Team B.J. Penn: "We plan on making this fight happen" at UFC 101

[Guest baseball25]

Kenny Florian (11-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) knew he was next in line for a UFC lightweight title shot with current champion B.J. Penn (13-5-1 MMA, 9-4-1 UFC). The only question was when.

With Florian recently imploring on ESPN.com's "MMA Live" for Penn to set a date, "The Prodigy" is now apparently ready.

According to a post on Penn's official website, the lightweight champ has verbally accepted the bout and is planning on signing the bout agreement sometime today.

The complete, unedited post is included below:

UFC Lightweight Champion BJ Penn is set to defend his lightweight title against number one contender Kenny Florian. The newly agreed upon match is set to Headline UFC 101 in Philadelphia, PA on August 8th 2009.

The Challenger, Kenny "Kenflo" Florian, is currently riding a six fight win streak inside the octagon. Most recently dispatching Joe Stevenson via RNC in round 1 at UFC 91. Florian has made it no secret that he desires his second shot at the lightweight title. Most recently stating on ESPNS MMA Live,

"At the end of the day, I just want this fight to be signed. Let's get an event, let's get a date, and let's make it happen."

The Champion, BJ "The Prodigy" Penn, has not been down to lightweight to defend his title since UFC 84, in May of 2008, when he beat Sean Sherk via TKO at the end of the third round. When I asked BJ about the upcoming bout he simply said,

"I look forward to the challenge."

According to our sources here within Team Penn, Florian has already signed the bout agreement for this fight. As for BJ, we received the bout agreement this afternoon and plan on making this fight happen.

[Gabe]

The need to stop putting "The Prodigy" tag on this guy. That was over a long time ago

[UT#1]

i agree.. BJs days as champ are over as soon as he steps in there with kenflo again i look for BJ to get beat 2 more times then retire