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Bahadurzada claims Penn turned him down

ESPN staff
August 7, 2012
BJ Penn has been accused of ducking a fight © Getty Images
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Siyar Bahadurzada has claimed BJ Penn rejected a fight with him as a replacement for Rory MacDonald at UFC 152.

Penn was supposed to meet MacDonald in his comeback fight, but the Canadian pulled out with a severe cut above the eye. It remains to be seen if their bout will be rescheduled for later in the year.

The Prodigy had rejected a series of opportunities to step out of retirement until MacDonald came knocking, including a fight with Josh Koscheck. So it comes as no surprise that he is not prepared to switch his focus to somebody like Bahadurzada.

However, Bahadurzada claims he would have given his fight purse to charity and fought with a damaged hand. Nonetheless, he says Penn wasn't interested.

"BJ said no. I'm disappointed," Siyar told Tatame.

"I wanted to fight him with an injury. My right hand is not healed till his fight. I can't punch, but still he doesn't want to fight."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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