BJ Penn returns at UFC 237

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion BJ Penn will return to the cage at UFC 237 on May 11 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he will take on a fellow veteran in Clay Guida.

This bout was first reported by Guilherme Cruz of MMA Fighting. Penn confirmed this news with his website, BJPenn.com.

For the Hall-of-Famer BJ Penn, this bout will mark the opportunity to correct a six-fight skid, as he’s recently experienced setbacks against Ryan Hall, Dennis Siver, Yair Rodriguez, Frankie Edgar, Rory MacDonald and Nick Diaz. This skid was preceded by a draw against upcoming Bellator welterweight title challenger Jon Fitch, and knockout win over Matt Hughes. Penn is 16-13-2 in sum.

Clay Guida, meanwhile, owns an overall record of 34-18. He last fought in June of 2018, when he was submitted by Charles Oliveira. He won his next two bouts, defeating Joe Lauzon by TKO and Erik Koch by decision. Other highlights of his record include triumphs over Anthony Pettis, Rafael dos Anjos, Nate Diaz and Takanori Gomi.

UFC 237 will be topped by a strawweight title fight between champion Rose Namajunas and challenger Jessica Andrade. The card is expected to be co-headlined by a featherweight contender bout between Jose Aldo and Alexander Volkanovski.

Here’s the card as it stands with this new addition:

UFC 237 Fight Card

• Rose Namajunas vs. Jessica Andrade – for strawweight title
• Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Ryan Spann
• Jared Cannonier vs. Anderson Silva
• Irene Aldana vs. Bethe Correia
• Jose Aldo vs. Alex Volkanovski
• BJ Penn vs. Clay Guida

Who do you think will come out on top in this newly announced clash of veterans?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 3/6/2019.