One of the greatest to ever step foot inside the Octagon, B.J. Penn, retired from mixed martial arts (MMA) after losing to Frankie Edgar via third-round technical knockout at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 19 Finale on July 6, 2014.
The loss marked "The Prodigy's" third straight, a big factor in convincing the proud Hawaiian that it was time to call it a combat sports career. So what are the chances that we get to see Penn compete inside the Octagon one more time?
Slim to none.
That's according to Penn, who appeared on "The MMA Hour" earlier this afternoon to discuss his time away from the fight game and the chances of him ever mounting a comeback.
"I don't see myself with the strong will to want to, you never know what the future holds or pops up, but I have no desire to jump into a training camp and try to get out there."
As far as competing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments such as Metamoris, "The Prodigy" didn't completely rule out the possibility, but says it isn't even close to being on his radar at this point in time.
"Honestly, in the last year. I haven't even, I went in the gym and did some cardio, but I haven't done martial arts this past year. I've been relaxing just catching up on stuff that I missed out in life instead of being in the gym all the time. I'll get in the gym to do cardio and stuff for my health, but the truth is I haven't done martial arts at all this last year. I'll just stop by and do the little stuff. I guess I am young if you see that a 37-year old just won the UFC heavyweight championship (laughs). But, I guess its just how much you are into it. Sometimes it's not age it's miles. Who knows, you never know."
Bummer. Let's just hope he can stay out of trouble -- idle time is the devil's workshop.
For now, Penn will continue to enjoy the retired life. But, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Lightweight and Welterweight champion will be in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 11, 2015, as he is expected to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame during the UFC Fan Expo activities.
And who knows, he may even make his way down ringside to catch a potential title fight between Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor later that night at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
When asked what he considered the best moment of his combat career, Penn revealed it was when he became the first non Brazilian to win the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2000.
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