Efter tre forsinkelser med at komme tilbage i ringen, vendte Penn tilbage efter to et halvt års fravær mod [[Yair Rodríguez]] den 15. januar, 2017 i hovedkampen på [[UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/11/21/13707552/yair-rodriguez-vs-b-j-penn-announced-as-ufc-phoenix-main-event|title=Yair Rodriguez vs. B.J. Penn announced as UFC Phoenix main event|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Dave Doyle|date=2016-11-21|access-date=2016-11-21|archive-date=11. juli 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711022108/https://www.mmafighting.com/2016/11/21/13707552/yair-rodriguez-vs-b-j-penn-announced-as-ufc-phoenix-main-event|url-status=live}}</ref> Rodríguez vandt en ensidig kamp via TKO i den 2. omgang.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/01/ufc-fight-night-103-results-yair-rodriguez-devastates-hall-of-famer-b-j-penn-for-tko-win|title=UFC Fight Night 103 results: Yair Rodriguez devastates Hall of Famer B.J. Penn for TKO win|publisher=mmajunkie.com|author=Steven Marrocco|date=2017-01-16|access-date=2017-01-16|archive-date=11. juli 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711024844/https://mmajunkie.com/2017/01/ufc-fight-night-103-results-yair-rodriguez-devastates-hall-of-famer-b-j-penn-for-tko-win|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2017/1/16/14285050/ass-kicking-is-timeless-but-yair-rodriguez-made-b-j-penn-look-old|title=Ass kicking is timeless, but Yair Rodriguez made B.J. Penn look old|publisher=mmafighting.com|author=Chuck Mindenhall|date=2017-01-16|access-date=2017-01-16|archive-date=11. juli 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711022224/https://www.mmafighting.com/2017/1/16/14285050/ass-kicking-is-timeless-but-yair-rodriguez-made-b-j-penn-look-old|url-status=live}}</ref>
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