3) has not competed since he submitted Stevenson with a first-round rear-naked choke at UFC 91 in November. He has finished five of his past six foes and owns wins against
Roger Huerta,
Joe Lauzon and
Dokonjonosuke Mishima.
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