What happened?
Talk about Father Time taking his toll.
B.J. Penn went from being a two-division champion and UFC Hall of Famer to getting beat up by Dennis Siver, who’s biggest accomplishment was getting knocked out by Conor McGregor on a UFC Fight Night card in 2015.
How far “The Prodigy” has fallen. He’s still a legend of the sport, but god damn, it’s time to hang it up. It’s been seven years since he’s won in the octagon and the man he beat, Matt Hughes, has been retired for four years.
He’s lost seven of his last nine. Granted he lost to some absolute killers in Frankie Edgar (3x), Nick Diaz, and Rory MacDonald, but when you’re wasting to Yair Rodriguez and now Siver? It’s over.
I want to remember Penn for the beast that he was. I want to remember the guy who fought a 225lb Lyoto Machida in an open weight bout at 191lbs. The same guy who won both the Welterweight and Lightweight titles and the man who put on an absolute clinic when he fought Diego Sanchez at UFC 107.
No matter what happens, this is the BJ Penn I will always remember! #UFCOKC pic.twitter.com/BJ8HUjVx49
— The Mane Event™ (@EliasTheodorou) June 26, 2017
Even in defeat, Penn made you earn it. He went the distance with Jens Pulver, Lyoto Machida, Georges St-Pierre, Frankie Edgar, Nick Diaz, and Rory MacDonald. B.J. Penn was built to fight, but as most fighters do, they walk away when it’s simply too late.
There is nothing worse than watching a fighter who can’t come to terms with a sport that is so clearly passing him by.
So I ask of you B.J., retire, please.
