B.J. Penn issues first statement after retirement announcement at UFC 137

"I want to thank all the fans for their love and support. I have decided to take some time off to enjoy life, train and teach. I will keep you posted with what's next."

B.J. Penn today took to his website (BJPenn.com) to release his first statement following his surprise retirement announcement after his loss to Nick Diaz this past weekend (Oct. 29, 2011) at UFC 137.

With his left eye nearly swollen shut, a distraught Penn told Joe Rogan in his post fight speech that he did not want to go home to his family looking the way he did and that he was done. "The Prodigy," shockingly, retired from mixed martial arts (MMA) just like that. 

Later in the evening, Penn's Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, Allan Goes, posted this message, which was relayed to him by Penn, on his Facebook page, saying "I'll be back," giving all fans hope that the former UFC lightweight and welterweight champion may have spoken prematurely.

UFC President Dana White was also not 100 percent convinced that Penn's retirement would last long, leaving the door open with his remarks at the UFC 137 post-fight press conference that the proud Hawaiian had not seen the inside of the Octagon for the last time.

Read his remarks in the extended entry:

"B.J. is a warrior, what happened to him tonight has never happened to him in his entire career. What he's thinking tonight he might not think eight weeks from now."

Penn was a no-show at the UFC 137 post fight conference because of a post-fight trip to the hospital.

Nonetheless, from the sound of things, if time does indeed heal all wounds, "The Prodigy" will possibly grace us with his presence once again in the world famous Octagon.

And maybe more.