UFC: The Ultimate Fighter 19 Finale - 5 Things We Learned

1. BJ Penn Is Past It

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9vBeQ-Odks It was painful to watch. B.J. Penn felt he had something to prove. He maybe felt he had a way to beat Frankie Edgar, the man who took his title and beat him twice. The problem is, there was nothing left in the tank. Penn looked bad. So bad that even the commentary team began questioning his approach to the fight. Laying down, waiting for Edgar to engage on the ground. Not getting off any shots on the feet. And when he did have Edgar in his guard, he was entirely defensive. This was not the B.J. Penn we knew of old. By the time the fight was stopped - towards the end of the third round, the first stoppage loss of Penn's career - it was clear. The MMA game had passed B.J. Penn by. And he knew it, saying after that there was no way he should have been in there with a top fighter. He announced that he was calling it a day in the octagon, and reiterated it at the press conference after, where he was visibly shaken. It's tough for a fighter to walk away - but Penn needs to. Yes, he could keep fighting. Against lower level fighters, he'd probably score some wins. B.J. Penn has never fought lower level fighters though, and why would he now? It would be a step backwards for a guy who has already proven himself. He's part of the old guard. As Dana White said at the post-fight press conference, he built the 155lb division in the UFC. He's one of two men who have held belts in two weight classes in the UFC (Randy Couture being the other), and he went up to 170lbs to do it. Maybe he thought he had a shot in a third division, having cut to 145lbs to meet Edgar for the third time, but that's okay. As Penn stated, his legacy will still be there, in highlight reels, he's got his gym, and he can do other things. Penn was a great fighter, a great champ - but he needs to stay retired. The worst thing that could happen would be another attempt at a comeback in a year. It's been a great run, B.J. You're hall of fame bound, you've got nothing left to prove, now enjoy the rest of your life.