Yes yes yes...I have seen the first fight, and i do know what each guy looks like at this stage of their respective careers. But before you denounce my idea has sheer tom foolery, lets just take a look at some facts, and keep it in the realm of UFC business and matchmaking policy.

FACT- In their last 5 fights, Gomi has gone 2-3... Penn has gone 1-3-1. (yes, thats one, un, uno, eins win for BJ Penn, in almost 3 years) pairing these two up doesn't seem like PRIDE matchmaking once you take a look at the numbers.

FACT- Dana was mulling over the idea of Penn fighting on a possible UFC card in Hawaii not too long ago.

FACT- the their first fight took place at Rumble on the Rock 4, in Honolulu Hawaii.

Penn is fast approaching, if not already at, the end of his long and incredible career. In his post fight UFC 137 interview with Rogan, He expressed his wishes to fight the best guys in the sport, but was fairly dead set on not wanting to continue his career if the trade off was looking like hamburger after each match. If Penn is to be coaxed out of a comfy and sedate island life, the UFC would have to offer him a match against a big name opponent, but one who wouldn't be guaranteed to put a beating on his soft Hawaiian self. Gomi fits that description fairly well, and the fact that the first fight occurred on Hawaiian soil and ended in a dominating Penn victory would only add appeal to the match up for Penn.

Gomi has fallen far from the form that netted him the title of best lightweight on the planet at one point, but BJ isn't the same 'Prodigy' that he was when the two first collided back in 2003 either. Their recent records prevent this fight from looking like a complete mismatch on paper, the story line (the two former number one lightweights in the world return to where it all began for one more show down, etc.) is already in place, and the match up would sell big time in Hawaii. Fighting on his home soil would all but guarantee the return of the vintage, vampire Penn, and Gomi, riding a big knockout win at home, might be motivated to even the score against baby J. As a fan, I would love to see a rematch of one of the most important fights in lightweight history, and if the UFC is serious about getting Penn back into the ring, this scenario seems like the right bone to throw him. What say you BEers?!?!?!