Penn rekindles MMA love for Hughes fight

‘The Prodigy’ ready for a third shot at Hughes in battle of former champs.

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By Greg Beacham, Associated Press 12:13 AM Saturday, November 20, 2010

When B.J. Penn surrendered his UFC lightweight title earlier this year, he lost some of his will to compete — and maybe even to live.

The former two-division champion still known as “The Prodigy” had outlived his nickname, reaching his 30s with no clear direction for his career after two straight losses to Frankie Edgar.

Penn briefly considered walking away from mixed martial arts until a call from UFC President Dana White gave him a chance to settle his biggest remaining score.

Penn (15-7-1) and Matt Hughes will meet for the third time tonight at the Palace of Auburn Hills in UFC 123. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson fights Lyoto Machida in the main event of the UFC’s first card featuring four former champions.

“Once you’ve been where me, Lyoto, Rampage and Matt have been, a lot of other stuff, it just seems boring,” Penn said. “You know, this is the only thing that keeps me feeling like I have something to live for.”

Penn and Hughes (46-7) both jumped at the chance to complete just the sixth trilogy in the history of the UFC, where it’s rare for a rivalry to be in question after two fights.

Penn stunned the MMA world when he claimed the UFC welterweight title in their first meeting in 2004, moving up in weight to submit one of the sport’s first stars on a choke late in the first round — and punctuating it with a kiss on the dazed Hughes’ lips.

When Penn returned to the UFC two years later after a stint that included fights in Japan and a courtroom battle with the league, Hughes stopped him on punches in their second meeting four years ago.

Penn went on to claim the lightweight title, but he’s back in the welterweight division for the first time since his loss to champion Georges St. Pierre last year.

UFC 123

When: 10 p.m. today

Where: Palace of Auburn Hills, Mich.

TV: Pay-per-view

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