BJ Penn Retires From MMA: “This is the end”

Former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion, BJ Penn has decided to retire from the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.

After losing to Frankie Edgar in the main event at The Ultimate Fighter season 19 finale, Penn spoke in the octagon and alluded to the fact that this was it. Later, at the post-fight press conference, Penn gave a more definite answer.

A member of the media asked Penn if this was indeed his last trip into the octagon.

“Yes, of course. This is the end. I’m thinking to myself,” said the two division champion, “why did you step back in the octagon after the beating that Rory McDonald gave you. The reason is because I really needed to find out. If I didn’t make this night happen for myself I would have always wondered and I would have always went back and forth and begged Dana to let me get back in. I guess I just needed some closure.”

A lot of questions were raised before the fight about Penn’s plan for the future, whether he won or not.

“I was going to see how far I could take it. I was going to see what happened when I stepped in with Frankie and then I was going to see where it went from there. If it was a good victory I could walk away with or if I was still hungry and wanted to do it again.”

Penn finished with a record of 16-10-2, but what he did for the sport can never be measured with wins and loses.

By Ryan Miller | Twitter