UFC
Manager: Rory MacDonald vs. B.J. Penn being discussed for UFC on Fox 5 main event
Aug 10, 2012 - 4:20:14 PM Manager: Rory MacDonald vs. B.J. Penn being discussed for UFC on Fox 5 main event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

It was reported Thursday night on Spike TV's MMA Uncensored program that the welterweight bout between B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald would be moving to the UFC on Fox 5 event on December 8.

That is gaining some more steam as a realistic possibility, and MacDonald's manager has confirmed that they are talking with the UFC and Penn's camp about that very idea. However, nothing is set in stone, and indeed MacDonald would like to return as soon as he's physically able.

"I've been in communication with B.J.'s camp and UFC," MacDonald's manager, Lex McMahon, said in an interview with MMAFighting.com, "the idea of fighting on the Fox card has been part of these discussions. Our position is that Rory will fight B.J. as soon as he is healed and had a reasonable period to train."

"The possibility of headlining the Fox card in December is attractive as it provides a great platform to showcase the return of B.J. Penn, one of our sport's icons, as well as to introduce the mainstream fans to one of brightest young stars in the form of Rory. At this juncture nothing has been agreed upon, but needless to say Rory and his team would welcome the opportunity to fight B.J. Penn on Fox as the main event."

Penick's Analysis: It could serve as an adequate main event for Fox, though fans are hoping to see even bigger fights than this one atop the network platform. It's a great fight, there's no doubting that, but Penn isn't going to be in the title picture again anytime soon, and MacDonald is still at least another win after Penn away from being in contention himself. Fox wants some bigger stakes from the fights on the network, as evidenced by the thrown together title shot for last weekend's competitors, so a lower-end title fight or a No. 1 contender bout may still be preferable for the next Fox card. Still, if they go this route, it's a good fight, it just may not inspire the biggest boost of viewership for Fox or the UFC in December.