It didn't end well for the first American Gold medalist of the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, B.J Penn right after he was brutally beaten to his defeat by the 32 year old Frankie Edgar. The former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion announced his retirement from the mixed martial arts last Sunday. Penn has been widely considered as the best lightweight of all time.
After a year and a half of not fighting in the UFC, Penn went back inside the octagon to fight Frankie Edgar in "The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale" held at Mandalay Bay Events Center. Penn looked ready and fit at his 145 pound weight but it did not rattle the aggressive opponent.
On the post fight conference, Penn was asked about his decision to fight and he said "Yes, of course, this is the end. I'm thinking to myself, 'Why did you step back into the Octagon after the beating that Rory MacDonald gave you?' And the reason is, I really needed to find out. If I didn't make this night happen for myself, I would have always wondered. I would have gone back and forth and begged [UFC president] Dana [White] to let me get back in. I guess I needed some closure."
UFC President Dana White walked out of the game when he saw Penn being beaten inside the octagon. White commented "Everyone knows where I was, how I felt and what I wanted. B.J. Penn is a guy, and I get to the point where I understand it and I get it, but the fans go crazy on me when I tell guys to retire. But B.J. Penn was our jiu-jitsu coach before we even bought the UFC. I've known this guy forever. He's won two titles in two different weight classes. He built the 155-pound division. He's a legend. He helped build the UFC"
He continued "The list goes on and on of what B.J. Penn has done. I've said this a million times: He has a beautiful wife. He's got beautiful kids. He's got a great family. He owns a UFC B.J. Penn gym in Hawaii. What more do you want, B.J.? There is nothing left to prove."
This will be Penn's last fight and it is a fight that he would never forget. Penn may have said his goodbye but the fans will never forget his achievements.
