Holm (left), Penn and Jones (right) (photo Jackson-Wink MMA)

By FCF Staff

BJ Penn is returning to the Octagon as recently reported, however, the legendary fighter is not competing at UFC 196 as expected.

Recently the former lightweight and welterweight champ announced he’s launching a comeback, and Penn was expected to compete on March 5th. The 37 year-old fighter, however, recently reported the following at BJPenn.com:

“I thought the fight guaranteed was going to happen because the UFC, they set up medicals for me to do,” Penn said. “I did the medicals and they were sending a film crew down and we were getting all that together and I assumed we were setting up the fight, and that might have been what was happening. But, at the end of the day, Sean Shelby (UFC matchmaker) called me and said it would be more convenient for all of us to move the fight to April 23rd.”

Penn, who hasn’t fought since July, 2014, has yet to have his opponent officially announced. Recently MMA Fighting.com’s Ariel Helwani reported that Dennis Siver is a possibility.

UFC 197 will take place on April 23rd in Las Vegas, and will feature Daniel Cormier – Jon Jones II in the headliner.