It’s not everyday you can meet one of your heroes let alone compete against them.
The UFC’s number five ranked flyweight Ricardo “The Bully” Lamas is one of the lucky few to have been granted this opportunity of a lifetime as he faces UFC Hall of Famer and two-division world champion BJ Penn on Saturday, October 15 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The 34 year old Chicago-native is coming off a loss against fellow contender Max Holloway last June that brought his slate down to 16 wins, five losses. Lamas though did not let the loss dampen his spirits and immediately jumped on the chance of facing Penn (16-10-2) in the latter’s return fight to the Octagon after a two-year hiatus.
“This fight means a lot. There are very few opportunities to fight a guy with BJ’s caliber,” the former number one contender for the UFC World Featherweight Championship said Wednesday afternoon during UFC Fight Night Manila’s pre-sale press conference.
“It’s a no-brainer to me to fight BJ. He is a living legend.”
Lamas started his professional career back in 2008. During that time, the Hawaiian has already won two world titles in two separate weight divisions. The Bully admitted that he was in awe of Penn back then and was a fan of his.
“I literally watched him growing up in the sport,” he gushed with Penn sitting right across him.
At 34 years old and with kids, the half Cuban-half Mexican warrior said that the build-up, the training, and the fight itself will be a memory that he will cherish for the rest of his life.
“This is one of the memories that i will pass on to my kids and grandchildren one day,” he closed.
“This will be the new Thrilla in Manila against a two-time world champion.”
