B.J. Penn vs. Rory MacDonald Headed to UFC on Fox 5?

While it’s not a done deal yet, signs are starting to point towards a UFC on Fox 5 slot for the welterweight showdown between B.J. Penn and Rory MacDonald.

The new date for the fight was first mentioned by Spike TV analyst Nate Quarry during a broadcast of MMA Uncensored Live on Thursday.

Penn and MacDonald were originally scheduled to face off at UFC 152 in Toronto, but the young Canadian suffered a serious cut over his right eye while in training that required 38 stitches, and will keep him out of training for at least the next month.

Following the fight’s cancellation, McDonald mentioned possibly facing Penn at UFC 154 in Montreal, while the Hawaiian favored UFC 153 in Brazil in October.

Due to the nature of the cut and the healing time that will keep MacDonald from any kind of contact for at least the next 4 to 6 weeks, an October date was out of the question.

Now it appears the two sides are negotiating with UFC officials for a potential showdown at UFC on Fox 5 currently set to take place on Dec 8.

Talks are currently ongoing between the two sides, but UFC officials have yet to confirm that the fight will actually take place on the UFC on Fox 5 card.

Sources have indicated to MMAWeekly.com that both fighters are in agreement in principle to move the fight to the December date, although separate indications coming from the Penn camp are that the former lightweight and welterweight champion was hoping for an earlier return to action.

Penn is currently training in his home state of Hawaii alongside Strikeforce lightweights Josh Thomson and Pat Healy, who traveled there to work with the former champion.

There is no indication at this time how soon or how far away the fight is from actually becoming a done deal, but all signs are pointing towards the match-up moving to the proposed December date.

MMAWeekly.com will have more information on Penn vs. MacDonald and the UFC on Fox 5 card as it becomes available.

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