B.J. Penn (16-7-2 MMA, 12-6-2 UFC) will not fight at UFC 132.
MMAjunkie has confirmed with sources close to the Hawaiian that the UFC is not currently seeking an opponent for Penn, and "The Prodigy" will instead return to action at a later date.
Penn had been expected to take part in a rematch at the July 2 event with Jon Fitch (23-3-1 MMA, 13-1-1 UFC), but the perennial welterweight contender in March was forced to withdraw from the bout with a shoulder injury.
Sources indicated while the UFC was actively seeking a new opponent, Penn preferred to reschedule his next contest.
Featuring UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz looking to defend his title for the first time in a rematch with former WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber, "UFC 132: Faber vs. Cruz II" takes place July 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and airs on pay-per-view.
Fitch and Penn were hoping to settle the score from their February meeting at UFC 127, in which the two fought for three rounds only to have the bout declared a majority draw. The winner would likely be in the driver's seat for a potential shot at the winner of April's UFC 129 bout between current Georges St-Pierre and top challenger Jake Shields. If St-Pierre wins and elects to take a superfight with middleweight champ Anderson Silva, the Fitch vs. Penn II winner would have been almost guaranteed a spot in a bout to determine the division's newest champion.
After earning eight-straight wins to open his octagon career, Fitch was granted a title shot against St-Pierre in August 2008, and he was defeated via unanimous decision. The bout remains Fitch's lone loss in the past eight years.
Meanwhile, Penn recently returned to the welterweight division after losing his lightweight belt and an immediate rematch to Frankie Edgar. Although he briefly considered retirement, Penn instead returned to 170 pounds and posted a quick, 21-second knockout of Matt Hughes to set up the first Fitch meeting.
