ROUNDTABLE: Should B.J. Penn retire for good after his UFC on Fox 5 loss to Rory MacDonald?

Should B.J. Penn retire for good after his loss to Rory MacDonald? Or should he try to return at either welterweight or lightweight?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

My thoughts, before UFC on Saturday night:

Each year, the Great Pumpkin B.J. Penn rises out of the pumpkin patch Octagon that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a(n) pumpkin patch Octagon can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy competition for the Great B.J. Penn. Nothing but sincerity Godliness as far as the eye can see.


Me, during his entrance on Saturday night (and thanks to Fox for not showing it. Good call, you bastards):

There he is! There he is! It's the Great Pumpkin! B.J. Penn! He's rising out of the pumpkin patch Octagon!


Me, talking with Matt Pelkey on Sunday morning:

Matt: Well, another Halloween B.J. Penn loss has come and gone.

Me: Yes, Matt.

Matt: I don't understand it. I went trick-or-treating to the strip club and all I got was a bag full of rocks phony phone numbers. I suppose you spent all night in the pumpkin patch bag for B.J. Penn.

[I nod]

Matt: And the Great Pumpkin B.J. never showed up?

Me: Nope.

Matt: Well, don't take it too hard, Rich. I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, too.

Me: [furious] STUPID? What do you mean "stupid"? Just wait till next year, Matt Pelkey. You'll see! Next year at this same time, I'll find the pumpkin patch Octagon that is *real* sincere and I'll sit in that pumpkin patch Octagon until the Great Pumpkin B.J. Penn appears. He'll rise out of that pumpkin patch Octago and he'll fly through the air with his bag of toys Whoop-Ass. The Great Pumpkin B.J. Penn will appear and I'll be waiting for him! I'll be there! I'll be sitting there in that pumpkin patch Front Row... and I'll see the Great Pumpkin B.J. Penn. Just wait and see, Matt Pelkey. I'll see that Great Pumpkin B.J. Penn. I'll SEE the Great Pumpkin B.J. Penn! Just you wait, Matt Pelkey. The Great Pumpkin B.J. Penn will appear and I'll be waiting for him.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

B.J. Penn saw his career carried out of the octagon on Saturday night. He should absolutely retire. He's got nothing left to prove, and even if he did he clearly no longer carries the ability to prove it. B.J. should retire before he completely ruins his legacy and enjoy his UFC hall of fame induction in the not too distant future.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

If Penn does return it should be against newcomers or guys that are on his level. I know B.J. isn't that old, but he's done as a serious threat to good fighters. He should try lightweight if he can make the cut.


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

He is now 1-4-1 in his last six fights. If he comes back, he will run the risk of being pitied like Chuck Liddell was at the end of his career. B.J. Penn should without a doubt retire.


ALVIN CARTER, MMATORCH SPECIALIST

B.J. Penn could retire... but he was a bit over matched in size. Another fight at 155lbs. would be what turns the tides for me. If Keith Jardine keeps at it and has four years on Penn, why shouldn't he be called on to retire. I know Jardine does not have the same legacy to keep intact, but Jardine has been (T)KO'ed in three of his last 10 fights and absorbed a lot of damage in four losses that went the distance. He is 2-8-1 in his last 10 fights. When you look at that I say B.J. should scrap as many times as he feels he can. He is a legend and he deserves to go out the way he sees fight providing he is not being knocked out or TKOed to many times.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

I would love to see him move back down to Lightweight, but that is never going to happen. B.J. Penn just doesn't want to cut the additional weight required, and who can blame him. He's made a ton of money and he can pick and choose which fights to take, depending on how he feels. I don't think he'll retire just yet because he's still a relatively young guy, and in my opinion, he still has plenty to offer.

If he can come to terms with not being big/good enough to really compete at Welterweight, there are still plenty of good match ups left for him, similar to someone like a Rich Franklin or Forrest Griffin. Keep fighting, win some lose some, and earn lots of money in the process. Dana White might want him to retire but 99.9% of all fight fans want to see him continue for as long as he possibly can.


[B.J. Penn art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_15292.shtml

Karn Grigorian Karen Grigoryan Kendall Grove Clay Guida Jason Guida